Durban – Seven changes have been made to the Bok team that will play Samoa in the deciding Rugby World Cup Pool D clash at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on Friday.
Victor Matfield, who returns from a hamstring strain after a two-match absence, will captain the Springboks.
The Bulls lock takes John Smit’s place as captain, who drops to the bench, in a pre-planned move to allow Bismarck du Plessis to start his first match of the tournament.
The Springboks need at least one point from the match to be sure of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
There are five changes in the pack as Du Plessis is partnered with the returning Tendai Mtawarira and brother Jannie du Plessis in an all-Sharks front row.
The final change among the forwards sees the return of Heinrich Brussow to the back row.
Bakkies Botha was unavailable for selection after injuring a hamstring against Namibia. Smit, CJ van der Linde, Gurthro Steenkamp and Willem Alberts all drop to the bench.
JP Pietersen and Fourie du Preez return to the starting line-up among the back division, while the versatile Francois Hougaard drops to the bench. Fit-again Jean de Villiers can also be found on the bench.
Friday’s match kicks off at 20:30pm (9:30am SA time).
South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Substitutes: 16 John Smit, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 CJ van der Linde, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Jean de Villiers. – Kemantha Govender, BuaNews
