Peter de Villiers claims more than 12 shortlisted players failed to make South Africa's final squad for the three-match Test series against the British and Irish Lions.
The Springbok coach included just two uncapped players in his 28-man list that will face the tourists, but there were still plenty of questions raised as to who would occupy the critical fullback role.
The two new faces - Earl Rose and Morne Steyn - are two of the candidates to fill the void created by the season-ending injury to Conrad Jantjes.
Golden Lions No. 15 Rose was part of the Springbok squad that toured Europe at the end of last year, while Bulls first five-eighths Steyn earned his place after an outstanding 2009 Super 14 campaign in which he helped his franchise lift the title on Saturday.
"I'm really excited with the opportunity that lies ahead for these players," De Villiers said. "It was very difficult and tough to leave some players out of this squad."
"I know of more than 12 players that easily could have been in this side. But I do feel that this is the best group we could have put together."
"I think we do have a few brilliant players in the squad that have played in that [full-back] position already. I'm not sure how or in what way you qualify as a recognised rugby player, but we do have a few options."
"If you look at a guy like JP Pietersen, he's played there for the Sharks. I think Morne himself is very good at fullback - Jaque Fourie, he's done it for years with his province and South Africa too there. Also, Francois Steyn can play there. So we've got a few guys and I think it's really a good squad."
The team, which will be led by veteran captain John Smit, includes 10 players from the Bulls' victorious Super 14 squad and 25 members of the party that toured Wales, Scotland and England at the end of last year.
It also includes Deon Carstens and Wynand Olivier, both of whom last played for the national team in 2007, while Ruan Pienaar and utility back Frans Steyn, who have been recovering from injury in recent weeks, are also named.
De Villiers continued: "We have some great ball carriers and some great runners in our team. The challenge for us is to get the mixture right."
"There will always be disappointments, but for the guys that are there, for them it's the biggest challenge in their lives."
"We don't think and look at what we could have, but we would like to make the most of the opportunities that we do have."
Skipper Smit was also pleased with the players named in his team and emphasised that it was a big 'privilege' to be selected.
He said: "It's a massive occasion for us. It's certainly one that will only come once in a lifetime."
"Some of the greatest players for all three countries, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia can spend their whole careers and not have an opportunity to play against the Lions by sheer bad timing. So all we have is a massive privilege."
"If you are one of the four home nations, you get the chance every four years to play for the British and Irish Lions. We only have that chance every 12 years and with that comes