Springboks’ scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and eighthman Pierre Spies will return to the run-on squad against England on Saturday in the last test of their Grand Slam tour, it was announced on Tuesday.
Spies comes in at the expense of Ryan Kankowski, who has been left out of the match 22, while Pienaar and Francois Hougaard have once again been rotated.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said loosehead prop Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira had passed a late fitness test and was included in the squad.
Mtawarira did not take part in the team’s practice session on Monday because of a knee injury he picked up in Saturday’s 21-17 loss to Scotland.
Team: Zane Kirchner, Gio Aplon, Francois Steyn, Jean De Villiers, Lwazi Mvovo, Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha, Jannie Du Plessis, Bismark Du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, CJ Van Der Linde, Flip Van Der Merwe, Willem Alberts, Francois Hougaard, Patrick Lambie, Adriaan Jacobs. — Sapa