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CAPE TOWN - World Cup winner Francois Steyn will start at first five-eighth when South Africa host Italy in a one-off test in Cape Town on Sunday.
"I'm looking forward to see how he goes there," Springbok coach Peter de Villiers told reporters today.
"He plays the situation very well, he's very young and you can see it in the way he plays."
Steyn's return to the starting line-up was one of six changes from the side that defeated Wales 37-21 in Pretoria last week.
Steyn, whose last start came at the World Cup where he played centre, fills in for regular No 10 Butch James who was given the week off to recover ahead of South Africa's Tri-Nations campaign.
Uncapped winger Odwa Ndungane's inclusion marks a Springbok milestone as he and his twin brother, 11-capped Akona Ndungane, become the only identical twins to have represented South Africa.
Prop CJ van der Linde replaces BJ Botha at tighthead, number eight Ryan Kankowski comes in for Pierre Spies and Gcobani Bobo takes over from outside centre Adrian Jacobs.
John Smit's absence due to commitments with French club Clermont in the Top 14 gives Bismarck du Plessis a chance to start at hooker, while Victor Matfield assumes the captaincy in the interim.
De Villiers has selected five forwards on the bench replacing Du Plessis and Gurthro Steenkamp with uncapped hooker Schalk Brits and his Stormers teammate Brian Mujati.
"Italy is exactly what we need for our preparation for the Tri-Nations - they had the best scrum in the Six Nations," said De Villiers.
"They will be inspired to be playing against the world champions and I do not want to underestimate them."
Springboks
Conrad Jantjes, Odwa Ndungane, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Francois Steyn, Enrico Januarie, Ryan Kankowski, Juan Smith, Luke Watson, Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Schalk Brits, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Joe van Niekerk, Schalk Burger, Peter Grant, Ruan Pienaar.
- REUTERS
