Springbok coach Peter de Villiers on Thursday made two personnel changes and one positional switch in his match XV when he named his team to meet England at Twickenham in South Africa’s third and final end-of-year International.
There were also two changes on the bench.
Tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis came into the front row in place of his injured brother Bismarck, with John Smit moving inside to hooker. There was also a change in the back row where Danie Rossouw is promoted from the bench to replace Juan Smith who took a blow to the head against Scotland and has not fully recovered.
The back division is unchanged – with Fourie du Preez still not fully recovered from a quadriceps injury – while there were two changes on the bench.
Flanker Heinrich Brussow could make his Test debut if he is called into action while Chiliboy Ralepelle covers for John Smit. They replace Rossouw and the injured Gurthro Steenkamp.
Team v England
(Test caps in brackets)
1. Beast Mtawarira (9)
2. John Smit (capt) (80)
3. Jannie du Plessis (6)
4. Bakkies Botha (54)
5. Victor Matfield (79)
6. Schalk Burger (48)
7. Danie Rossouw (35)
8. Pierre Spies (18)
9. Ricky Januaries (33)
10. Ruan Pienaar (26) – picture
11. Bryan Habana (45)
12. Jean de Villiers (45)
13. Adi Jacobs (20)
14. JP Pietersen (23)
15. Conrad Jantjes (23)
Reserves:
16. Chiliboy Ralepelle (2)
17. Brian Mujati (11)
18. Andries Bekker (12)
19. Ryan Kankowski (6)
20. Heinrich Brussow (-)
21. Frans Steyn (26)
22. Jaque Fourie (35)
Notes:
· The match will be the 31st test between South Africa and England since 1906. South Africa have won 17, England 12 and 1 match has been drawn in their 30 meetings to date.
· Nine of the match 22 played in the previous meeting between the two countries – the World Cup final in Paris in October 2007.
· John Smit needs one try to join Bismarck du Plessis and James Dalton for the most tries in Tests as a hooker. The record stands at five.
· Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will extend their record as a lock combination in the starting line-up to 44
· Schalk Burger needs one try to become the sole record holder for most tries as a flank (Current record is nine shared with Andre Venter and Juan Smith).