Manie Libbok has been named at flyhalf and captain Siya Kolisi at number eight for the first time as South Africa selected a side that is likely to play with ball in hand for their Rugby Championship opener against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The world champion Springboks are seeking a fifth successive win against the Wallabies as they also seek to retain their southern hemisphere crown won last year.
Scrumhalf Grant Williams is alongside Libbok, with battering ram Andre Esterhuizen at inside centre and Jesse Kriel in the number 13 jersey.
The back three includes fullback Aphelele Fassi, with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe on the wing.
Kolisi switches to number eight having played much of the recent United Rugby Championship season there for the Sharks, with Marco van Staden and Pieter-Steph du Toit the two flankers.
Veterans Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager are the lock pairing, while hooker Malcolm Marx has props Ox Nche and Wilco Louw either side of him.
"We've been experimenting with player combinations during the (July internationals) and at our conditioning camp in the last two weeks, and we believe this team will allow us to play the type of rugby we want to play against Australia," Erasmus said.
"All of the starters except for Edwill have faced them before, and we are confident that he is ready for this challenge."
Centre Damian De Allende is sidelined through injury and wing Cheslin Kolbe was not selected as a precaution despite returning to training last week.
Erasmus, who switched his team announcement to Monday, has opted for a 5-3 split between forwards and backs, another sign the Springboks intend to run the ball.
Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, wing/centre Canan Moodie and utility back Damian
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