South Africa have made two changes for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand with lock Flip van der Merwe and flanker Francois Louw set to line up in Dunedin.

Van der Merwe replaces the suspended Eben Etzebeth in the second row while Francois Louw comes in for Marcell Coetzee at flank. There are four more changes on the bench, where Coetzee joins Dean Greyling, Andries Bekker and Juan de Jongh amongst the replacements.

Former Boks lock Bakkies Botha had been linked with a surprise return to the international stage having been put on standby earlier this week but will now remain with his Top 14 club Toulon.

"The New Zealanders are good on the ground which is why we decided to go for a specialist openside flank in Francois," said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer. "Marcell has been very good this season and has played a lot of rugby, but in this match we feel he will be more useful as an impact option."

Jannie du Plessis has been named at tight-head despite struggling with a hamstring niggle with Meyer prepared to give his prop until Friday to shake off his injury with Pat Cilliers primed to start should he fail to recover. "We will not take any chances with injured players and we have time to get him and Pat (Cilliers) match ready," said Meyer.

Greyling will be on the bench to provide prop cover, while Bekker takes over from Van der Merwe and De Jongh comes in for Lwazi Mvovo among the other changes on the bench.

South Africa: Zane Kirchner; Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers (capt), Frans Steyn, Francois Hougaard; Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Flip van der Merwe, Juandre Kruger, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Tiaan Liebenberg, Dean Greyling, Andries Bekker, Marcell Coetzee, Johan Goosen, Juan de Jongh, Pat Lambie