Out-of-form John Smit to take seat on bench

World Cup-winning captain John Smit will drop to the bench in one of five changes announced in South Africa's team for the Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand this weekend.

The out-of-form Smit is to be replaced at hooker by Sharks team-mate Bismarck du Plessis who has produced some sparkling performances recently.

Lock Victor Matfield will captain the Springboks in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, their final match before they take on Wales at the World Cup in New Zealand on 11 September

Coach Peter de Villiers said the decision to relegate Smit, who started the last three Tri-Nations games, had been planned in advance. "John is ready for the World Cup… but we need to keep Bismarck on his toes, too. They need to compete with each other," De Villiers said.

Gurthro Steenkamp, who was South Africa's player of the year in 2010 but has had an injury disrupted 2011, starts at loosehead prop instead of Tendai Mtawarira.

Sharks loose forward Willem Alberts also makes his first Test start ahead of Danie Rossouw.

Patrick Lambie replaces the injured Francois Steyn at fullback, while Morne Steyn is preferred at fly-half to 2007 World Cup winner Butch James.

South Africa: P Lambie; JP Pietersen, J Fourie,J de Villiers, B Habana; M Steyn, F du Preez; G Steenkamp, B du Plessis, J du Plessis, B Botha, V Matfield, H Brussouw, W Alberts, P Spies. Substitutes: T Mtawarira, J Smit, CJ van der Linde, D Rossouw, A Johnson, F Hougaard, B James.