World Cup-winning veteran lock Bakkies Botha will start for South Africa against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

Despite reports that he is not ready for more than 20 or 30 minutes of rugby, Botha will start his first Test since injuring his knee against Argentina back on August 9.

The only other noteworthy selection is Adrian Jacobs ahead of Jaque Fourie at outside centre. Fourie has been named on the replacement bench after also making his comeback from an injury suffered in the same Test as Botha — against the Pumas in August.

The starting XV shows five changes from South Africa's last Test — a 53-8 Tri-Nations victory against Australia on August 30.

As expected captain John Smit replaces Brian Mujati at tight head as he continues the "evolution" of his career, Botha returns in the place of Andries Bekker at lock after recovering from his injury, Ruan Pienaar replaces Butch James at flyhalf, while wings Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen return in the place of Jongi Nokwe and Odwa Ndungane respectively.

Ricky Januarie is the only survivor on the bench from the Australia Test, with Pienaar graduating to the starting XV, flank Danie Rossouw not included in the match-22, Percy Montgomery having retired — while Adriaan Strauss (hooker), Jannie du Plessis (prop) and Luke Watson (flank) having been omitted from the 28-man tour squad.

Sixteen players in the squad of 22 featured in the previous Test against Wales, in Pretoria in June — eleven in the starting XV — Conrad Jantjes, Adi Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Enrico Januarie, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Victor Matfield, Botha, Smit and Tendai Mtawarira.

Bekker, Gürthro Steenkamp, Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski and Frans Steyn were on the bench.

Thirteen of the matchday 22 played against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in November last year — Pienaar (fullback), Pietersen, Fourie, Steyn, Habana, Januarie, Kankowski, Smith, Burger, Botha and Smit were in the starting XV; whilst Jantjes and du Plessis came on from the bench. Smith, Fourie (2), Pietersen and Kankowski scored tries in the 34-12 victory.

Matfield and Botha will extend their record as a lock combination in the starting line-up to 43.

Jean de Villiers needs two tries against Wales to equal Joost van der Westhuizen's record of six career tries against the Welsh.

Jaque Fourie needs one try to become the sole record holder for most Test tries as a centre — shares the record of 19 held with legendary Bok midfielder Danie Gerber.

Bismarck du Plessis needs one try to become the sole record holder for most tries as a hooker. He shares the record of five with James Dalton.

Schalk Burger and Juan Smith each need one try to become the sole record holder for most tries as a flank — a record of nine tries they share with Andre Venter.

South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (captain), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira. Replacements: 16 Brian Mujati, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Frans Steyn, 22 Jaque Fourie.

Date: Saturday, November 8
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: Alan Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: Alan Lewis (Ireland), George Clancy (Ireland)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)

365

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