South Africa have made seven player changes and one positional switch for Saturday's Tri-Nations match against New Zealand in Soweto.

Scrum-half Francois Hougaard and lock Flip van der Merwe will make their first starts for the Springboks.

The defending champions have lost three successive matches.

Unbeaten New Zealand, who need only a point from their final two games to win their 10th Tri-Nations title, have brought in Jimmy Cowan and Ben Franks.

The match will take place at the 90,000-capacity FNB Stadium, formerly Soccer City, venue for last month's World Cup football final, and will be the first time the Springboks have played in the township of Soweto.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers also recalls wing JP Pietersen, centres Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh, flanker Juan Smith and prop Jannie du Plessis.

Hougaard made his name as a wing for his provincial team the Bulls but will start for his country at scrum-half.

Gio Aplon moves from wing to full-back in place of the injured Zane Kirchner and experienced flanker Smith, a World Cup winner in 2007, plays his first Test since September 2009.

Captain John Smit makes his 100th Test appearance, only the second South African after Percy Montgomery to do so.

Cowan is back at scrum-half for the unbeaten All Blacks in place of Piri Weepu after recovering from a rib injury, and Franks returns at tight-head prop for his third Test start.

The All Blacks, with four wins out of four in the competition thus far, have won all eight of their Test matches this year, and 13 matches in succession since last year.

Daniel Carter has 207 points against the Boks, two behind current record holder Andrew Mehrtens, while Joe Rokocoko is one try off equalling former full-back Christian Cullen's record of 10 tries against South Africa.

South Africa: Gio Aplon, JP Pietersen, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Flip van der Merwe, Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ van der Linde, Danie Rossouw, Francois Louw, Ricky Januarie, Butch James, Wynand Olivier.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Ben Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg, Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Samuel Whitelock, Victor Vito.


BBC