South Africa have announced that winger Breyton Paulse has been recalled for Saturday’s Test against France having been absent from their past two matches because of club commitments.
Paulse had been retained by his French club, Clermont, for Top 14 league matches, which the Auvergne side won against Brive and Toulouse.
His return could help cushion the anticipated suspension of Percy Montgomery, who was red-carded during last weekend’s match against Wales in Cardiff following a second yellow card for a high tackle.
The sending-off does not automatically mean a suspension for the following match, although Montgomery could face sanctions after a disciplinary commission meets in London on Tuesday.
South Africa’s previous two matches led to victories in Argentina (34-23) and Wales (33-16).
Nine changes to France
Meanwhile, France coach Bernard Laporte made nine changes to his side for the Test against South Africa from the side who won 43-8 against Tonga at the weekend.
Laporte returned to the line-up that beat Australia 26-16 earlier this month — with the exception of fullback Julien Laharrague, who suffered a knee sprain against Tonga. Lock Fabien Pelous is suspended and Thomas Lievremont is on the replacements bench with the return of Julien Bonnaire from suspension.
Prop Pieter de Villiers steps into the place of Stade Francais teammate Sylvain Marconnet at the right with hooker Dimitri Szarzewski replacing former skipper Raphael Ibanez.
In the second row, Castres lock Lionel Nallet was preferred to Gregory Lamboley, while in the third row Stade Francais flanker Remy Martin will play on wing with Bonnaire in the centre in place of Sebastien Chabal.
Scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and flyhalf Frederic Michalak have been favoured by Laporte over Dimitri Yachvili and Yann Delaigue.
Centres Yannick Jauzion and Florian Fritz will team up once again with Cedric Heymans on the wing in place of Toulouse teammate Vincent Clerc.
David Marty has been left out of the team, while Saracens flyhalf Thomas Castaignede moves to the back to fill in for the injured Laharrague. — Sapa-AFP