Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has made six changes to the team that dominated Wales last week ahead of Saturday’s one-off Test against Italy.
South Africa beat Wales 37-21 in Pretoria last week to seal the series 2-0, but De Villiers has opted to ring the changes and also include new faces on the bench ahead of the Italy match.
In the backline, Odwa Ndungane comes in on the right wing, centre Gcobani Bobo returns to partner Jean de Villiers in midfield and Francois Steyn gets a run at flyhalf.
Up front, Ryan Kankowski replaces Pierre Spies at number eight, while in the front row CJ van der Linde gets his first start under De Villiers at tighthead and Bismarck du Plessis takes the place of regular captain John Smit.
Smit has returned to France to play for his club, Clermont. Veteran fullback Percy Montgomery has also gone back to France to don the jersey of Perpignan in the French Top 14 semifinal against Clermont.
In Smit’s absence, lock Victor Matfield will captain the team. With Smit unavailable, there is likely to be a first cap for Stormers hooker Schalk Brits, who’ll sit on the bench alongside flanker Schalk Burger, who missed the Wales series with injury.
Lions loose forward Joe van Niekerk is also back in the Springbok team for the first time in three years.
Italy, who named their team on Wednesday, are coached by former Boks boss Nick Mallett.
The match will be South Africa’s last before departing for New Zealand to kick off the 2008 edition of the Tri-Nations competition.
South Africa: Conrad Jantjes; Odwa Ndungane, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Francois Steyn, Ricky Januarie; Ryan Kankowski, Juan Smith, Luke Watson; Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha; CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Schalk Brits, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Joe van Niekerk, Schalk Burger, Peter Grant, Ruan Pienaar.
Italy: Andrea Marcato; Kaine Robertson, Andrea Masi, Gonzalo Garcia, Matteo Pratichetti; Luke McLean, Simon Picone; Josh Sole, Robert Barbieri, Alessandro Zanni; Carlo del Fava, Santiago Dellapè; Carlos Nieto, Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain), Michele Rizzo. Replacements: Fabio Ongaro, Ignacio Rouyet, Jaco Erasmus, Tommaso Reato, Pablo Canavosio, Enrico Patrizio, Riccardo Pavan. — AFP
