Coach Peter de Villiers on Thursday made two changes and one positional switch to his starting XV when he named his team to meet England at Twickenham in South Africa’s third and final end-of-year International.

There were also two changes on the bench.

Tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis came into the front row in place of his injured brother Bismarck, with John Smit moving from number three to hooker.

There was also a change in the back row where Danie Rossouw is promoted from the bench to replace Juan Smith, who took a blow to the head against Scotland last week and has not fully recovered.

The back division is unchanged — with Fourie du Preez still not fully recovered from a quadriceps injury, while there were two changes on the bench.

Flank Heinrich Brussow could make his Test debut if he is called into action, while Chiliboy Ralepelle covers for John Smit.

They replace Rossouw and the injured Gurthro Steenkamp.

The match will be the 31st Test between South Africa and England since 1906. South Africa have won 17, England 12 and one match has been drawn in their 30 meetings to date.

Nine of the match 22 played in the previous meeting between the two countries — the World Cup Final in Paris in October 2007.

John Smit needs one try to join Bismarck du Plessis and James Dalton for the most tries in Tests as a hooker. The record stands at five.

Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will extend their record as a lock combination in the starting line-up to 44.

Schalk Burger needs one try to become the sole record holder for most tries as a flank. He shares the record, of nine, with Andre Venter and Juan Smith.

South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Ricky Januaries, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Heinrich Brussow, 21 Frans Steyn, 22 Jaque Fourie.

Date: Saturday, November 22
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Alan Rolland (Ireland), Romain Poite (France)
TMO: Peter Allan (Scotland)

365

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