Inexperienced pair Francois Hougaard and Flip van der Merwe will win their first starts for South Africa after being named in the starting line-up for the Tri Nations encounter against New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Gio Aplon was also a surprise inclusion at full-back, although the inclusion of the Stormers winger in the number 15 jersey had been predicted in recent days.
Scrum-half Hougaard, who has two previous caps coming off the bench, was named in place of injured counterpart Ruan Pienaar.
The three-capped Van der Merwe comes in for Danie Rossouw - the lock replacing his Bulls team-mate who is among the replacements.
There are seven changes in total from the side that were beaten 30-13 by Australia, including a new midfield combination of Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh.
The historic first-ever clash at the FNB Stadium - or Soccer City, which hosted the 2010 football World Cup final - will also mark the 100th appearance of captain John Smit.
New Zealand, meanwhile, have drafted Jimmy Cowan and Ben Franks into their starting XV.
The two changes are the only ones for the All Blacks following their last Tri Nations game - a 20-10 victory over Australia just over 10 days ago.
Graham Henry's team need just a point from the match at Soccer City, the venue that hosted the football World Cup final in July, to seal the title.
Cowan takes the place of Piri Weepu in the number nine jersey with the scrum-half dropping to the bench, while Franks comes in for his brother Owen, who drops out of the match 22.
South Africa team to play New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday, August 21:
G Aplon (Stormers); JP Pietersen (Sharks), J de Jongh (Stormers), J de Villiers (Stormers), B Habana (Stormers); M Steyn (Bulls), Francois Hougaard (Bulls); G Steenkamp (Bulls), J Smit (Sharks), J du Plessis (Sharks), F van der Merwe (Bulls), V Matfield (Bulls), S Burger (Stormers), J Smith (Cheetahs), P Spies (Bulls).
Replacements: C Ralepelle (Bulls), CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), D Rossouw (Bulls), F Louw (Stormers), R Januarie (Stormers), B James (Bath), W Olivier (Bulls).
New Zealand team:
M Muliaina (Waikato); C Jane (Wellington), C Smith (Wellington), M Nonu (Wellington), J Rokocoko (Auckland); D Carter (Canterbury), J Cowan (Southland); T Woodcock (North Harbour), K Mealamu (Auckland), B Franks (Tasman), B Thorn (Canterbury), T Donnelly (Otago), J Kaino (Auckland), R McCaw (Canterbury), K Read (Canterbury).
Replacements: P Weepu (Wellington), A Cruden (Manawatu), I Dagg (Hawke's Bay), C Flynn (Canterbury), J Afoa (Auckland), S Whitelock (Canterbury), V Vito (Wellington).
