Rising South Africa star Pat Lambie will start at fly-half in Saturday's clash with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The 22-year-old pivot was one of the stars of the Currie Cup season
and his inclusion - in place of the injured Johan Goosen - is one of
three changes to the Springboks team that lost to New Zealand in Soweto
last month.JP Pietersen returns to the right wing and lock Juandre Kruger is recalled for Bryan Habana and Andries Bekker respectively, both changes forced by injury.
"I'm excited to see what Pat can bring to the team," said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. "He played very well in the last few weeks of the Currie Cup and hopefully he can bring that momentum with him on Saturday.
"It's also good to have JP back. He's had a great season and will want to finish the season on a high. At lock, there has been strong competition for the No 5 jersey all season and now Juandre gets an opportunity again."
Saracens hooker Schalk Brits starts on the bench and is expected to be used as an impact replacement in what is his first international since 2008.
The forecast for Saturday is cold, wet and windy and Meyer added: "I've said from the outset that I'd like to see which of the players can handle the Northern Hemisphere conditions on this tour, as it will be the same for the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
"We'll be facing an Ireland team that is never an easy opponent in Dublin. The Springboks have only won one of their last four Tests here and since they lost at Aviva Stadium against South Africa in November 2010, they have recorded a number of good victories at their home ground."
Meyer confirmed that Leinster prop Heinke van der Merwe has been called up to the Springbok squad for the duration of the tour as cover for Gurthro Steenkamp.
South Africa: Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Jaco Taute, Jean de Villiers, Francois Hougaard, Pat Lambie, Ruan Pienaar, Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Juandre Kruger, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira
. Replacements: Schalk Brits, CJ van der Linde, Pat Cilliers, Flip van der Merwe, Marcell Coetzee, Morne Steyn,. Juan de Jongh, Lwazi Mvovo.
http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/15177/8231598/Pat-Lambie-starts-for-South-Africa-in-Dublin
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