Boks make six changes for Ireland Test

South Africa have made six changes for Saturday’s test at Croke Park against Ireland.

In the front row, Tendai Mtawarira returns to the starting XV in place of Wian du Preez and BJ Botha starts at tighthead with captain John Smit moving to hooker in the place of Adriaan Strauss.

Victor Matfield replaces Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger is back at flank with Danie Rossouw moving from the side of the scrum to number eight.

In the backline Wynand Olivier takes the place of the injured Adi Jacobs.

There are four more changes on the bench – hooker Bismarck du Plessis and prop CJ van der Linde return from injury, whilst Irish-based centre Jean de Villiers is recalled and flank Dewald Potgieter is included in the Test 22 for the first time.

The Springbok team is (test caps in brackets):

15 Zane Kirchner

14 JP Pietersen

13 Jaque Fourie

12 Wynand Olivier

11 Bryan Habana

10 Morne Steyn

9 Fourie du Preez

8 Danie Rossouw

7 Schalk Burger

6 Heinrich Brüssow

5 Victor Matfield

4 Bakkies Botha

3 BJ Botha

2 John Smit - captain

1 Tendai Mtawarira

Reserves:

16 Bismarck du Plessis

17 CJ van der Linde

18 Andries Bekker

19 Jean Deysel

20 Dewald Potgieter

21 Ruan Pienaar

22 Jean de Villiers