Steenkamp set for 50th cap

South African prop Gurthrö Steenkamp will make his 50th Test appearance for the Springboks when they take on Wales at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.

Kick off for the game is 5pm.

Steenkamp was included in the starting line-up for the first Welsh Test and is one of six changes to the match-day squad from the team which comprehensively beat the World XV last weekend in Cape Town.

Cornal Hendricks, who looked good for the Springboks last weekend at DHL Newlands, will make his Test debut on Saturday, while his provincial team mate from the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, the uncapped Lood de Jager, has been selected on the bench.

The two changes in the backline are at inside centre, where Jan Serfontein will earn his first Test start for South Africa, and scrumhalf, where Fourie du Preez will start with Ruan Pienaar on the bench alongside Tendai Mtawarira, who has swapped places with Steenkamp.

The 32-year-old Steenkamp, who made his international debut on 27 November 2004 against Scotland in Edinburgh, will become the 29th Springbok to reach 50 Test caps.

In doing so he will become the sixth prop to achieve this feat behind Os du Randt, CJ van der Linde, Ollie le Roux, Jannie du Plessis and Mtawarira.

“This is a wonderful achievement for Gurthrö and I’m very proud of him,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“He has been playing Test rugby for a decade and is vastly experienced at all levels of the game. Gurthrö always gives everything he has for the Springbok jersey and it’s always good to see commitment and hard work pay off.”

Four players who are part of the squad were not considered for selection because of illness and injury. They are Juan de Jongh (chest infection), Siya Kolisi (flu), Oupa Mohoje (flu) and Marnitz Boshoff (ankle).

The Springbok team to face Wales in Durban is:

15. Willie le Roux 12 caps 20 points
14. Cornal Hendricks 0 caps 0 points
13. JP Pietersen 51 caps 80 points
12. Jan Serfontein 9 caps 5 points
11. Bryan Habana 95 caps 265 points
10. Morné Steyn 54 caps 636 points
9. Fourie du Preez (vice-captain) 67 caps, 75 points
8. Duane Vermeulen 16 caps 5 points
7. Willem Alberts 30 caps 35 points
6. Francois Louw 28 caps 25 points
5. Victor Matfield (captain) 110 caps 35 points
4. Bakkies Botha 78 caps 35 points
3. Jannie du Plessis 51 caps 5 points
2. Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain) 57 caps 45 points
1. Gurthrö Steenkamp 49 caps 30 points

Replacements:
16. Schalk Brits 5 caps 0 points
17. Tendai Mtawarira 53 caps 10 points
18. Coenie Oosthuizen 14 caps 10 points
19. Lood de Jager 0 caps 0 points
20. Schalk Burger 68 caps 65 points
21. Ruan Pienaar 74 caps 130 points
22. Johan Goosen 4 caps 8 points
23. Lwazi Mvovo 7 caps 5 points