Blue Bulls lock Bakkies Botha is all set for his 50th Test cap after he was named in a Springbok side showing three changes from last weekend's 19-8 defeat at the hands of New Zealand.
The World Champions have the chance for instant revenge in the second match of this year’s Tri Nations in Dunedin this Saturday, with Botha partnering new skipper Victor Matfield in the second row for the 40th time.
John Smit’s absence due to a groin injury sees Bismarck du Plessis start at hooker, while Peter de Villiers has also chosen to change two of the back three that begun the match in Wellington.
Percy Montgomery moves a step closer to the 100-cap mark as he replaces Conrad Jantjes at full back in what will be his 98th international appearance.
JP Pietersen has been preferred to Odwa Ndungane on the right wing, with Jantjes taking a place among the replacements and Ndungane dropping out of the matchday squad altogether. South Africa (vs New Zealand, Carisbrook, Saturday, July 12)
15 Percy Montgomery 14 JP Pietersen 13 Adrian Jacobs 12 Jean de Villiers 11 Bryan Habana 10 Butch James 9 Ricky Januarie
1Gurthro Steenkamp 2 Bismarck du Plessis 3 CJ van der Linde 4 Bakkies Botha 5 Victor Matfield (c) 6 Schalk Burger 7 Juan Smith 8 Joe van Niekerk
Replacements
16 Schalk Brits 17 Brian Mujati 18 Andries Bekker 19 Luke Watson 20 Ruan Pienaar 21 Francois Steyn 22 Conrad Jantjes Saturday's match will be shown live on Sky Sports, with kick-off at 8.35am.
