A record six Joneses will line up for Wales at the Millennium Stadium, including Neath-Swansea Ospreys number eight Ryan Jones, who makes his Test debut.

Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Steve Jones is handed a first Wales start as Ruddock rings the changes following a 53-18 drubbing by South Africa in Pretoria last time out.

Prop Duncan Jones and his Ospreys colleague, lock Brent Cockbain, both return, while Michael Owen switches from number eight to second-row in a pack that will be led by Newcastle flanker Colin Charvis.

Behind the scrum, new skipper Gareth Thomas, who missed Wales summer tour of Argentina and South Africa through injury, features at full-back, with the equally experienced Stephen Jones restored to fly-half.

Ruddock said: The team as a whole has been selected on three main criteria.

Firstly, we have identified the form players in Welsh rugby. Then, we have tried to achieve the right blend of talent which will be effective against South Africa, and finally, we have attempted to create a team and squad that will develop and hopefully figure for us in this seasons RBS 6 Nations Championship and beyond.

Its great to have a number of players available who missed the summer tour through injury, he added.

This team has a nice balance of proven performers from the World Cup and the last Six Nations, together with up-and-coming players such as Ryan, who now has the opportunity to establish himself as an international player.

Wales have only beaten South Africa once in 17 attempts - a 29-19 victory during Graham Henrys coaching reign five years ago - and Ruddock accepts that his players face a huge challenge.

The Springboks, masterminded by new coach Jake White, embark on the first leg of a so-called Grand Slam tour this weekend, and it will take a colossal effort by Wales to send them crashing at fence number one.

After Saturdays game, South Africa tackle Ireland in Dublin, England at Twickenham and Scotland at Murrayfield on successive weekends.

The Tri-Nations champions will be a huge test for the Welsh team, but one that we will relish, said Ruddock.

They were far too good for us in Pretoria, and they then went on to have a magnificent season under Jake White.

We struggled for possession against them last time out, and to stand any chance, we have to improve that area of our game. They have the opportunity of a Grand Slam tour, but it is up to us to spoil the party.

It is no secret that Wales play best when we have tempo and width in our game. We have analysed their game closely, and we intend to implement our game plan precisely.

Their size, and the physical nature of their defence and ball-carrying, will test us severely.

The return of our injured players, and the support from a passionate home crowd, should allow us to play with skill, determination and courage.

Wales team to play South Africa: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); H Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Parker (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), G Henson (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); D Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), S Jones (Newport-Gwent Dragons), A Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), B Cockbain (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), M Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons), D Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), C Charvis (Newcastle), R Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys).

Replacements: M Davies (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), M Phillips (Llanelli Scarlets), C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).