Wales v S Africa: Teams

World champions South Africa face Wales in the inaugural Prince William Cup on Saturday.

The match will be the Springboks' first outing since winning the Webb Ellis trophy in October and is also coach Jake White's last full international in charge.

Despite a string of injuries and withdrawals, White has still been able to name nine of his World Cup-winning team in the starting XV.

Ricky Januarie has been selected in place of Fourie du Preez at scrum-half, whilst Ruan Pienaar takes up a place on the right wing.

Andre Pretorious takes over from Percy Montgomery at fly-half and Natal Sharks loose-forward Ryan Kankowski is set to make his debut in place of Danie Rossouw at number eight.

Incentive

Wales have won just once in 19 meetings between the nations and Springbok captain John Smit has dismissed suggestions the visitors could take the challenge lightly.

"They have this to be a trial for their Six Nations campaign, which is coming up," Smit said. "Everyone will say this is a step down from where we've come from in the World Cup, but we have the responsibility of defending our crown.

"Any Test loss would be an embarrassment to South Africa.

"Every single game is life and death for us."

South Africa also have the chance to extend their record of 13 Test wins in a single calendar year against a Welsh team in transition.

Caretaker-coach Nigel Davies takes charge of Wales for the first time since the sacking of Gareth Jenkins.

In his first piece of business, he has recalled Ospreys centre Gavin Henson to the starting line-up for the first time in a year.

Llanelli full-back Morgan Stoddart is also set for his debut, whilst emerging Newport prop Rhys Thomas, Ospreys lock Ian Evans and Cardiff back row forward Robin Sowden-Taylor are all named in the first XV.

Dragons fly-half Ceri Sweeney, who can also provide cover at centre, moves onto the bench in place of injured Scarlets fly-half Stephen Jones.

Blues prop Gethin Jenkins is the country's new captain meanwhile, with Wales badly in need of a lift.

Fears

The nation is currently in danger of slipping out of the world's top 10 teams in the IRB rankings.

And their first round exit in France was the nation's worst showing at a World Cup.

They beat South Africa at the opening of the Millennium Stadium in 1999 though, and will hope to at least restore some pride with a performance.

IRB Player of the Year Bryan Habana will be a key man to contend with this time round though, having scored an incredible 30 tries in his 35 Tests so far.

With the RBS Six Nations to come in the new year, Wales will have plenty to play for against what they hope will be a slightly jaded South African side.

Wales: 15 M Stoddart (Llanelli Scarlets); 14 M Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), 13 S Parker (Ospreys), 12 G Henson (Ospreys), 11 T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues); 10 J Hook (Ospreys), 9 D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); 1 G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues, captain), 2 H Bennett (Ospreys), 3 R Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), 4 A-W Jones (Ospreys), 5 I Evans (Ospreys), 6 C Charvis (Newport Gwent Dragons), 7 R Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues), 8 J Thomas (Ospreys).
Replacements: 16 TR Thomas (Cardiff Blues), 17 D Jones (Ospreys), 18 L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), 19 A Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), 20 M Phillips (Ospreys), 21 C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), 22 T James (Cardiff Blues).

South Africa: 15 R Pienaar, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 J Fourie, 12 F Steyn, 11 B Habana, 10 A Pretorius, 9 R Januarie, 1 CJ van der Linde, 2 J Smit (capt), 3 J du Plessis, 4 B Botha, 5 J Muller, 6 S Burger, 7 J Smith, 8 R Kankowski.
Replacements: 16 B du Plessis, 17 H van der Merwe, 18 A van den Berg, 19 H Lobberts, 20 W Olivier, 21 A Ndungane, 22 C Jantjes.