Boks recall star names for France

FRANCE v SOUTH AFRICA
Venue: Stade Municipal, Toulouse Date: Friday, 13 November Kick-off: 1945 GMT

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Smit will lead a hugely experienced South Africa side against France

South Africa have named an entirely different starting XV for Friday's Test against France from the side beaten by Leicester in last week's tour match.

The likes of captain John Smit, flanker Schalk Burger, scrum-half Fourie du Preez and locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha all return to the fray.

France include seven Toulouse players in a side led by Thierry Dusautoir, despite Lionel Nallet's return.

Yann David is preferred to David Marty at centre and wins his second cap.

The only uncapped player in the South African squad is Wian du Preez, who starts on the bench as part of an entire reserve front row - an unusual step in Test rugby.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on France v South Africa

"There are a lot of experienced players in the starting XV as well as on the bench which will be important to our continuity as well as to ensuring that we maintain our structures and play the way we want to," said coach Peter de Villiers.

There are also four changes from their last international against New Zealand with Zane Kirchner, JP Pietersen, Adi Jacobs and Ryan Kankowski all starting.

Meanwhile, France coach Marc Lievremont said the inexperienced David had got the nod ahead of Marty, who has a proven understanding with fellow centre Maxime Mermoz, because of his "explosiveness and strength".

"We chose to go with those qualities. We wanted robustness in the midfield - that's important against South Africa," he said.

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France: D Traille (Biarritz); V Clerc (Toulouse), Y David (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Perpignan), C Heymans (Toulouse); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), J Dupuy (Stade Français); F Barcella (Biarritz), W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), L Nallet (Racing-Metro), R Millo-Chluski (Toulouse), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), L Picamoles (Toulouse).
Replacements: D Szarzewzski (Stade Français), S Marconnet (Stade Français), S Chabal (Racing-Metro), J Bonnaire (Clermont), M Parra (Clermont), D Marty (Perpignan), M Medard (Toulouse), T Domingo (Clermont)

South Africa: Z Kirchner (Bulls); JP Pietersen (Sharks), J Fourie (Lions), A Jacobs (Sharks), B Habana (Bulls); M Steyn (Bulls), F du Preez (Bulls); T Mtawarira (Sharks), B du Plessis (Sharks), J Smit (Sharks, capt), B Botha (Bulls), V Matfield (Bulls), H Brussow (Free State Cheetahs), S Burger (Stormers), R Kankowski (Sharks)
Replacements: A Strauss (Free State Cheetahs), W du Preez (Free State Cheetahs), CJ van der Linde (Leinster), A Bekker (Stormers), D Rossouw (Bulls), R Pienaar (Sharks), W Olivier (Bulls)