SPRINGBOK coach Heyneke Meyer is set to make several changes to the team to face Italy this weekend after the tourists secured their fifth consecutive win at Twickenham over England.

The Boks scored a tight 31-28 win over next year's World Cup hosts in a physical encounter that left the squad battered and bruised but elated.

As a consequence, Meyer will look to alternate some key personnel against Italy in Padua on Saturday.

Tighthead Jannie du Plessis will definitely miss the game through a leg injury and his continued involvement on tour will be assessed today.

Schalk Burger returned home as part of a plan not to use him against Italy. He is not eligible for the final game on tour against Wales as the match falls out of the official Test window.

"A decision was taken prior to the tour that Schalk would be released from the squad after the England game," said Meyer. "We still have good depth at loose forward and can also look at bringing in reinforcements if necessary."

That paves the way for either Nizaam Carr or Warren Whiteley to come into the 23-man squad to face Italy in place of Burger.

Bakkies Botha is likely to replace Eben Etzebeth, while Coenie Oosthuizen will start at tighthead with Julian Redelinghuys coming on the bench. The backline is likely to stay much the same although Johan Goosen, in his new fullback role, could be on the bench.

Scrumhalf Jano Vermaak is also set to return to the Test arena by way of the bench. The Toulouse halfback should come in for Francois Hougaard, who was an unused substitute against England.

"We have respect for every opponent, so I am going to study Italy carefully," Meyer said. "We want to make a few changes. That was always a plan after these first two Tests on tour.

"Even after winning we will make changes. We need some fresh guys against Italy because it was an unbelievable physical battle against England. There are players with stitches and bruises everywhere."