Botha in for Boks

Bakkies Botha has been named in a full-strength South Africa XV for Saturday’s Test against Wales in Cardiff.

Lock Botha was expected to miss the game due to a lack of match fitness but will start at the Millennium Stadium.

Tendai Mtawarira will partner Bismarck du Plessis and captain John Smit in the front row while Pierre Spies is preferred to Ryan Kankowski at number eight.

In total, South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made five changes to the side which thumped Australia 53-8 in the Tri-Nations two months ago.

Team: Conrad Jantjes; JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit (captain), Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies.

Replacements: Brian Mujati, Gurthro Steenkamp, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ricky Januarie, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie.