Springbok coach Peter De Villiers has been forced to name a raft of changes © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Peter De Villiers | Deon Stegmann

Tournaments/Tours: South Africa tour

Teams: Ireland | South Africa

South Africa coach Peter De Villiers has named a much-changed side to face Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Bulls flanker Deon Stegmann makes his Test debut in place of Schalk Burger, who is sidelined with a broken rib, while impressive Sharks youngster Patrick Lambie could be set for an international bow after being bracketed with Jean De Villiers at inside-centre.

De Villiers faces a fitness test on a groin injury and Lambie could be thrust into the spotlight once again after inspiring his club side to the Currie Cup title last weekend with a 25-point haul. Lambie's uncapped team-mates Lwazi Mvovo, Keegan Daniel and Willem Alberts are all named on the bench pending further news on injuries.

Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner has been shifted into the unfamiliar outside-centre position following a raft of injuries and will go up against Ireland skipper Brian O'Driscoll.

"It's a new-look side but with 13 season-ending injuries it couldn't be anything else," De Villiers said. "But we're looking on the positive side and this is a great opportunity to test some new players in the toughest conditions.

"Our hand has been forced in our centre selection. Hopefully Jean will recover in time but if not, Patrick Lambie has played at inside centre for The Sharks before he was moved to 10 and Zane is defensively strong and a strong ball runner."

Bakkies Botha returns from suspension alongside skipper Victor Matfield in the second-row while hooker Bismarck du Plessis and prop Tendai Mtawarira will make their first appearances of 2010 in the front-row.

"We also have a number of senior players returning to the team after long lay-offs for one reason or another and they are keen to re-stake their claim to a starting place," De Villiers said. "We've not had much time to bed this new team together but the players have worked hard all week to be as well prepared as we possibly can be."

South Africa: G Aplon (Western Province); B Basson (Griquas), Z Kirchner (Blues Bulls), J de Villiers (Western Province)/P Lambie (Natal Sharks), B Habana (Western Province); M Steyn (Blue Bulls), R Pienaar (Ulster); T Mtawarira (Natal Sharks), B du Plessis (Natal Sharks), J du Plessis (Natal Sharks), B Botha (Blue Bulls), V Matfield (Blue Bulls), D Stegmann (Blue Bulls), J Smith (Free State Cheetahs), P Spies (Blue Bulls)

Replacements: C Ralepelle (Blue Bulls), CJ van der Linde (Free State Cheetahs), F van der Merwe (Blue Bulls), W Alberts (Natal Sharks)/K Daniel (Natal Sharks), F Hougaard (Blue Bulls), A Jacobs (Natal Sharks), P Lambie (Natal Sharks)/L Mvovo (Natal Sharks)