South Africa coach Jake White has gone with tried and tested combinations for Saturday’s first of two Tests against England.
Ten of the 15 players selected in the starting team featured in last weekend’s Super 14 final between the Sharks and Bulls.
The one surprise selection is that of winger Ashwin Willemse, who has struggled with numerous injuries after bursting on to the international scene in 2003.
Willemse has only played a handful of games in the last year, but is a favourite of White’s.
The Sharks combination of BJ Botha, captain John Smit and Deon Carstens will lay the foundation in the front row, while the Bulls second row of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will lock the scrum.
Western Stormers flanker Schalk Burger also returns to the international fold after sitting out most of last season with a neck injury.
White has somewhat surprisingly named only two backs on the replacements bench — Sharks duo Ruan Pienaar and Francois Steyn.
The starting XV has 418 caps between them, a distinct advantage over England who’ll take the field with a mere 172 caps between them. The second Test is next Saturday at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Team: Percy Montgomery; Ashwin Willemse, Wynand Olivier, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana,; Butch James, Ricky Januarie; Danie Rossouw, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Deon Carstens. Replacements: Gurthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha, CJ van der Linde, Johann Muller, Pierre Spies, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn.