Young Patrick Lambie will make his first start for the Springboks, when they play the All Blacks on Saturday, but captain John Smit regards the 20-year-old as the future of the game.

Smit said in his regular pre-Test media conference on Friday that Lambie, who is from Smit's Sharks franchise in Durban, that Lambie was "an amazing young man".

Lambie will start at flyhalf, after initially being named at fullback - with Morné Steyn moving to fullback, in bold move the Boks hope will help them turn around a tour that is on the brink of disaster.

"He has a composure that is not the norm for a guy of his age,"Smit said, adding: "I think he'll be around for a long time.

"As quiet as he is, he's got a huge amount of potential for leadership as well and it will be wonderful to watch him grow even more.

"The short amount of time he's had at a high level, he's just slotted in really quickly.

"I always say to people who want to know what he is like that if you had a daughter who was about 18-years-old and he came to knock on the door as a rugby player he's probably the only one you would let her walk out the door with.

"He's an absolute gentleman, he's really well brought up, really intelligent, respectful.

"He commands his position even as a 20-year-old.

"For me he has shown ability at No.10, No.12 or No.15 - he's the kind of guy who's got all-round skills."

Smit said that he had been involved with him for two or three years yet in the short amount of time he had at the highest level he had slotted in very quickly.