South Africa's experiment of playing John Smit at prop appears over after restoring him to hooker for Saturday's clash with Ireland.

Smit's shortcoming at tighthead have been exposed this autumn by France and Italy with the Springbok scrum being demolished in both matches.

But the 31-year-old, rugby's longest-serving Test captain with 66 appearances as skipper, has been returned to his usual position in the number two jersey.

South Africa rejigged their front row in the second half against Italy last Saturday, bringing on props Tendai Mtawarira and BJ Botha and switching Smit, to great effect and the trio start en bloc at Croke Park.

In total Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has made six changes - two positional - to the side that thumped Italy 32-10.

Wian du Preez and Adriaan Strauss make way for Mtawarira and BJ Botha, who plays for Ulster, while Victor Matfield replaces Andries Bekker at lock.

Schalk Burger - who received an eight-week ban for eye-gouging Ireland winger Luke Fitzgerald during the Lions tour this summer - returns at openside flanker with Danie Rossouw switching to number eight.

The only change to the back-line sees Wynand Olivier starting at inside centre in place of Adrian Jacobs.

As well as BJ Botha, two other Irish-based players are in the squad in Munster centre Jean de Villiers and Leinster prop CJ van der Linde.

De Villiers was called into the Springbok party yesterday as cover for ankle-injury victim Jacobs.

Scrum-half Fourie du Preez plays after recovering from his hand injury.

Team: Z Kirchner (Blue Bulls); J Pietersen (Sharks), J Fourie (Lions), W Olivier (Blue Bulls), B Habana (Blue Bulls); M Steyn (Blue Bulls), F du Preez (Blue Bulls); T Mtawarira (Sharks), J Smit (Sharks, captain), BJ Botha (Ulster), B Botha (Blue Bulls), V Matfield (Blue Bulls), H Brussow (Cheetahs), S Burger (Western Province), D Rossouw (Blue Bulls).

Replacements: B du Plessis (Sharks), CJ van der Linde (Leinster)

A Bekker (Western Province), J Deysel (Sharks), D Potgieter (Blue Bulls), R Pienaar (Sharks), J de Villiers (Munster).