The veteran lock Victor Matfield will equal John Smit's rugby test match appearance record for South Africa when he leads out the Springboks against Wales for the first test in Durban on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Matfield, who has not played international rugby since the 2011 World Cup, will make his 111th appearance, and 18th as captain, at the same time reuniting with Bakkies Botha in a vastly experienced lock pairing.
Also returning to the starting line-up is prop Gurthro Steenkamp, one of six changes, four positional, to the match-day squad from the team that beat a World XV in Cape Town last week.
Wing Cornal Hendricks will make his test debut, while his provincial team mate from the Cheetahs, uncapped lock Lood de Jager, starts from the bench.
Centre Jan Serfontein will earn his first test start for the Springboks, alongside JP Pietersen, after Frans Steyn withdrew from the June internationals for personal reasons.
Flank Schalk Burger, who has also not played for the Boks since 2011, is on the bench.
Team:
South Africa: 15-Willie le Roux, 14-Cornal Hendricks, 13-JP Pietersen, 12-Jan Serfontein, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Morn+ Steyn, 9-Fourie du Preez, 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Willem Alberts, 6-Francois Louw, 5-Victor Matfield (captain), 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-Jannie du Plessis, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Gurthr+ Steenkamp.
Substitutes: 16-Schalk Brits, 17-Tendai Mtawarira, 18-Coenie Oosthuizen, 19-Lood de Jager, 20-Schalk Burger, 21-Ruan Pienaar, 22-Johan Goosen, 23-Lwazi Mvovo (Editing by John O'Brien)
