Beleaguered South African coach Rudolf Straeuli denied he was panicking after dropping four players from the side humiliated by Scotland last weekend for Saturday's clash with England at Twickenham.
The 1995 World Cup winning backrow made five changes in all, including one positional, to the team beaten 21-6 by Scotland at Murrayfield - having made 10 after the record 30-10 defeat by France the previous Saturday.
Powerful back Butch James moves from outhalf to centre to partner veteran Robbie Fleck at the expense of Adie Jacobs, while Andre Pretorius returns to the starting XV at outhalf.
Pretorius has had a nightmare tour after rave reviews during the Tri-Nations, reaching its nadir when he handed Scotland their second try.
Pedrie Wannenberg makes his first Springbok start in the back row, coming in for Pierre Uys, dropped after a disappointing debut, while the experienced duo of AJ Venter and hooker James Dalton return, for lock Marco Wentzel and Lukas van Biljon.
Straeuli rejected the idea he had panicked in making so many changes prior to the Scottish match. "There was never a panic or knee-jerk reaction and there is no panic now we know what we have in the squad," said Straeuli, who has fallen well below the target of three wins from three Tests prior to the tour.
The South African coach said he had resorted to Venter and Dalton, the last member of the 1995 World Cup winning squad still in the picture, for their wealth of experience.
"Dalton is back because we need his experience in a very young front row and AJ Venter will give us aggression and physical presence in the tight five (becoming the other lock Jannes Labuschagne's third different partner in three Tests).
"Wannenberg has been chosen on the back of an outstanding domestic season - I'm convinced he will revel in the responsibility of a first test start."
As for the third new centre partnership in the three Tests, Straeuli was confident the duo would produce the goods.
"We were unfortunate to lose Jean de Villiers so early (ruptured ligaments in the seventh minute of the French test) and Marius Joubert has been suffering with a shoulder problem.
"However both Fleck and James enjoy attacking and defending.
"It's a new combination but both are extremely motivated," he said.
SOUTH AFRICA: W Greeff (Western Province); B Paulse (Western Province), R Fleck (Western Province), B James (Natal Sharks), F Lombard (Free State Cheetahs); A Pretorius (Golden Lions), B Conradie (Western Province); J Van Niekerk (Golden Lions), P Wannenberg (Blue Bulls), C Krige (Western Province, capt); AJ Venter (Natal), J Labuschagne (Golden Lions); D Carstens (Natal), J Dalton (Falcons), W Roux (Blue Bulls). Replacements: To be announced
ITALY (v Australia): M Bergamasco (Padova); P Vaccari (Calvisano), C Stoica (Castres/Fra), M Barbini (Padova), N Mazzucato (Treviso) or D Sacca (Gran Parma); R Pez (Rotherham), JM Queirolo (Dax); S Parisse (Treviso), M Bergamasco (Treviso), A Persico (Padova); M Bortolami (Padova), E Pavanello (Treviso); L Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), F Ongaro (Treviso), A Lo Cicero (Toulouse)
