Traille a surprise flyhalf choice for France

Biarritz centre Damien Traille was a surprise flyhalf choice for France on Wednesday, while South Africa made three changes for the one-off Test on Saturday.

Traille forms part of a Biarritz axis which includes the loose trio of forwards, the scrumhalf and the flyhalf in a move which will give the Springboks some difficulty at the breakdown.

French coach Bernard Laporte will be able to introduce Thomas Castaignede from the bench should the experiment fail. He has also included the Stade Francais front row of Pieter de Villiers, Dimitri Szarzewski and Sylvain Marconnet to confront the big South African pack.

De Villiers's inclusion comes after he spent time with his family outside Cape Town following the death of his brother.

Lock forward Bakkies Botha was not fit enough to make the South African team. It was initially likely that Botha would return at lock - and Danie Rossouw shift to the flank - but South Africa's coach Jake White decided to rest Botha on the advice of the team physiotherapist.

"If we were playing a World Cup final or a Tri-Nations decider we would risk him, but we'd rather give him another week to recover," said White.

White made three changes on Wednesday to the starting line-up which defeated Scotland 29-15 on Saturday. Flanker Schalk Burger, who has a neck injury, was replaced by Pedrie Wanneburg.

In the other two changes, utility back Brent Russell came in for Breyton Paulse who has a bruised hamstring, and De Wet Barry returned in the midfield for Andre Snyman who has an ankle strain.

Teams

South Africa:

Percy Montgomery, Brent Russell, Wynand Olivier, De Wet Barry, Bryan Habana, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Fourie du Preez; Pedrie Wannenburg, Os du Randt, John Smit (captain), Eddie Andrews, Danie Roussouw, Victor Matfield, Joe van Niekerk, Juan Smith.

Replacements: Gary Botha, CJ van der Linde, Albert van den Berg, Jacques Cronje, Enrico Januarie, Wayne Julies, Gaffie du Toit.

France:

Julien Laharrague, Vincent Clerc, Florian Fritz, Yannick Jauzion, Cedric Heymans, Damien Traille, Dimitri Yachvili; Sylvain Marconnet, Dimitri Szarzewski, Pieter de Villiers, Fabien Pelous (captain), Jerome Thion, Serge Betsen, Thierry Dusautoir, Imanol Harinordoquy.

Replacements: Raphael Ibanez, Vincent Debaty, Lionel Nallet, Julien Bonnaire, Remy Martin, Mignoni, Thomas Castaignede. - Sapa-AP