South Africa v New Zealand, Port Elizabeth, August 20
Steyn back at fly-half for Boks
ESPNscrum Staff
August 16, 2011
Morne Steyn finds his range during Springboks training, Hyde Park High School, Johannesburg, South Africa, July 12, 2011
Morne Steyn will get the chance to impress at fly-half on Saturday © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Tri Nations
Teams: South Africa

Peter de Villiers has opted to make five changes to the Springboks side for their Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand on Saturday.

The Springboks boss has recalled fly-half Morne Steyn at the expense of Butch James despite expressing concerns over the Bulls playmaker's form. Steyn lined up at fullback in the clash with New Zealand on July 30 but is handed a fresh chance to impress in the No.10 jersey as the Boks look to snap a three-game losing streak.

Elsewhere, back-row Willem Alberts, hooker Bismarck du Plessis and loose-head prop Gurthro Steenkamp all come back into the side at the expense of Danie Rossouw, John Smit and Tendai Mtawarira respectively. In the other change, versatile back Pat Lambie will start at fullback in place of the injured Francois Steyn.

Mtawarira, Rossouw and James are joined on the bench by CJ Van der Linde and Ashley Johnson - who was added to the Boks' squad on Monday. Jean Deysel and Gerhard Mostert drop out of the match 22. In Smit's absence, Victor Matfield will captain the side for a 16th time.

"This is our last chance to look at certain combinations before the Rugby World Cup," said De Villiers. "We've had these changes in mind since we started our planning for the international season, depending on the injury situation."

South Africa: Pat Lambie, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Gurthro Steenkamp, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brussow, Willem Alberts, Pierre Spies

Replacements: John Smit, Tendai Mtawarira, CJ Van der Linde, Danie Rossouw, Ashley Johnson, Francois Hougaard, Butch James

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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