Australia v South Africa: The Rugby Championship match preview
Last Updated: 18/07/15 3:21pm
Matt Giteau features for Australia for the first time in four years as the Wallabies host the Springboks on Saturday.
Giteau was famously dropped ahead of the 2011 World Cup by Australia's coach at the time, Robbie Deans, but with the new selection criteria allowing overseas-based players to feature for the Wallabies, the Toulon veteran has earned an immediate recall from Michael Cheika. Gituea pairs up with the Brumbies' Tevita Kuridrani in the midfield.
Also making a return to the Wallabies side is the combination of Quade Cooper and Will Genia as a half-back pairing. The two have featured together for the Queensland Reds all season in Super Rugby, but this is the first time they have combined for Australia since November 2013.
Hooker Stephen Moore was last week named Wallaby captain for the World Cup, and his duties will start on Saturday while prop Greg Holmes is named on the bench, and should he come on he will win his first test cap in eight years.
The contest for Australia's No 7 jersey promises to be a fiery one in the lead up to the World Cup, with David Pocock making a strong return from injury while the Waratah's Michael Hooper helped his side to a semi-final place in this year's Super Rugby competition. Cheika has opted for Hooper for the encounter with the Boks, with Pocock on the bench.
To combat Hooper's presence at the breakdown, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has selected three loose forwards who have all played fetcher for the Springboks at one point or another. In the only change to the side that beat the World XV 46-10 last week, Schalk Burger comes into the side at the expense of Warren Whiteley in the No 8 jersey.
Francois Louw will compete directly with Hooper while Marcel Coetzee, who can play on either side of the scrum, is selected at blindside flank.
There is a first official test cap for outside centre Jesse Kriel, who has impressed for the Bulls at full-back, and had a good run out in the No 13 jersey against the World XV on Saturday. He partners Damian de Allende in the midfield, with Jean de Villiers featuring for Western Province this weekend as he continues his journey to complete match fitness.
In the absence of De Villiers, lock forward Victor Matfield captains the Springboks. He partners Eben Etzebeth in the second row, and Etzebeth’s battle with opposite No 4 Will Skelton in the tight exchanges will have a big impact on the result.
Exciting fly-half Handre Pollard has been given another start for South Africa. His kicking against the World XV was far from perfect, but his physical presence in the midfield brings an added dimension to the Bok game-plan.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (capt), 1James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 James Horwill, 20 David Pocock, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Drew Mitchell.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana,10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar; 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 6 Francois Louw, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 8 Schalk Burger.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
Watch Australia v South Africa live on Sky Sports 3 HD on Saturday from 10.30am.
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