J.J. Harmse

Dublin - It will be like riding a bicycle for John Smit, a unique chance for Jean de Villiers, just reward for hard work for Wynand Olivier and very little sleep for Dewald Potgieter.

Smit has been selected as hooker for Saturday's Test against Ireland at Croke Park, De Villiers as substitute after his hasty decision to make himself unavailable for Munster and Olivier plays in only his second Test this year in the number 12 jersey for the Boks. Potgieter will make his Test debut as a substitute.

Bok coach, Pieter de Villiers, wants to make his pack heavier and more experienced and this is the reason why Danie Rossouw was picked at eighthman in a new loose trio that includes Schalk Burger and Heinrich Brüssouw.

Wian du Preez, Adriaan Strauss and Ryan Kankowski, who all ran out against Italy, are all excluded.

Du Preez and Strauss will be joined by two more Grey College old boys, CJ van der Linde and Bismarck du Plessis, on the bench.

There is an outside chance that Kankowski may still be included.

Bakkies Botha is struggling with a back injury and did not take part in Thursday's practice.

Andries Bekker would then play in (Bakkies) Botha’s place, which would mean that Kankowski may well then be taken up into the Test team.

The inclusion of Potgieter is a reward for the good form he has shown for the Blue Bulls this year. He has already played for the Boks against Saracens and for the Emerging Bok team that played against the British and Irish Lions.

Burger, who injured his ribs against France, is fit again.

Olivier will play in the place of the injured Adrian Jacobs, and Jean de Villiers, included in the squad on Thursday says that it is a unique opportunity as a Munster player playing for the Boks to play against his current team-mates in the Irish team.

Peter de Villiers did not hesitate to pick the centre.

"To have to fly someone in that would only arrive on Friday and then have to play a Test on Saturday is senseless. Jean is already here so he could join us immediately and he is still familiar with our structures," said the coach.

His decision to pick Smit at hooker was for tactical reasons and due to the availability of CJ van der Linde and BJ Botha.

"This is just good luck. We have not had a choice for the last three months and had to play the guys into the ground. Now we have choices and can even make tactical switches as a result," said De Villiers.

Smit was full of confidence for his "new" role after more than 60 Tests in that position. "I last played in that position in the Super 14, but there is no problem. To play at hooker is like riding a bicycle for me.”