Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday, 6 November
Kick-off: 1445 GMT Wales give a first cap to Ospreys No 8 Ryan Jones as they bid to halt the juggernaut Springboks in Cardiff.
Inexperienced Steve Jones is in at hooker with Mike Owen at second row, wing Hal Luscombe the surprise choice in the backs with Gavin Henson at 12.
Tri-Nation champions South Africa have hooker and captain John Smit fit from an ankle injury to lead them on the first leg of their Grand Slam bid.
Ashwin Willemse is a shock choice at wing after returning from knee injury.
 |  This South Africa side looks really hungry and has got a bit of venom about it |
"Obviously having some success in the Tri Nations has helped our self-confidence and our growth as a young team," said Smit, who will be winning his 35th cap. "The last two or three years haven't been pretty for South African rugby, but [coach] Jake White has come in and created a completely different approach.
"He's selected guys that he has been involved with from a young age, and there is a mutual respect between players and coach.
"We actually haven't achieved much yet and want to go up a few levels - we come from a country where rugby runs through our veins, so the people at home are looking for us to do well on this tour."
It is a new beginning for Wales, their first game since Gareth Thomas was made captain and the first Test for new coach Mike Ruddock at the Millennium Stadium.
Rudock says his team will be looking for payback after a weakened side fell to a 53-18 hammering to the Springboks in June at the end of their summer tour. "We want to try and gain revenge for the defeat in Pretoria," said Ruddock. "South Africa are going for a Grand Slam tour, and it is up to us to try and spoil the party. "The autumn internationals represent a big period for us. We want to try and put in place the things that can hopefully make us successful for this season's Six Nations Championship.
"The players we have selected are the form players, and we are looking to keep the continuity going from what Steve Hansen did when he was coach."
Wales are bidding to beat the Springboks for just the second time in history, the first coming in the inaugural game at the Millennium Stadium in 1999.
"We have to be confident, like we were in 1999, the current team can take heart from that," said Thomas. "It's been done before and can be done again. We want to be part of something that people will talk about for years to come."
Wales: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); H Luscombe (Dragons), S Parker (Ospreys), G Henson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont-Auvergne), D Peel (Scarlets); D Jones (Ospreys), S Jones (Dragons), A Jones (Ospreys), B Cockbain (Ospreys), M Owen (Dragons), D Jones (Scarlets), C Charvis (Newcastle), R Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: M Davies (Neath), G Jenkins (Blues), L Charteris (Dragons), M Williams (Blues), M Phillips (Scarlets), C Sweeney (Dragons), T Shanklin (Blues).
South Africa: P Montgomery (Dragons); B Paulse (Western Province), M Joubert (Western Province), De Wet Barry (Western Province), A Willemse (Lions); J van der Westhuyzen (NEC), F du Preez (Blue Bulls); Os du Randt (Free State Cheetahs), J Smit (Natal Sharks), E Andrews (Western Province), B Botha (Blue Bulls), V Matfield (Blue Bulls), S Burger (Western Province), J Smith (Free State Cheetahs), J van Niekerk (Western Province).
Replacements: H Shimange (Western Province); CJ van der Linde (Free State), G Britz (Free State Cheetahs), T Dlulane (Pumas), M Claassens (Free State Cheetahs), J de Villiers (Western Province), B Russell (Natal).
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)
MMIX
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