South Africa v Australia - Teams

At Durban, Saturday August 23rd, Live Sky Sports Xtra, KO 2pm

Last updated: 23rd August 2008  

South Africa v Australia - Teams

Montgomery: Dropped

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Percy Montgomery has been dropped from the South Africa team for Saturday's Tri-Nations match against Australia in Durban.

The 34-year-old full-back, who last weekend earned his 100th Test cap for the Springboks, will start on the bench after being replaced by Conrad Jantjes.

The only other change to the team that lost 19-0 to New Zealand last Saturday sees Jongi Nokwe in for the injured Bryan Habana on the left wing.

Habana picked up a hamstring injury against the All Blacks and has been told to rest for the next 10 days, meaning he will also next weekend's meeting with the Wallabies in Johannesburg.

Nokwe, who plays for the Central Cheetahs, made his Test debut against Argentina 10 days ago and scored one of nine South African tries in a 63-9 victory.

Meanwhile, Joe van Niekerk, a newcomer for the All Blacks loss, fills a place on the replacements bench alongside another loose forward, openside flanker Luke Watson.

Australia news

Coach Robbie Deans has made five changes to the Wallabies team that succumbed to New Zealand in Auckland, with flanker Rocky Elsom, fullback Drew Mitchell, scrumhalf Sam Cordingley, lock Dan Vickermann and tighthead prop Matt Dunning named to start.

The return to fitness of Elsom and Vickermann boosts Australia's lineout arsenal while Mitchell and Cordingley replace the injured Adam Ashley-Cooper and Luke Burgess respectively.

A victory over the Springboks in Durban or Johannesburg next week will set up a series-decider against New Zealand in Brisbane in September.

De Villiers' charges will have to hit the mark in both matches, scoring at least four tries in each, for the Springboks to have any chance of winning the series.

Australia are second with nine points, five behind New Zealand, while South Africa are third with five points.

South Africa: 15-Conrad Jantjes; 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Adrian Jacobs, 12-Jean de Villiers, 11-Jongi Nokwe; 10-Butch James, 9-Fourie du Preez; 1-Tendai Mtawarira, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 3-CJ van der Linde, 4-Andries Bekker, 5-Victor Matfield, 6-Schalk Burger, 7-Juan Smith, 8-Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Brian Mujati, Joe van Niekerk, Luke Watson, Ricky Januarie, Frans Steyn, Percy Montgomery.

Australia: 15-Drew Mitchell, 14-Peter Hynes, 13-Stirling Mortlock, 12-Berrick Barnes, 11-Lote Tuqiri, 10-Matt Giteau, 9-Sam Cordingley, 8-Wycliff Palu, 7-George Smith, 6-Rocky Elsom, 5-Daniel Vickerman, 4-James Horwill, 3-Matt Dunning, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Benn Robinson.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Al Baxter, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Brett Sheehan, Timana Tahu, Ryan Cross.