Australia recall Matt Giteau for Rugby Championship opener against South Africa
Thursday 16 July 2015 07:08, UK
Matt Giteau has been recalled by Australia for the Rugby Championship opener against South Africa after a four-year absence from the team.
Giteau, 32, will start at No 12 on Saturday, outside the restored halves pairing of Will Genia and Quade Cooper, who will start a Test as a combination for the first time since November 2013.
Coach Michael Cheika, who has also preferred Michael Hooper to David Pocock at openside flanker for the match at Lang Park in Brisbane, has named an experienced side because of the short-format of the tournament this year ahead of the World Cup.
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Giteau was dropped by the Wallabies ahead of the 2011 World Cup and later moved to France to play for Toulon, making him ineligible for his national side, but a change in selection policy means he and club team-mate Drew Mitchell are available again.
The last time he played with Genia and Cooper in a 9, 10, 12 combination was against England at Twickenham in 2010 - a game Australia lost 35-18.
Prop Greg Holmes was also named on the bench alongside Mitchell and could get his first taste of Test rugby for eight years, with Mitchell's 63rd and last appearance coming against Wales in December 2012.
"With new combinations comes a new level of energy to our team environment and Will, Quade and Matt certainly bring that," said Cheika.
"Matt is a true professional and his impact on the team dynamic has been immediate. His form in Toulon and work ethic since joining the squad has been first class."
Hooker Stephen Moore has regained the captaincy.
"It has been a huge effort by Stephen to put himself in this position to once again captain his country," added Cheika.
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.
Watch Australia v South Africa live on Sky Sports 3 HD on Saturday from 10.30am.
