Dublin - World champions South Africa have recalled lock Victor Matfield for their tour-ending showdown against Six Nations kings Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

Matfield was one of four changes, as well as two positional switches, made by the Springbok selectors to the team that beat Italy 32-10 last week.

His inclusion, in place of Andries Bekker, sees him resume his formidable second-row partnership with Bakkies Botha.

Meanwhile, in the front row, powerful scrummager Tendai Mtawarira returns in place of Wian du Preez and BJ Botha starts at tighthead with captain John Smit moving to hooker in the place of Adriaan Strauss.

The experienced Schalk Burger is back on the flank with Danie Rossouw moving from the side of the scrum to No 8.

There is one change to the backline with Wynand Olivier starting at 12 in place of the injured Adi Jacobs.

On the bench, there are four other changes, with Bismarck du Plessis and prop CJ van der Linde returning from injury.

Ireland based centre Jean de Villiers, only brought into the squad on Wednesday in place of Jacobs, is recalled and flanker Dewald Potgieter is included in the Test 22 for the first time.

This tour has not been the triumphant finale to a fine year that world and Tri-Nations champions South Africa would have wanted.

They lost 20-13 to France and have also been beaten in tour games by English Premiership sides Leicester and Saracens.

South Africa come into this match looking to avoid a third straight defeat by Ireland, having lost both their two previous games in Dublin.

Smit will equal Percy Montgomery’s record as the most capped Springbok against Ireland (six caps), while Jaque Fourie will equal Jean de Villers’s record as the most capped Springbok centre (43 Tests).

The Springbok team is (Test caps in brackets):

15. Zane Kirchner (3)
14. JP Pietersen (32)
13. Jaque Fourie (53)
12. Wynand Olivier (26)
11. Bryan Habana (56)
10. Morne Steyn (11)
9. Fourie du Preez  (54)
8. Danie Rossouw (45)
7. Schalk Burger (54)
6. Heinrich Brüssow (12)
5. Victor Matfield (91)
4. Bakkies Botha (65)
3. BJ Botha (18)
2. John Smit (92) – Captain
1. Tendai Mtawarira (21)

Reserves

16. Bismarck du Plessis (31)
17. CJ van der Linde (57)
18. Andries Bekker (20)
19. Jean Deysel (1)
20. Dewald Potgieter (uncapped)
21. Ruan Pienaar (36)
22. Jean de Villiers (54)