Australia v S Africa: Teams
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers insists the world champions are ready to go to war with Australia.
Last Updated: 19/07/08 1:39pm
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers says his world champions are ready to go to war with Australia in their Tri-Nations clash in Perth.
The Wallabies are outsiders in the three-team tournament behind the ever-powerful All Blacks and the World Cup-winning Springboks.
With storms battering the Subiaco Oval in Perth there also promises to be a rough ride on the field with the home side desperate to put in a performance.
The Springboks are on a high after making history by beating New Zealand in Dunedin but they are not taking anything for granted against the Aussies.
Hurt after an early World Cup exit at the hands of England, and with new coach Robbie Deans now at the helm, Australia will be a dangerous animal according to de Villiers.
Dangerous
The South Africa coach believes Australia will be fired-up to send out a message and he will be telling his side to expect the worst.
"We respect them, we know that they are going to be very tough because they've got a point to prove, too," de Villiers said.
"Everybody focuses on New Zealand falling out of the World Cup, but Australia did too, and I think they've also got a point to prove.
"They've brought a great coach in, brilliant players.
"I mean if you play without Daniel Vickerman in the locks then the other locks must be great to be there.
"So we will be aware of the threats they can pose to us but, then again, it's war and you die."
Underdogs
Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock insists they are happy being tagged as underdogs, but promised they would not play like it.
"From our perspective, the team's perspective, we've got objectives and goals that we're focused on but certainly that underdog tag, that sits fine with us, that's great," Mortlock said.
"We're still going out with a huge positive focus to play positive football and hopefully be successful."
South Africa attacked star fly-half Dan Carter in their two games against the All-Blacks, and Australian counterpart Matt Giteau can expect the same treatment.
"It comes with the territory as a fly-half, they are the players you try to get to the most," Giteau said.
"They control a lot of what the team is trying to do. There are no fears at all, it comes with the game."
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Hugh McMeniman, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Drew Mitchell.
South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Francois Steyn, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Ricky Januarie, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp, 2 Schalk Brits, 3 CJ van der Linde, 4 Bakkies Botha, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 6 Schalk Burger, 7 Juan Smith, 8 Pierre Spies.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Brian Mujati, 19 Andries Bekker, 20 Ryan Kankowski, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Peter Grant