South Africa captain John Smit was also a relieved man after his side's 37-20 victory in Marseille.
Captain and prop John Smit said the changes would give more impact to the Springbok line-up against a powerful Argentine scrum.
De Villiers' own captain John Smit paid tribute to his Lions counterpart, ahead of the first Test in Durban on 20 June.
Currently World Cup-winning stars John Smit, Victor Matfield and Percy Montgomery all play in France, while fly-half Butch James plays for Bath.
Springboks captain John Smit also praised his side's defensive display in Paris.
South Africa's points came from Morne Steyn with a penalty and drop-goal as well as converting a fine try by captain John Smit.
But after South Africa secured a hard-fought 34-31 win, captain John Smit suggested all that Welsh optimism flying around nearly sent his players 'bananas'.
South African rugby captain John Smit will also take part, while the country's president Jacob Zuma will kick off proceedings alongside Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
They are due to club commitments, while Clermont Auvergne have refused Springbok captain John Smit permission to face the Baa-Baas at Twickenham on 1 December.
And the only overseas-based player guaranteed his place in De Villiers's first squad, to be named on the weekend of 16 May, is World Cup-winning captain John Smit.
"I'm obviously surprised to get a yellow card at the start of the Test match because it does put us on the back foot, " said Springboks captain John Smit.
Peter de Villiers has made 10 changes, leaving captain John Smit, vice-captain Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Tendai Mtawarira and Juan Smith as the only survivors in the starting XV.
Victorious Springbok captain John Smit described the second Test as "a game of two halves" after the world champions fought back to win having been outplayed for the first 40 minutes.
"It is not a good start from us at all, " acknowledged captain John Smit, whose side now have a four-week break before taking on New Zealand in Johannesburg on 21 August.
South Africa's Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to proceedings, alongside England midfielder David Beckham, Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie and Springboks rugby union captain John Smit.
Many in South Africa believe man-mountain Sheridan will be used to target a perceived weakness in the Springboks front row, where captain John Smit has been converted to tight-head from his former hooking role.
The South African Rugby Union was forced to back down and delay a final decision, but an exodus has already begun with the likes of captain John Smit and lock Victor Matfield joining French clubs.
The Springboks claimed tries by center Jaque Fourie, captain John Smit, wing JP Pietersen, flanker Juan Smith and fly-half Butch James with Francois Steyn and Percy Montgomery each kicking penalties and the latter adding three conversions.
South Africa captain John Smit, leading the Springboks for the 50th time, was critical of his team's defence but welcomed the debut victory of coach Peter De Villiers, who was under intense pressure ahead of the game.
But it it likely to be the outcome of the battle between two sets of formidable forwards that will decide if it is South African captain John Smit or Vickery that gets their hands on the trophy.
Captain John Smit and Heinrich Brussow both scored first-half tries as the Springboks bossed the forward battle, with prop Tendai Mtawarira in destructive form, forcing the Lions to concede a string of controversial penalties which eventually proved decisive.
With Botha back on, the Springboks made the most of their man advantage when Ruan Pienaar elected to tap and go, finding skipper John Smit who in turn found Fourie, who pirouetted out of two tackles to force his way over.
The full-back's score was England's first try against South Africa in four matches but it proved scant consolation as the Springboks extended their winning run against England to seven successive matches - and it was achieved without stellar names such as Schalk Burger, John Smit, Fourie de Preez and winger Bryan Habana.
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