Victor Matfield replaces an injured John Smit to become South Africa’s 52nd captain for the All Blacks Test on Saturday.

Matfield skippered the Springboks for the majority of last week’s match against Australia, as Smit was sidelined with a hamstring injury in the 11th minute. With Smit’s unavailability for the Durban Test, coach Jake White has decided to continue with Matfield and decline bringing in somebody new like Bob Skinstad as indicated in various media reports throughout the week.

Despite many injury concerns, White has named only two changes to the side who beat the Wallabies 22-19. Gary Botha, who came on for Smit in the Newlands win is granted a rare start for the Boks, while Bismarck du Plessis is brought into the squad and could gain his first cap in the second half at Kings’ Park.

There was doubt whether flanker Juan Smith and prop Gurthro Steenkamp would be fit for this clash, and while Os du Randt has come in for Steenkamp, Smith may also be replaced before kickoff on Saturday.

Smith was struggling with a bruised thigh and was expected to be replaced by Skinstad, with Pierre Spies moving to the flank to accommodate the Sharks No 8. However, he has been bracketed with Danie Rossouw in the starting line-up, while Skinstad may come onto the bench if the Cheetahs loose forward is ruled out.

In the backs, Jaque Fourie was also a worry having not trained on Tuesday and Ashwin Willemse is also carrying a niggle. If they do succumb to injury Wynand Olivier and Frans Steyn are likely to fill their respective positions.

Springboks - 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Ashwin Willemse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Butch James, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith/Danie Rossouw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Os du Randt.
Subs: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Danie Rossouw/Bob Skinstad, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Wynand Olivier, 22 Frans Steyn.

Via www.keo.co.za