Ollie Le Roux will lead the Springbok midweek team against Ireland A in Thomond Park tomorrow while Gavin Passens, Craig Davidson and Delarey du Preez will make their debuts.
As expected, the experienced Japie Mulder makes his comeback after sustaining a rib injury in the Currie Cup. A good performance could see the strong centre back in the Test team against Ireland on Sunday, especially with the injury doubts about Grant Esterhuizen possibly leaving a gap in the Test midfield.
Mulder, who will form a strong midfield combination with Deon Kayer, replaces Braam van Straaten at inside centre, while the promising Davidson takes the place of last week's captain Dan van Zyl.
Paddy Johns was the only squad player not to take part in yesterday's closed Irish training session at Dr Hickey Park. Johns has a knee injury, though manager Brian O'Brien said this was purely a precautionary measure to avoid contact. Johns is thus expected to be named in the team for Sunday's Test which will be announced at lunchtime today after an open session in Greystones this morning.
Meanwhile, five Irish referees have been invited to officiate in major matches in the coming weeks. David McHugh referees England v South Africa at Twickenham on December 2nd; Alan Lewis England v Argentina at Twickenham on November 25th; Alain Rolland Wales A v South Africa A at Millennium Stadium on November 22nd; Donal Courtney Romania v New Zealand A in Bucharest on November 25th; and David Tyndall England Divisions v South Africa at Worcester on November 28th.
SOUTH AFRICA (v Ireland A): G du Toit; S Terblanche, D Kayser, J Mulder, G Passens; C Rossouw, C Davidson; O le Roux, capt, D du Preez, L Sephaka, H Louw, V Matfield, H Gerber, J Wasserman, AJ Venter. Replacements: C Marais, C van der Merwe, Q Davids, T Manana, D van Zyl, R Loubscher.
