South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer named a team with three changes on Wednesday for a June 22 four-nation tournament final against Samoa in Pretoria.
Lock Flip van der Merwe replaces Juandre Kruger while flanks Francois Louw and Willem Alberts come in for Marcell Coetzee and the injured Arno Botha compared to the side that beat Scotland 30-17 in Nelspruit last weekend.
Superb ball carrier Alberts faces a test Friday to prove his fitness, as does inside centre and skipper Jean de Villiers, Meyer told reporters.
Siya Kolisi, who made his Springbok debut last weekend as a replacement for Botha, is on stand-by should Alberts be deemed unfit to tackle the Pacific islanders.
Jan Serfontein, captain of the 2012 IRB World Junior Championship-winning team, can look forward to a first start in the green and gold outfit should De Villiers be sidelined.
Vice-captain and hooker Adriaan Strauss would lead South Africa for the first time if De Villiers cannot play in the climax of a three-week tournament also featuring Six Nations sides Italy and Scotland.
“Jean is an integral member of our squad and we will give him all the time he needs to get back to full fitness,” said Meyer.
“We have a strong group of leaders in the squad and if Jean does not make it, Adriaan will take over the captaincy with support from Francois Louw, Pierre Spies, Bryan Habana and Bismarck du Plessis.
“Francois was always going to be back this week (after his wedding) and Willem has been our first-choice ball carrier, so it is good to have them on the training field.
“I am happy that we have been able to keep some form of continuity during these Tests, especially in the backline, where a number of exciting new players have come in and put their hands up.”
Although the Springboks have won the seven previous Tests against the Samoans — many by wide margins — Meyer insisted the islanders would be formidable final opponents.
“They have a strong squad and benefit from their best players competing in Super Rugby and at top club level in Europe, while our focus is on giving an improved performance from last week.”
eam (15-1)
Willie le Roux; Bryan Habana, JJ Engelbrecht, Jean de Villiers (capt) or Jan Serfontein, Bjorn Basson; Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Pierre Spies, Willem Alberts or Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw; Flip van der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Juandre Kruger, Siya Kolisi or Marcell Coetzee, Piet van Zyl, Patrick Lambie, Jan Serfontein or Juan de Jongh
Coach: Heyneke Meyer
South Africa change three for Samoa
