Several players are missing from the two-match tour – South Africa also play the Barbarians in a non-cap match at Twickenham a week on Saturday – but the side still contains plenty of experienced campaigners.
As well as Smit and Habana, the IRB World Player of the Year, World Cup final starters J.P. Pietersen, Jaque Fourie and Francois Steyn will line up in the backs, while back-rowers Schalk Burger and Juan Smith, second row Bakkies Botha and prop C.J. van der Linde help to form a powerful pack.
Sharks No.8 Ryan Kankowski is the only new cap in the side.
The match, in which the teams will be competing for the inaugural Prince William Cup, will be South Africa’s first Test since they defeated England 15-6 to win the Webb Ellis Trophy in Paris on October 20th.
In all, the team shows six changes and a positional switch from that which triumphed at Stade de France. Among those missing against Wales will be goalkicking fullback Percy Montgomery, impressive half-back duo Butch James and Fourie du Preez, No.8 Danie Rossouw and lock Victor Matfield.
Ruan Pieenar takes the injured Montgomery’s place, while Andre Pretorius and Ricky Januarie will form the new half-back pairing. Kankowski is the only player from outside the Rugby World Cup squad in the starting XV.
He was called up following the withdrawal of the injured Rossouw and Wikus van Heerden, with the retirement of Bobby Skinstad and the continuing recovery of Pierre Spies also creating a back row space.
In the front row, van der Linde moves to loosehead following the retirement of Os du Randt, while Johann Muller takes Matfield’s lock spot. Front-row forward Heinke van der Merwe, on the bench, is included in the Springboks’ matchday 22 for the first time.
The fixture will mark South Africa Coach Jake White’s final full international in charge before he steps down next month. White said recently that he wanted to take time to consider his future, although he has been linked with a number of jobs, including a position with England.
Wales Caretaker Coach Nigel Davies, who hands over to Warren Gatland next week, named his side on Tuesday, for what will be the hosts’ first Test since a 38-34 defeat at the hands of Fiji saw them fail to reach the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, a loss that led to the exit of former coach Gareth Jenkins.
Ospreys centre Gavin Henson is set to make his first Wales start for more than a year while Llanelli fullback Morgan Stoddart is the only debutant in the starting line-up.
Wales: Morgan Stoddart; Mark Jones, Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, Tom Shanklin; James Hook, Dwayne Peel; Jonathan Thomas, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Colin Charvis; Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones; Rhys Thomas, Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins (Capt)
Replacements: T.R. Thomas, Duncan Jones, Luke Charteris, Alix Popham, Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Tom James
South Africa: Ruan Pienaar; J.P. Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Andre Pretorius, Ricky Januarie; Ryan Kankowski, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Johann Muller, Bakkies Botha; Jannie Du Plessis, John Smit (Captain), C.J. van der Linde
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Heinke van der Merwe, Albert van den Berg, Hilton Lobberts, Wynand Olivier, Conrad Jantjes, Akona Ndungane
Ticket sales are going well for the inaugural Prince William Cup match between Wales and South Africa. If you want to be part of a very special occasion then tickets are available to personal callers only to the WRU Ticket Shop (98, St Mary Street, Cardiff), Thursday 9am-7pm, Friday 9am-7pm and on Saturday from 9am to kick off.
Tickets, priced at £20, £40, £45, £50 and £60 for this unique match against the reigning World Champions, will also be available on Saturday from the Cardiff Blues ticket office from 9am to kick off and from booths around the Millennium Stadium from 9am to kick off.
