South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has made eight changes to his team for Saturday’s one-off Test against Wales that falls outside the international window.
Meyer has been forced into a handful of changes because of the unavailability of players based outside of South Africa, meaning a raft of up-and-coming players will get the chance to shine at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Prop Tendai Mtawarira, hooker Bismarck du Plessis, full-back Willie le Roux, and wing duo Cornal Hendricks and Lwazi Mvovo will all start.
The changes in the back three were required because Johan Goosen (Racing Metro), Bryan Habana (Toulon) and JP Pietersen (Panasonic Wild Knights), who started in last weekend’s 22-6 victory over Italy in Padova, are not available this week.
The two changes to the front row are rotational.
Adriaan Strauss, who started at hooker in the victories over England and Italy, moves to the bench, where he will be joined by Trevor Nyakane and Damian de Allende in the only other changes to the match-day 23.
“This tour has been a good test of our depth and we’re looking forward to see what the team can do on Saturday,” said Meyer, whose team have also beaten England 31-28 on tour.
“We will face a fired-up Welsh side this weekend. They played very well against New Zealand and it will be a tough end to our season, but we want to finish on a high and the focus this week has been on ensuring we keep on building on what we’ve done thus far this year.
“All the players coming into the team have been part of our squad for most of the season. They know our plans and structures and now it’s about execution on Saturday.”
Injuries and the non-availability of overseas-based players for matches outside the international Test window have meant that only three players — Le Roux, Du Plessis and Duane Vermeulen — have played in all 12 Tests for the Springboks in 2014.
Wales gave a battling display in a 34-16 defeat by the All Blacks last weekend, leading with 69 minutes played but wilting badly to concede four late tries.
But if history is anything to go by, South Africa will fancy their chances in Cardiff.
The two teams have played each other 29 times since 1906, with the Springboks winning 27, losing one (1999) with one drawn (1970).
The Springboks have scored 808 points and 101 tries and conceded 428 points and 36 tries for an average score of 28-15.
The last time they played, the Springboks mounted a stunning comeback to beat Wales 31-30 in Nelspruit in June.
Team (15-1)
Willie le Roux; Cornal Hendricks, Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers (capt), Lwazi Mvovo; Pat Lambie, Cobus Reinach; Duane Vermeulen, Teboho Mohoje, Marcell Coetzee; Victor Matfield, Eben Etzebeth; Coenie Oosthuizen, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Julian Redelinghuys, Lood de Jager, Nizaam Carr, Francois Hougaard, Handre Pollard, Damian de Allende