Smit returns to front-line, Peel to captain Wales

Team news: South Africa captain John Smit will make his long-awaited return to action in Sunday's Pool A clash against Samoa in Paris.

The 29-year-old hooker has not played since injuring his hamstring against Australia in a Tri-Nations match in June. But he has timed his return to perfection and will line up against the Pacific Islanders at the Parc des Princes.

Springboks coach Jake White has stuck to his word and will put out his strongest possible team against the Samoans, with the probable pool decider against England next Friday in mind.

In the absence of the injured Blue Bull Pierre Spies, Danie Rossouw is at number eight, while the fly-half berth goes to Butch James. JP Pietersen continues on the right wing, with speed merchant Bryan Habana on the opposite flank.

Meanwhile, scrumhalf Dwayne Peel will captain Wales for the first time in Sunday's match against Canada in Nantes.

Gareth Thomas, the squad captain, has been named on the Wales bench with Sonny Parker promoted to inside centre as one of three changes to the team beaten by France in the final warm-up game last month.

Props Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins are preferred to Chris Horsman and Duncan Jones in the frontrow.

Thomas is joined on the bench by outhalf Stephen Jones, who has recovered from a serious hip flexor injury but has not played any rugby since the first week of May.

Jones was rested for Wales's summer tour to Australia and then missed the three August Tests after injuring his hip flexor in training at the end of July.

Outhalf James Hook and hooker Matthew Rees plus locks Ian Gough and Alun-Wyn Jones will all make their World Cup debuts on Sunday.

South Africa team: P Montgomery; JP Pietersen, J Fourie, J de Villiers, B Habana; B James, F du Preez; O du Randt, J Smit, CJ van der Linde, Bakkies Botha, V Matfield, S Burger, J Smit, D Rossouw. Replacements: B du Plessis, BJ Botha, J Muller, A van den Berg, R Januarie, A Pretorius, F Steyn.

Wales team: K Morgan; M Jones, T Shanklin, S Parker, S Williams; J Hook, D Peel; G Jenkins, M Rees, A Jones, I Gough, A-W Jones, J Thomas, M Williams, A Popham. Replacements: T Rhys Thomas, D Jones, M Owen, C Charvis, M Phillips, S Jones, G Thomas