Injuries to Fourie du Preez and Ricky Januarie mean Sharks scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar will start for the first time in the number nine jersey when South Africa host Australia in the Tri-Nations opener at Newlands on Saturday.
In all there are 11 changes to the Springbok team that ran out against Samoa last weekend. The only players to retain their places are wingers Ashwin Willemse and JP Pietersen, prop BJ Botha and captain and hooker John Smit.
Besides his two first-choice scrumhalves, coach Jake White was also unable to consider winger Bryan Habana, who is nursing a knee injury.
It will be the first time this year that centres Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie combine in midfield following the availability again of Fourie.
In the absence of the injured Bob Skinstad, who started his first match for South Africa in four years against Samoa last week, Pierre Spies returns to the back of the scrum.
Bulls loose forward Danie Rossouw will sit on the bench alongside scrumhalf Michael Claassens, who only joined the squad this week.
There is also no place in the match 22 for Os du Randt, who started against Samoa last week. — AFP
Team: Percy Montgomery; Ashwin Willemse, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, JP Pietersen; Butch James, Ruan Pienaar; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; BJ Botha, John Smit (captain, Gurthro Steenkamp. Replacements: Gary Botha, CJ van der Linde, Johann Muller, Danie Rossouw, Michael Claassens, Wynand Olivier, Frans Steyn.