Wales v South Africa, Millennium Stadium, November 13
Teenager North to face Springboks
ESPNscrum Staff
November 11, 2010
Springbok fullback Frans Steyn gets his pass away during training at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa, August 23, 2010
Frans Steyn starts at outside-centre for South Africa © Getty Images
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Wales coach Warren Gatland has handed a Test debut to teenage Scarlets wing George North as one of four changes to his side to face South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

The 18-year-old is joined in the back-three by a fit again Lee Byrne and replaces Dragons wing Will Harries, while James Hook shifts from fullback to inside-centre in place of Ospreys team-mate Andrew Bishop.

Stand-in captain Victor Matfield will become South Africa's record Test cap holder when he leads the side out for his 103rd appearance.

The 33-year-old Bulls lock will surpass the previous best held by Percy Montgomery and injured skipper John Smit as part of a side that includes just the one change from the line-up that defeated Ireland in Dublin last weekend.

Francois Steyn comes straight into the starting XV at centre at the expense of Zane Kirchner after joining up with the squad from Racing Metro on Monday. He partners Jean de Villiers in midfield, with the former Munster man having trained despite concerns over a groin strain he is carrying.

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); G North (Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys) S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets, capt), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys).

Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys), A Powell (Wasps), R Rees (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys), C Czekaj (Cardiff Blues)

South Africa: G Aplon (Western Province); B Basson (Griquas), F Steyn (Racing Metro), J de Villiers (Western Province), 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), F Hougaard (Blue Bulls), Z Kirchner (Blue Bulls), P Lambie (Natal Sharks)

Referee: Steve Walsh (Aus)
Assistant Referees: Bryce Lawrence (NZ), Stuart Terheege (Eng)
TMO: Graham Hughes (Eng)

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