GIANT lock Victor Matfield is backing skipper John Smit to take the move from hooker to tighthead prop in his stride at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has chosen to put the World Cup-winning captain up against Gethin Jenkins, making room for Bismarck Plessis after his impressive Tri-Nations form.

And Matfield, who will combine with Bakkies Botha to make a formidable second-row partnership, believes Smit showed that he has what it takes to shine in the number three shirt during his spell in France.

The 30-year-old found his route to the starting hooker slot at Clermont Auvergne blocked by Argentinian star Mario Ledesma, so shifted to the right on three occasions.

It was a return to a familiar position from his school and junior rugby days – he led South Africa Under-21s to victory in the 1999 World Cup while wearing three and made his senior international bow at hooker just a year later.

So Matfield, who spent a season with Toulon in the French second division, doesn’t believe it is an unnecessary gamble.

“I watched a few games when we were both in France, I think the scrums in club rugby there are as tough as you can get and he did very well,” he said.

“John has a lot of experience in the front row and has always been coaching and helping the guys on the tighthead, so there is no doubt that he has got the knowledge, it is just about getting used to it again.

“He is an awesome captain, probably the best the Springboks have ever had, so it is nice to have him back.”

Not only has de Villiers plumped for an experienced pack – they boast a combined total of 347 caps compared to Wales’ 272 – but it is a big front eight.

The back row of Pierre Spies, Schalk Burger and Juan Smith is an explosive combination that will present a severe challenge in the back row while all members of the front row enjoy getting ball in hand.

But Matfield has pledged that the pack won’t get carried away with trying to win the aggressive confrontation up front to the detriment of their dangerous runners behind.

“Any game needs to be dominated up front before you can let the speedsters get their hands on the ball and score some tries,” he said. “Of course we would like to dominate up front but we would like our backs to score some good tries.

“The Welsh forwards are very physical and like to carry a lot of ball into contact so it is going to be a hard game.”

Sixteen of the players in South Africa’s 22 featured in the 37-21 victory over Wales in Pretoria in June.

South Africa: Conrad Jantjes, JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit (captain), Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies.

Replacements: Brian Mujati, Gurthro Steenkamp, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ricky Januarie, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie.