Meyer makes six changes for Wales
...and Matfield to equal John Smit’s South African record of 111 Tests.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has made six changes to the matchday squad from the team that beat the World XV 47-13 last weekend in Cape Town for the match against Wales on Saturday.
The first international of the two-match series will take place in Durban at King Parks Stadium with the game set to kick-off at 5.05pm.
Jan Serfontein will make his first start for the Springboks as he replaces Frans Steyn, who has removed himself from national selection.
Gurthrö Steenkamp will also start in his 50th Test appearance for the Springboks and become only the sixth prop to achieve this feat behind Os du Randt, CJ van der Linde, Ollie le Roux, Jannie du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira.
The third change to the starting XV sees scrumhalf Fourie du Preez start ahead of Ruan Pienaar, while Cornal Hendricks will make his official debut for his country on the wing.
Victor Matfield will captain the Springboks. It will be the 18th time in a Test where he has led from the front and will equal John Smit’s South African record of 111 Tests in the Green and Gold.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha,3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Lodewyk de Jager, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
