South Africa name experienced XV for RWC opener

South Africa have named the most experienced XV in Springbok history for their Rugby World Cup opener against Japan on Saturday.

Jean de Villiers will lead a team boasting no fewer than 880 Test caps in Brighton, breaking the previous record of 836 - set in the 2011 quarter-final clash with Australia.

Head coach Heyneke Meyer makes six changes to the side that beat Argentina a month ago, with De Villiers, Francois Louw, Lood de Jager, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira all coming in.

Coenie Oosthuizen, Fourie du Preez and JP Pietersen return from injury to take a place on the bench.

"We've decided to go with some form of continuity as it's important to get a good start in the tournament, but we also wanted to bring back a number of players who have recently recovered from injury," Meyer is quoted as saying by the South African Rugby Union website.

"It's great to see Jean, Francois, Lood, Jannie, Coenie, Fourie and JP back in action, and while we probably could've played Duane Vermeulen and Eben Etzebeth, in the end we decided to give them another week to fully recover from their injuries.

"The backline is almost unchanged as we also decided to reward the players who did so well in Buenos Aires. There will in all likelihood be changes again next week but for now these players deserve another opportunity to stake a claim."

Team in full: Zane Kirchner, Lwazi Mvovo, Jesse Kriel, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Pat Lambie, Ruan Pienaar; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Lood de Jager, Victor Matfield, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Schalk Burger.

Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Fourie du Preez, Handre Pollard, JP Pietersen.