BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | International | Springboks ring the changes

South Africa coach Rudolph Straeuli has made wholesale changes to the team to face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Straeuli has made 10 alterations to the side which slumped to defeat against France in Marseilles last weekend.

Captain Corne Krige and Joe Van Niekerk, the rising star of Springboks rugby, both keep their places in the back row of the scrum.

Pierre Uys, one of three players set to win a debut cap this weekend, comes in to join them.

There are players who have paid the price for the inept performance against France

South Africa coach Rudolph Straeuli

Two players who have been out with long-term injuries are set to return.

Fly-half Butch James and centre Robbie Fleck have both been out of action for more than a year and will make their first starts.

Some of the South Africa changes have been forced, with prop Willie Meyer and centre Jean de Villiers both picking up injuries which have forced them to go back home.

Prop Lawrence Sephaka and scrum-half Neil de Kock face fitness tests on Thursday to see if they can take their places on the bench.

South Africa's Butch James is back in the side after injury
Butch James returns from injury for South Africa

The big gamble is in the front five of the pack where Straeuli has gone for one new cap in prop Deon Carstens and two players starting for South Africa for the first time in prop Wessel Roux and lock Marco Wentzel.

"The Test against France was an incredible let-down, and there are those who have paid the price for the inept performance," said Straeuli.

"The coaching staff set high standards, and we won't tolerate a performance of such mediocrity.

"We have picked a team we believe is capable of winning and doing South African rugby and South Africans proud.

"Saturday is a chance to get the tour back on track."

South Africa: W Greeff (Western Province), B Paulse (Western Province), M Joubert (Western Province), R Fleck (Western Province), F Lombard (Free State), B James (Natal Sharks), J Conradie (Western Province), W Roux (Blue Bulls), L Van Biljon (Natal Sharks), D Carstens (Natal Sharks), M Wentzel (Pumas), J Labuschange (Lions), C Krige (Western Province), P Uys (Pumas), J Van Niekerk (Lions).
Replacements to be named.


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