RUGBY:SOUTH AFRICA World Cup winners Bryan Habana, Fourie du Preez and Francois Steyn were among 15 players recalled to the Tri-Nations' squad yesterday as the Springboks look to avenge heavy defeats against Australia and New Zealand.

Twenty front-line players missed the overseas leg of the Tri-Nations campaign because of injury and in their absence South Africa lost 39-20 to the Wallabies in Sydney and 40-7 to the All Blacks in Wellington.

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers is hoping the return of wing Habana, scrumhalf Du Preez, utility back Steyn plus locks Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield will produce better results although six players are still on the injured list, including flankers Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Willem Alberts.

SQUAD – Backs: Gio Aplon, Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers (all Western Province), Francois Steyn (Racing Metro), JP Pietersen (Sharks), Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn (all Bulls), Butch James (Lions), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster) Forwards: Danie Rossouw, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp (all Bulls), John Smit (captain), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Jean Deysel (all Sharks), Gerhard Mostert (Stade Francais), CJ van der Linde (Lions).