Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has dropped a selection bomb by axing star flyhalf Morné Steyn in one of six changes to the team for the Tri-Nations Test against New Zealand in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Steyn, who started in the third Test against the British and Irish Lions after two under-par performances by Ruan Pienaar, slotted the series clinching penalties in injury time of the second Test at Loftus Versfeld.

It was Steyn's outstanding display in that second Test, when he came on as a replacement for a struggling Pienaar, that will be remembered for decades to come.

Yet Steyn now makes way for Pienaar again in the starting XV.

There are a further six changes to the Springbok bench for the All Black Test.

Steyn, wings Odwa Ndungane and Jongi Nokwe, centre Wynand Olivier, number eight Ryan Kankowski and injured lock Johann Muller have all been axed from the team after starting in the 9-28 loss to the B&I Lions in Johannesburg almost three weeks ago.

They make way for Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Pierre Spies and Bakkies Botha.

Olivier, Steyn and Kankowski have all been included on the Springboks' replacement bench for the Test against the All Blacks.

Most of the changes are understandable - as Pietersen, De Villiers, Habana, Spies and Botha are first-choice selections anyway.

Botha missed the third Test as a result of the absurd two-match ban for clearing out a ruck and the others were all rested.

However, the axing of Steyn comes as a major shock - considering his sublime form throughout the year, in the Super 14 and against the Lions.

Two Boks – De Villiers and Habana – will play in their 49th Tests for South Africa, while Fourie du Preez (47th) and Jaque Fourie (46th) are both approaching the milestone of 50 Tests for the Springboks.

Jannie du Plessis, who was not involved in the Test series against the British & Irish Lions, has been included as reserve prop on the bench.

South Africa: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (captain), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Wynand Olivier.

Date: Saturday, July 25
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Tim Hayes (Wales)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

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