Martyn Williams is back in action for the Barbarians © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Matches: Barbarians 26 - 20 South Africa

Tournaments/Tours: South Africa tour

Teams: Barbarians | South Africa

Discarded Wallaby Matt Giteau will end his northern hemisphere tour on a high after being handed the captaincy of the Barbarians for Saturday's Twickenham showdown with South Africa.

The Brumbies playmaker, who lost his place in the Australia side to Berrick Barnes for recent Tests against Italy and France, starts at fly-half against the Springboks in what is his third Baa Baas appearance in the last four years.

He is joined at halfback by Wallabies colleague Will Genia, while wing Drew Mitchell, centre Adam Ashley-Cooper, fullback James O'Connor and hooker Stephen Moore all bolster the Aussie ranks with starting roles.

Centre Ma'a Nonu leads a five-strong All Black contingent in the starting XV, with Joe Rokocoko starting out wide and Neemia Tialata, Chris Jack and Rodney So'oialo in the pack. On the bench, Keven Mealamu, Daniel Braid, Andy Ellis and Stephen Donald complete the Kiwi contingent.

Wales flanker Martyn Williams is back for more after representing the Baa Baas in their June meetings with England and Ireland and will be hoping for another big showing against the Springboks after scoring a solo try against them in black and white hoops during a 22-5 win in 2007.

His Cardiff Blues team-mate John Yapp takes a spot among the replacements while Italy's Salvatore Perugini starts at loose-head to complete the Six Nations representation. Chiefs No.8 Colin Bourke and Stormers lock Anton van Zyl are the uncapped players in the squad and both start.

South Africa have made 12 changes for Saturday's showdown, with promising Sharks youngster Patrick Lambie and Lions playmaker Elton Jantjies making their first starts in a Springbok jersey.

Seven front-line players have been ruled out of the game after suffering injuries in last weekend's 21-11 victory over England. Tour skipper Victor Matfield, Jean de Villiers, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Zane Kirchner all miss out.

Jantjies starts at fly-half alongside Francois Hougaard, while Lambie switches to fullback in place of Kirchner. Late call-up Andries Strauss will be thrown straight into action at inside-centre while another player brought in as cover, Odwa Ndungane, starts on the wing.

Flanker Juan Smith captains the side from a much-changes back-row, where Willem Alberts starts at openside and Ryan Kankowski at No.8. Sharks lock Alistair Hargreaves appears for the first time on tour and is joined in the second-row by the experienced Bakkies Botha. CJ van der Linde, Adriaan Strauss and Coenie Oosthuizen pack down in the front-row.

Barbarians: J O'Connor (Aus); J Rococoko (NZ), A Ashley-Cooper (Aus), M Nonu (NZ), D Mitchell (Aus); M Giteau (Aus, capt), W Genia (Aus); S Perugini (Ita), S Moore (Aus), N Tialata (NZ), A van Zyl (Stormers), C Jack (NZ), R So'oialo (NZ), M Williams (Wales), C Bourke (Chiefs)

Replacements: K Mealamu (NZ), J Yapp (Wales), Q Geldenhuys (It), D Braid (NZ), A Ellis (NZ), S Donald (NZ), S Rabeni (Fij)

South Africa: P Lambie (Sharks); O Ndungane (Sharks), A Jacobs (Sharks), A Strauss (Sharks), L Mvovo (Sharks); E Jantjies (Lions), F Hougaard (Bulls); C Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), A Strauss (Cheetahs), CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), B Botha (Bulls), A Hargreaves (Sharks), W Alberts (Sharks), J Smith (Cheetahs), R Kankowski (Sharks)

Replacements: B Maku (Lions), T Mtawarira (Sharks), AN Other, F van der Merwe (Bulls), K Daniel (Sharks), C McLeod (Sharks), G Aplon (Stormers)

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Berdos (Fra), Peter Allan (Sco)
TMO: RFU