The South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced that 15 players have been awarded Springbok contracts for 2013, though Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn and JP Pietersen have been overlooked.
This list includes exciting youngsters such as Eben Etzebeth, Marcell Coetzee, Juan de Jongh and Pat Lambie as well as Jean de Villiers, Tendai Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis.
The group - whose average age is just over 26 years - includes the core of the Springboks Test players from 2012, while players who are based overseas or who have signed contracts with overseas clubs, were not awarded national contracts.
"We've kept as many of our top players in South Africa as we could by awarding them national contracts, despite the powerful lure of the pound, euro and yen," said SARU CEO Jurie Roux.
"We worked hard with the Springbok Management and Sarpa to ensure the best possible deal is placed on the table for the players. A further five contracts are still available and will be finalised in due course.
"Last year provided Heyneke Meyer with an ideal opportunity to see what is needed in the Test arena, and by contracting this group of players, we have secured a core group for 2013. The average age of the contracted group is not very high for Test rugby, which bodes well for the future."
The following players, who represented the Springboks last year but will be leaving South Africa to play abroad in the next couple of months, were not awarded contracts: Andries Bekker, Juandré Kruger, Steyn, Habana, Pietersen and Zane Kirchner.
"All six of these players were going to receive contracts, but the fact that they have indicated that they have signed with overseas clubs or are planning to do so, has ruled them out of the reckoning," said Roux.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer added: "I'm very excited about the contract group. Most of these players showed last year they have what it takes to play for the Springboks and they can only get more experienced and improve further.
"Losing experienced players to overseas teams is not ideal, but it's their right to further their careers abroad."
Springbok contract group: Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Tendai Mtawarira, Pierre Spies, Frans Steyn, Adriaan Strauss, Flip van der Merwe, Duane Vermeulen.
The above really is a shocking state of affairs. Nearly half the players mentioned should play Vodacom Rugby - not even be considered for Super 16 - leave alone Springbok selection. Amongst the above lot that is seriously poor are the following:-
* Marcell Coetzee - a serious disappointment in Super 15 his year
* Juan de Jongh - SARu must have gone mad here - he is a disastrously poor defender and useless in attack
* Jannie Du Plessis - has gone backwards badly this year and struggle to make the Sharks starting line-up this year.
* Francois Hougaard - has shown nothing this year and was seriously deficient last year
* Frans Steyn - absolutely useless in Super 15 this year - if it is not for injuries he would not make the starting line-up for the Sharks
* Flip van der Merwe - hot and cold - more cold than hot this year.
SARU said Meyer was consulted - but Meyer is going dotty and obviously lost the plot completely if he recommended the above. If one looks at his training camp and the above rubbish - Meyer will be as a coach an equal disaster to Straueli.
