John Smit looks to Springboks' senior service for Aussie test

Springboks skipper John Smit is happy to have South Africa's senior players back in the team for the Tri-Nations Test against Australia.

The world's most experienced international captain, Smit said that the return of battle-hardened veterans like vice captain Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Fourie du Preez from injury meant it was "one of the best" teams South Africa had fielded for some time.

Smit and Matfield have both played more than 100 Tests, and the Boks are banking on the experience of a host of other 2007 World Cup winners against the Wallabies as they search for a first win of the season to kickstart their World Cup run-in.

"It's a pretty good team," Smit said. "Hopefully we'll be able to use those guys and step it up, and the experience they've gained, hopefully we can put it out on the field.

"It really has been fantastic (to have the senior players back). We've created an amazing understanding between five or six of the guys in terms of what their responsibilities are on the field. It's hopefully going to slot back in to how it's been for the last five or six years."

South Africa has picked a near full-strength team for today's game in Durban, with injured flanker Schalk Burger arguably the only frontliner missing. It's the first run-out of 2011 for most of the Springboks' top stars after an injury-weakened squad lost heavily in Australia and New Zealand at the start of the Tri-Nations.

Smit said despite the team fielding a strong line-up in a home game, and with rugby's showpiece less than a month away, that didn't add any more expectation or pressure than normal. "Expectation is always there. If it's got green and gold on it, the public expects us to do well and win," the skipper said.

The 33-year-old Smit, South Africa's 2007 World Cup-winning captain, will play his 105th and last test at his home ground of Kings Park, which he said would be "pretty emotional." He's set to retire from internationals after his third World Cup later this year.

There will likely be little time to savour the appearance, however, with South Africa mindful of being off the pace, with so many players returning from injury layoffs.

Thirteen of the 15 starting Springbok players haven't played a Test this season, and scrumhalf Du Preez and flanker Heinrich Brussow haven't appeared in international rugby for nearly two years.