Lock Victor Matfield is now the 12th member of the country’s RWC squad to withdraw from South Africa's squad for the one-off test with Wales on November 25.

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced he had been released due to personal commitments and would be replaced by uncapped Free State Cheetahs lock Barend Pieterse.

The SARU also announced uncapped Western Province hooker Tiaan Liebenberg would replace captain John Smit in the match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on December 2. Smit has not been released by his French club, Clermont Auvergne, for the match.

The other absentees are fullback Percy Montgomery, props BJ Botha and Gurthro Steenkamp, loose forwards Danie Rossouw and Wikus van Heerden and centre Jean de Villiers, who are all injured.

First five Butch James, hooker Gary Botha and winger Ashwin Willemse have joined clubs in England and France and were not selected, while Os du Randt and Bob Skinstad have both retired.