South Africa v Wales, Rugby World Cup, Hamilton, September
Boks name most experienced side ever
ESPNscrum Staff
September 8, 2011
South Africa skipper John Smit barks orders, Australia v South Africa, Tri-Nations, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, July 23, 2011
South Africa's John Smit will lead the most experienced Springboks side ever © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Peter De Villiers | John Smit
Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup
Teams: South Africa

South Africa have named the most experienced team in their history for the Rugby World Cup clash with Wales in Wellington on Sunday.

The Springboks will launch the defence of their title with a side boasting a total of 815 Test caps - narrowly surpassing the mark of 810 caps they fielded against Australia in Durban in August.

Coach Peter de Villiers has made five changes to the side that defeated New Zealand 18-5 in Port Elizabeth last month with a recall for captain John Smit at hooker, loose-head prop Tendai Mtawarira, loose forward Schalk Burger and fullback Frans Steyn while Danie Rossouw replaces Bakkies Botha with the veteran lock sidelined with an Achilles heel problem.

De Villiers named five forwards on the bench with Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Willem Alberts dropping out of the starting line-up while Ulster-based lock Johann Muller could make his first appearance since the third Test against the British & Irish Lions in 2009.

The 22 contains 16 players who were part of the victorious 2007 squad, with 11 in the starting 15.

South Africa: Frans Steyn; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean De Villiers, Bryan Habana; Morné Steyn, Fourie Du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit (c), Jannie Du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies

Replacements: Bismarck Du Plessis, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Johan Muller, Willem Alberts, Francois Hougaard, Butch James

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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