Number 8 Joe van Niekerk was a surprise inclusion in South Africa's starting side named on Thursday to play the All Blacks in the first Tri-Nations rugby Test at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

Van Niekerk was selected ahead of dynamic options Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski in a loose forward trio that also features Schalk Burger, making his first Test start of the year after overcoming injury.

There is no place in the backline for two World Cup heroes, fullback Percy Montgomery and utility Francois Steyn, who are both on the reserves bench.

Conrad Jantjes is fullback for the fourth Test in a row while Adrian Jacobs is centre alongside Stormers teammate Jean de Villiers in the midfield.

Captain John Smit is one of nine players who started in the Rugby World Cup final defeat of England at Paris last October.

South Africa: Conrad Jantjes, Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit (capt), Gurthro Steenkamp. Res: Bismarck du Plessis, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Luke Watson, Bolla Conradie, Francois Steyn, Percy Montgomery.

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