Springboks revise Tri-Nations squad again

South Africa added forwards Ashley Johnson and Ryan Kankowski to a constantly changing squad yesterday amid injury and illness concerns ahead of Tri-Nations Tests against Australia and New Zealand. It was the second revision in as many days to the original 24-man group after flank Heinrich Brussow was called up Sunday to increase the back-row options for coach Peter de Villiers. Johnson, of Free State Cheetahs, can play flank or number eight while Kankowski of the Sharks is a specialist number eight and both toured Australasia last month when the Springboks lost heavily to the Wallabies and All Blacks. The call-ups came because utility forward Danie Rossouw suffered gastroenteritis while number eight Pierre Spies is battling to overcome a groin injury and did not train yesterday in this Indian Ocean city. Back-row injuries are a major concern for De Villiers ahead of Tests against Australia on August 13 at Kings Park in Durban and defending Tri-Nations champions New Zealand one week later at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen have been ruled out of the home leg of the southern hemisphere championship, which offers South Africa a final chance of match practice before the Rugby World Cup kicks off. The Springboks are the defending world champions having defeated England 15-6 in Paris four years ago and launch their campaign against Wales on September 9 in Wellington. Unpredictable island sides Fiji and Samoa and no-hopers Namibia complete Group D and if South Africa justify their tag as pool favourites they are likely to confront Ireland in the quarter-finals. Australia arrived in Durban after a 26-hour flight from New Zealand where they suffered a 30-14 loss to New Zealand in a match between the teams favoured to contest the October 23 World Cup final in Auckland. Coach Robbie Deans has added prop Salesi Ma’afu, lock Nathan Sharpe and eighthman Radike Samo to the Wallabies squad as they seek a ‘double’ over the Springboks having triumphed 39-20 in Sydney. Veteran Sharpe replaces South Africa-born Dan Vickerman, a substitute against the All Blacks last weekend who has been ordered to work at club level on his fitness. De Villiers will announce his starting line-up Tuesday for the Springboks’ first home Test this year while Deans will wait until Thursday before revealing his hand. Revised Springbok squad Backs: Gio Aplon, Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Morne Steyn, Butch James, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez, Francois Hougaard Forwards: Ryan Kankowski, Ashley Johnson, Pierre Spies, Jean Deysel, Heinrich Brussow, Danie Rossouw, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Gerhard Mostert, John Smit (capt), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, Jannie du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde