Wales coach Warren Gatland today sprang a major surprise by naming James Hook at full-back for the second Test against South Africa.

Hook has never played in the position for Wales and it is a bold selection by Gatland, who has made four changes to the starting line-up thumped 43-17 by the Springboks last weekend.

The move sees Jamie Roberts switch from full-back to inside centre with Stephen Jones remaining at outhalf and Sonny Parker dropping out of the 22 altogether.

Roberts scored a try at Vodacom Park on Saturday in a mixed display and will be playing out of position when he lines up in midfield.

In the pack, captain Ryan Jones has been shifted to blindside flanker to accommodate the promotion of Gloucester's Gareth Delve from the bench.

Jonathan Thomas has been asked to take the openside duties vacated by Dafydd Jones, who must settle for a place among the substitutes.

Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard starts at hooker in place of the injured Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins switches to loosehead and Rhys Thomas replaces Adam Jones at tighthead.

In all there are seven changes to the side defeated in the first Test, three positional.

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers, meanwhile, has brought World Cup winner Victor
Matfield into the second row.

The inclusion of Matfield is one of four changes made by De Villiers with props Gurthro Steenkamp and Brian Mujati dropped in favour of Sharks duo Tendai Mtawarira and BJ Botha.

The final change sees Ricky Januarie come into the side at scrum-half ahead of Bolla Conradie after serving a week's suspension for indiscipline.

Ryan Kankowski, a standout performer in Super 14 this season, has been named on the bench, along with two World Cup winners, full-back Percy Montgomery and utility back Frans Steyn.

South Africa: C Jantjes; T Chavhanga, A Jacobs, J de Villiers, B Habana; B James, R Januarie; T Mtawarira, J Smit (capt), BJ Botha, B Botha, V Matfield, L Watson, J Smith, P Spies. Replacements: B du Plessis, G Steenkamp, A Bekker, R Kankowski, B Conradie, F Steyn, P Montgomery.

Wales: J Hook; M Jones, T Shanklin, J Roberts, S Williams; S Jones, G Cooper; G Jenkins, R Hibbard, R Thomas; I Gough, A Jones; R Jones (capt), J Thomas, G Delve. Replacements: T Rhys Thomas, D Jones, I Evans, D Jones, W Fury, A Bishop, T James