Wales v South Africa: Jaque Fourie returns for Springboks

South Africa centre Jaque Fourie

Centre Jaque Fourie has been named in the South Africa side to face Wales and plays for his country for the first time since the 2011 World Cup.

The Springboks face Six Nations champions Wales on Saturday.

Prop Frans Malherbe will make his Test debut for South Africa, while wing JP Pietersen also returns to the side.

"We're very fortunate to have two world-class players in JP and Jaque available for selection." said coach Heyneke Meyer.

"I wanted to get them into the action as soon as possible.

"They bring a vast amount of experience to the team and it was clear from our training sessions they are in great form and ready."

Fourie has been plying his trade in Japan for the Kobe Steelers for the last 18 months and had made himself unavailable for Springbok selection.

The 69-times capped Springbok last played for South Africa in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final defeat to the Wallabies in New Zealand.

Tight-head Malherbe, 22, comes in for the injured Jannie du Plessis, while the only other change to the pack of forwards is at lock, with Flip van der Merwe starting next to Eben Etzebeth in the second row.

"Frans has big boots to fill, but he's been with us for most of 2012 and shown good form since recovering from injury recently and we don't have any doubts that he has what it takes to make the step up," said Meyer.

"He'll have two players [loose-head Tendai Mtawarira and hooker Bismarck du Plessis] with more than 50 Test caps each next to him in the scrum, and his general work-rate across the field and on defence is very good. I'm very happy for Frans."

A second uncapped player, Pieter-Steph du Toit, could make his Test debut for the Springboks off the bench.

South Africa team to face Wales: Pat Lambie; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana; Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis (v-captain), Frans Malberhe, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, JJ Engelbrecht, Willie le Roux.