South Africa have named five new caps to the starting team set to face Wales in Saturday’s first test at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium.
Bob Skinstad will lead the Springbok team which includes Johannes Conradie and Andre Pretorius as the new halfback pairing.
Conradie and Pretorius will both make their test debuts after being rewarded for impressive Super 12 campaigns.
The new pairing will have a golden opportunity to stake their claim in the side after the retirement of Henry Honiball and the poor form of Joost van der Westhuizen.
Skinstad retains the captaincy from last season and will form a powerful trio in the pack with new boy Warren Britz and AJ Venter.
Fullback Ricardo Loubscher will also make his test debut while right wing Stefan Terblanche is playing in his first test since November 2000.
Also featuring for the first time will be Andre Snyman who will line up at inside centre.
Steve Hansen is poised to name his squad tomorrow (Thursday) for the first game in the two-test tour.
South Africa: Ricardo Loubscher; Stefan Terblanche, Marius Joubert, Andre Snyman, Breyton Paulse; Andre Pretorius, Johannes Conradie; Daan Human, James Dalton, Willie Meyer, Jannes Labuschagne, Victor Matfield, Warren Britz, AJ Venter, Bob Skinstad (capt)
