Juan Smith has been recalled by South Africa after a three-year absence for a Rugby Championship Test in Argentina Saturday.
The flanker replaces Marcell Coetzee in one of the three changes to the Springboks starting line-up that laboured to a 13-6 victory over the Pumas in Pretoria last weekend.
Eben Etzebeth comes in for Bakkies Botha at lock and loose-head prop Gurthro Steenkamp replaces Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira.
Coetzee, Botha and Mtawarira have been named among eight replacements for the second-round southern hemisphere match in north-western city Salta.
In a change to the backline replacements, wing-cum-full-back Lwazi Mvovo gets the nod ahead of centre Jan Serfontein.
The inclusion of Smith, 33, who last wore the green and gold against England in 2010 at Twickenham, is the latest chapter in a fairy-tale comeback.
An achilles tendon injury early in 2011 sidelined Smith for two years and after five unsuccessful operations, his rugby career appeared over.
But French giants Toulon thought otherwise, offered him a contract, and he helped them become 2014 European champions by scoring a try in the final triumph over English opponents Saracens.
Smith, who can operate as a flanker, No. 8 or lock, also collected a French Top 14 winners’ medal with Toulon.
“We had a couple of options at blind-side flanker, but decided that this was a great opportunity to give Juan a chance,” coach Heyneke Meyer said in a statement.
“He was one of the best players for Toulon last season after more than two years out of the game and helped them win two major competitions.
“Apart from his experience and leadership, Juan is also a superb ball-carrier and brilliant at the back of the line-outs,” said Meyer.
The demotions of Mtawarira, Botha and Coetzee were expected as the Springboks battled to contain the Pumas pack in monsoon-like conditions.
Expected to win comfortably and claim a four-try bonus point, South Africa had to survive a late onslaught to start the Championship with a victory.
Team (15-1)
Willie le Roux; Cornal Hendricks, Damian de Allende, Jean de Villiers (capt), Bryan Habana; Handre Pollard, Ruan Pienaar; Duane Vermeulen, Juan Smith, Francois Louw; Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Bakkies Botha, Marcell Coetzee, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo
Wales prop Jones says central dispute forced Cardiff move
Wales prop Adam Jones says the ongoing dispute between the sport’s national body and its four professional regions forced his surprise move from Ospreys to the Cardiff Blues.
The 33-year-old, capped 95 times by his country and six times for the British and Irish Lions, penned an open letter to Ospreys fans after signing a one-year deal to play at Cardiff Arms Park, having been out of contract since the end of last season.
“As pretty much the whole world and his wife will know by now, I had been waiting for a deal to be struck between the regions and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), over a new participation agreement, so the Ospreys could conclude a fresh contract with me,” he wrote in the South Wales Evening Post.
“I haven’t been getting any money, but I was just hoping that the row that has blighted Welsh rugby for so long could be finally settled and I could pull on the black shirt again.”
The game is mired in an impasse between the Welsh Rugby Union and the top four clubs over a new participation agreement regarding contracts, funding and national team releases.
“Then on Sunday morning I received a call from the Blues asking whether I fancied a move there. I had to think long and hard about their proposal because I know all about regional rivalry and how much it matters in Wales,” he said.