Alberts has recovered from a calf strain sustained in the Absa Currie Cup final and replaces Sharks team-mate Keegan Daniel who made his debut from the bench in the 23-21 victory at the Aviva Stadium.
“Willem has had an outstanding season for The Sharks as one of the most effective ball carriers in the South African game,” said Peter de Villiers, Springbok coach.
“He has been nursing the injury since our preliminary training camp before the Absa Currie Cup final and has spent a frustrating couple of weeks watching from the sidelines and is hungry to get back into action.”
The confirmed Springbok 22 is as follows:
| Name | Province | Age | Caps | |
| 15 | Gio Aplon | Vodacom Western Province | 28 | 10 |
| 14 | Bjorn Basson | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 23 | 3 |
| 13 | Frans Steyn | Racing Metro | 23 | 39 |
| 12 | Jean de Villiers | Vodacom Western Province | 29 | 64 |
| 11 | Bryan Habana | Vodacom Western Province | 27 | 67 |
| 10 | Morne Steyn | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 26 | 22 |
| 9 | Ruan Pienaar | Ulster, N Ireland | 26 | 44 |
| 8 | Pierre Spies | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 25 | 38 |
| 7 | Juan Smith | Vodacom Cheetahs | 29 | 66 |
| 6 | Deon Stegmann | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 24 | 1 |
| 5 | Victor Matfield (captain) | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 33 | 102 |
| 4 | Bakkies Botha | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 31 | 69 |
| 3 | Jannie du Plessis | The Sharks | 28 | 21 |
| 2 | Bismarck du Plessis | The Sharks | 26 | 33 |
| 1 | Tendai Mtawarira | The Sharks | 25 | 23 |
| REPLACEMENTS | ||||
| 16 | Chiliboy Ralepelle | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 24 | 17 |
| 17 | CJ van der Linde | Vodacom Cheetahs | 30 | 66 |
| 18 | Flip van der Merwe | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 25 | 7 |
| 19 | Willem Alberts | The Sharks |
0 |
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| 20 | Francois Hougaard | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 22 | 5 |
| 21 | Zane Kirchner | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 26 | 11 |
| 22 | Patrick Lambie | The Sharks | 20 | 1 |
