Schalk Burger will captain South Africa against New Zealand in Johannesburg this weekend, coach Heyneke Meyer has announced.
Burger replaces Victor Matfield after the veteran lock suffered a hamstring injury during a defeat by Australia in Brisbane last weekend.
The Springboks tackle greatest rivals the All Blacks at Ellis Park stadium on Saturday in a Rugby Championship second-round clash likely to draw a sell-out 62,000 crowd.
Matfield had been deputising for centre and first-choice captain Jean de Villiers, who is recuperating after knee reconstruction surgery.
De Villiers and Matfield are two of many injury concerns for Meyer less than two months before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in England.
New Zealand are the bookmakers' favourites to retain the trophy they won in Auckland four years ago, with England and South Africa next highest on the betting boards.
Burger is a 32-year-old Stormers and Springboks stalwart who has won 76 caps, scored 14 Test tries, and can play in his preferred flanker position or at No.8.
He made his international debut in a 2003 World Cup match against Georgia in Sydney.
"I am a proud man today, and at the same time humbled by the faith the coach has shown in me," Burger told a media briefing today.
"It is still sinking in that I will actually captain my country.
"This is an honour bestowed on a select few rugby players and I will do whatever is needed for the team."
The South Africa-New Zealand fixture is a highlight of the annual Rugby Championship, which includes Argentina and Australia.
Reduced from six rounds to three this year because of the World Cup, the southern hemisphere championship began last weekend with home victories for New Zealand and Australia.
AFP