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.
