Bismarck Du Plessis will replace John Smit in the South Africa line-up against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday after the hooker's French rugby club Clermont Auvergne refused to let him play.

Lock Johann Muller will take over the captaincy in Smit's absence. Clermont have a match at Bourgoin-Jallieu on Saturday.

England hooker Mark Regan, however, was confirmed on Wednesday as captain of the Barbarians despite being told by his club Bristol to rest for their Heineken Cup match on Dec. 8.

Jake White, taking charge of the world champions for the last time before stepping down after four years as coach, named his team on Thursday with three changes from the one that beat Wales 34-12 in Cardiff last weekend.

Second row Johan Ackermann replaces Bakkies Botha, who injured his ankle at the Millennium Stadium, while winger JP Pietersen makes way for Akona Ndungane.

South Africa: 15-Ruan Pienaar, 14-Akona Ndungane, 13-Jaque Fourie, 12-Francois Steyn, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Andre Pretorius, 9-Enrico Januarie, 8-Ryan Kankowski, 7-Juan Smith, 6-Schalk Burger, 5-Johan Ackermann, 4-Johann Muller, 3-Jannie Du Plessis, 2-Bismarck Du Plessis, 1-CJ Van der Linde.

Replacements: 16-Tiaan Liebenberg, 17-Heinke Van Der Merwe, 18-Albert Van Den Berg, 19-Barend Pieterse, 20-Wynand Olivier, 21-Wayne Julies, 22-Conrad Jantjes.

Reuters