Du Randt named to face Scotland
Bok pack revamped for invasion from the north
Springbok coach Jake White on Wednesday named veteran prop Os du Randt in the starting XV of the team to face Scotland in the first of two tests, in Durban on Saturday.
Du Randt has been cleared by the medical team, after missing most of the last two days' training sessions through a groin strain.
As expected, White made wholesale changes for the first match of the year against a Northern Hemisphere rival, following last week's disappointing showing against a World XV.
There are five changes in the pack, which has been revamped for the invasion from the north.
Du Randt and captain John Smit return in the front row – at the expense of injured Deon Carstens and Hanyani Shimange.
At lock Victor Matfield is back in place of the injured Albert van den Bergh, while on the flanks Schalk Burger and Juan Smith come into the starting XV in place of AJ Venter and Wikus van Heerden.
The backline changes see Fourie du Preez at scrum-half in place of Enrico Januarie, with Breyton Paulse coming in on the right wing and Andre Snyman shifting to the left in place of Gaffie du Toit.
Sharks lock Johann Muller and Bulls centre Wynand Olivier can earn their first Springbok test caps, after being named on the replacement bench.
It is clearly White's first choice selection, after he tested his reserve strength against the World XV last week. In the starting XV there are 525 test caps.
Percy Montgomery, who kicked nine penalties (27 points) in the 30-27 win over the World XV at Ellis park last week, needs that same number again to become the first Springbok to score 600 points in Tests for South Africa.
John Smit will lead the Springboks in his 27th Test on Saturday. The Scottish encounter is also his 31st consecutive Test for South Africa (second only to the 39 of Gary Teichman).
The Springboks meet Scotland on Saturday for the 17th time, but only the fourth time in South Africa. South Africa won 12 of the previous 16 Tests and lost four, for a 75 percentage victory margin. The Springboks are unbeaten at home against Scotland.
To date the Springboks have scored 395 points to 172 against Scotland for a match-average of 25-11 in favour of the Boks.
The previous three Tests between the two countries on South African soil played were in Port Elizabeth (1960 – the Boks won 18-10), Durban (2003, 29-25) and Johannesburg (28-19).
South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Breyton Paulse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 André Snyman, 10 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Eddie Andrews, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Os du Randt.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 Johan Muller, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Enrico Januarie, 21 Wynand Olivier, 22 Gaffie du Toit.
Date: Saturday, June 10
Kick-off: 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Venue: ABSA Stadium, Durban
Referee: Donal Courtney (Ireland)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Rob Debney (England)
Television match official: Simon MacDowell (Ireland)
Assessor: Jim Bailey (Wales)
