Jean de Villiers has withdrawn from the South Africa team to play Wales on June 5th due to injury. The Munster centre hurt his shoulder and has been replaced by Jaque Fourie.
It means Fourie will now play alongside Bath’s Butch James in midfield. Coach Peter de Villiers initially decided not to select the Stormers centre due to his side’s participation in the Super 14 final against the Bulls this weekend.
Ulster tighthead BJ Botha and Leinster loosehead CJ van der Linde have already been named in the South Africa side.
De Villiers, who returns to South Africa during the summer, had originally planned to feature for the Barbarians when they take on Ireland at Thomond Park on Friday week but his involvement with the Springboks put paid to that.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney will not name his side for that match until next week but his starting line-up is unlikely to feature any of the Leinster players involved in Saturday’s Magners League final against the Ospreys.
Leicester’s Geordan Murphy, due contest the English Premiership decider with Saracens, is also likely to be rested.
South Africa(v Wales): Francois Steyn; Gio Aplon; Jaque Fourie, Butch James, Odwa Ndungane; Ruan Pienaar, Ricky Januarie; CJ van der Linde, John Smit, BJ Botha; Danie Rossouw, Andries Bekker; Francois Louw, Dewald Potgieter, Joe van Niekerk. Replacements:Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Alistair Hargreaves, Ryan Kankowski, Meyer Bosman, Juan de Jongh, Bjorn Basson.