Rugby: Edinburgh show has Boks skipper Victor fearing Capital punishment

The second row, who has played 103 tests for his country, produced a surprise when, following the announcement of a much-changed side compared to that which defeated Wales last weekend, he said he'd be briefing colleagues about what to expect from Scotland partly on the basis of what he has occasionally seen of Edinburgh.

Matfield said: "We get Edinburgh games (on television) at home and I've watched them a few times. Against Northampton (in the Heineken Cup) they played an awesome game."

Edinburgh went down narrowly but scored three long-range tries and Matfield added: "If you can't get quick ball you can't beat defences.

"The offloads, keeping ball alive, getting momentum and the width they played with was dangerous.

"If Scotland play like that they will really test our defence."

Matfield also believes Scotland will be all the more dangerous for last Saturday's 49-3 mauling by New Zealand.

"Scotland have shown in the past year they are a great side.

"It's very hard against the All Blacks when they get momentum and drive.

"Two years ago, we came to Murrayfield and walked away with (just) a four-point victory.

"That showed if your mindset is not right you could suffer and in Test rugby you have to work for everything."

Prospects of a Scottish backlash were echoed by another survivor of that 2008 encounter, Ryan Kankowski, who said: "I remember how tight it was the last time we played Scotland and, since then, they have gone over to Ireland and won.

"Scotland are willing to throw the ball about and have brought some new things to their game. They've chopped and changed under a coach (Andy Robinson) who is very clever. I definitely expect Scotland to go up a level compared with last week.

"You can't judge them after the first match (of the Autumn series) especially as they looked to be trying a few new things against New Zealand.

"They are obviously going to want to bring something out against us. Any team coming off the back of a loss is a tough opponent."

One Springbok expecting a reunion at some stage will be substitute hooker Adriaan Strauss, who was a direct opponent of Scotland's Ross Ford when he represented the British and Irish Lions against Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontain. "I remember Ross as a great player and know Scotland to be a team who can hold on to the ball," said Strauss, who further claimed to have taken inspiration as a youngster from watching John Allan, a hooker who represented both Scotland and South Africa in the 1990s.

Compared to the side which defeated Wales, the world champions have made five changes (one positional), including a late call-up for uncapped winger Lwazi Mvovo.

He replaces the injured Bryan Habana and says he owes his opportunity to a moment of magic on the Lions tour.

Although his Natal Sharks team were beaten 39-3 by the Lions, Mvovo made his name with one particular tackle.

"I think my big break was when I was able to run back and tackle Brian O'Driscoll when he was looking like getting away.

"That got me noticed and now I'm looking forward to representing my country for the first time."

As well as Mvovo, the Boks have given call-ups to No.?8 Kankowski, full back Zane Kirchner and scrum half Francois Hougaard, who warns that the Boks have not yet produced their best on this trip. "We made too many individual mistakes in trailing at half time," said the man who debuted this summer against the All Blacks in a Test played at Soweto's Soccer City ground which hosted the 2010 football World Cup final. "We had to fix our mistakes and take our game to another level."

Meanwhile, coach Pieter de Villiers insists the squad have put behind them a furore that has seen two players, Bjorn Basson and Chiliboy Ralepelle, sent home after failing out of competition drug tests.

"We have moved on, we're professional, we know how to deal with tough moments and we look forward to playing the game on Saturday," said de Villiers.

South Africa: Z Kirchner; G Aplon, F Steyn, J de Villiers, L Mvovo; M Steyn, F Hougaard; T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J du Plessis, B Botha, V Matfield (capt), D Stegmann, J Smith, R Kankowski.

Replacements: A Strauss, CJ van der Linde, F van der Merwe, W Alberts, R Pienaar, P Lambie, A Jacobs.