Former Stormers centre Huw Jones will start in one of six personnel changes to the Scotland side to face the Boks in Edinburgh on Saturday.
The return of Jones is the only change to the back division, with Scotland’s pack featuring the remaining five alterations.
Gordon Reid will start at loosehead prop, while hooker Stuart McInally and lock Jonny Gray are elevated from the bench. Gray will be partnered in the second row by Ben Toolis, with Hamish Watson slotting back in on the flank.
The final change to the pack is a positional switch for last Saturday’s Man of the Match, Sam Skinner, who starts at blindside flank.
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said they were expecting a fierce battle against the Boks.
‘South Africa have made a lot of improvements over the past three or four months, beating the All Blacks in New Zealand and putting in an 80-minute performance to defeat France in Paris, which underlines their quality.
‘Their traditional strength has always been their physicality and this remains a key point of difference for them. We expect them to be confrontational and powerful in their ball carrying, their defence and also at set-piece time. It will be a great challenge for our forward pack in particular.
‘South Africa have always had a smart kicking game with an excellent chase, but what we’ve seen over the past few months is an ambition to move the ball from counter-attack and a push to get their forwards passing the ball more.
‘Our defence will have to be strong to nullify this ambitious attacking game plan. We’re looking forward to playing one of the best teams in the world and playing once more in front of a sell-out crowd at Murrayfield.’
WP Nel, Josh Strauss and Allan Dell are the three South African-born players named in the Scotland match 23.
Scotland – 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Pete Horne, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (c), 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Sam Skinner 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Ben Toolis, 3 WP Nel, 2 Stuart McInally, 1 Gordon Reid.
Subs: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Josh Strauss, 20 Jamie Ritchie, 21 Ali Price, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Chris Harris.
Photo: World Rugby
