Bismarck starts Beast milestone

Bismarck du Plessis will start at hooker for the Springboks this weekend.

Adriaan Strauss has dropped to the bench for the Castle Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand.

Juandre Kruger has replaced the suspended Flip van der Merwe at lock, while Franco van der Merwe is among the replacements.

JJ Engelbrecht and Jan Serfontein are bracketed at centre. Engelbrecht will start if he proves his fitness.

Serfontein is bracketed with Juan de Jongh on the bench.

Tendai Mtawarira is again in the Bok starting 15 and is due to make his 50th Test appearance on Saturday.

Nigel Owens will referee the match at Ellis Park.

South Africa and New Zealand have met 86 times. The Boks have secured 34 wins and New Zealand 49.

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

- Andre Bloem and Saru

Twitter - @SportswaveAndre