Lima Sopoaga's ability to learn has helped earn the Southland first five a test match debut.

LISTEN ABOVE: Rugby Editor Nigel Yalden speaks to Lima Sopoaga about his upcoming All Blacks debut.

Sopoaga will start at first five against South Africa in Johannesburg with lock James Broadhurst also to debut.

MORE: Springboks Team

All Black coach Steve Hansen said Sopoaga has impressed with getting up to speed.

Hansen said he asks excellent questions and only has to be told something once and he picks it up.

For 27 year old Taranaki lock James Broadhurst, his ever improving physicality will face a stern test in his All Black debut.

Hansen said Broadhurst is a big lump of a lad with some wonderful skills but the question was always around whether he was physical enough - but in the last 12 to 18 months Broadhurst have proven he is.

Hansen is confident Lima Sopoaga and James Broadhurst have the skill sets and mental capacity to cope with the Ellis Park factor.

And despite having two debutants on the field, this will be a vastly experienced All Blacks team. The forward pack alone has exactly 500 caps between them.

Dane Coles and Liam Messam come into the starting pack while Aaron, Ben and Conrad Smith slot into the backline.

FULL TEAM

Tony Woodcock

Dane Coles

Owen Franks

James Broadhurst

Brodie Retallick

Liam Messam

Richie McCaw

Kieran Read

Aaron Smith

Lima Sopoaga

Charles Piutau

Ma'a Nonu

Conrad Smith

Ben Smith

Israel Dagg.

RESERVES

Codie Taylor

Wyatt Crockett

Ben Franks

Sam Whitelock

Victor Vito

TJ Perenara

Beauden Barrett

Malakai Fekitoa