South Africa: Key players

BBC Sport Online takes a look at five South African players hoping to stop the rot in this year's Tri-Nations tournament.

Percy Montgomery
Club: Stormers
Height: 1.82m
Age: 26
Position: Full-back
International career: Caps: 38, Test Points 200, Test Tries 14, Penalties 18, Conversions 35, Drop Goals 2

The 'Golden Boy' of South Africa rugby, Percy Montgomery is regarded as one of the most potent attacking full-backs in the game.

Willing to run from anywhere on the pitch, he has scored some memorable tries for club and country, including his debut in the second Test against the British Lions in 1997.

His rise through the South Africa ranks was a rapid one. Relatively unknown in 1996, he was named the Most Promising Player of the Nite Tournament in 1997, before cementing his place in the national squad.

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André Vos
Club: Cats
Height: 1.95m
Age: 25
Position: Flanker
International career: Caps: 48, Test Points 35, Test Tries 7.

Cats number eight André Vos retains the captaincy for the Tri Nations after the miserable summer series against England.

Regarded as a destructive forager, Vos has represented South Africa at every level (U21, U23 and SA 'A').

Used during the World Cup primarily as an "impact" player, he looks sure to be a star of the future.

Vos is highly regarded by his club coach, former All Black Laurie Mains, who led New Zealand to the World Cup final in South Africa in 1995.

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Ollie Le Roux
Club: Sharks
Height: 1.82m
Age: 27
Position: Prop
International career: Caps: 30, Test Points 5, Test Tries 1

At six feet tall and weighing nearly 20 stones, Ollie Le Roux is feared the world over.

A comprehensive scrummager, he is also renowned for keeping the ball in hand.

When he made his debut at the age of 20 in 1993, he became the youngest prop ever to become a Springbok, surpassing the great Piet du Toit by just 14 days.

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Andre Venter
Club: Cats
Height: 1.95m
Age: 29
Position: Flanker
International career: Caps: 48, Test Points 35, Test Tries 7.

Andre Venter has it all. Immense speed, physical presence and stamina make him one of the finest forward's in world rugby.

Venter made his first appearance in a Springbok shirt when he replaced then-captain Francois Pienaar in August 1996. He has not looked back.

A constant presence in the South Africa team since, he has a formidable scoring record at Super 12 and international level. England beware.

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Pieter Rossouw
Club: Stormers
Height: 1.93m
Age: 28
Position: Wing
International career: Caps: 36, Test Points 95, Test Tries 19.

Although he was dropped from the Springbok squad at the start of the 1999 season, Pieter Roussouw fought his way back into the side for the World Cup.

Standing six feet four inches tall, he represents a considerable threat at pace and forms a key component of Western Province's back line.

Rossouw won his first cap, along with Percy Mongomery, during the second Test against the British Lions in 1997.

A supreme talent at sevens, he will hoping to utilise his speed and power on the hard South African surfaces this summer.