South Africa coach Peter de Villiers is well aware of the danger Australia will pose in Saturday's Tri-Nations showdown.
De Villiers restricts changes to back line
South Africa coach Peter de Villiers is well aware of the danger the Wallabies will pose in their Tri-Nations showdown in Pretoria this weekend.
De Villiers knows that Australia will be a very different prospect to the All Blacks, who subjected the Boks to a 29-22 defeat with two late tries in Johannesburg last weekend.
"The Wallabies bring a different mindset to the game than the All Blacks as they do not have the same physical approach," he said ahead of the clash at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
"New Zealand look to move the ball wide but Australia enjoy getting the likes of Elsom involved on the inside."
De Villiers is under intense pressure to turn around his struggling side who, as defending champions, sit rock bottom of the table after securing just one bonus point in this year's competition.
Following three losses to the All Blacks and one to the Wallabies de Villiers is just one defeat away from equalling the record of predecessor Jake White.
Something wrong
White saved his job by ending a five-game losing streak with a one-point win over the All Blacks but the current incumbent has admitted he does not know what is wrong with his team.
"There is definitely something wrong with Victor," said de Villiers. "I have to speak to him. The same with Pierre (Spies). He is not right."
Back row Spies should consider himself lucky to retain his number 8 jersey after another poor performance against New Zealand.
De Villiers has instead restricted his changes for Saturday's match to two in the backline with Francois Steyn and Jaque Fourie both given the nod.
France-based Steyn comes in for Gio Aplon at full-back while Fourie returns from suspension to replace Juan de Jongh at outside centre.
De Villiers' opposite number Robbie Deans, who is also under pressure with just a 54 percent success rate over three years, has made just one change to his side following Australia's 20-10 defeat against New Zealand.
Cooper recalled
The Wallabies coach, who is hoping to guide Australia to their first victory on the Highveld since 1963, has recalled fly-half Quade Cooper to his starting line-up.
Utility back Matt Giteau returns to inside centre to make way for Cooper, who has missed the last two matches through suspension.
Centre Anthony Faingaa, twin brother of first-choice hooker Saia, will start Saturday's match on the bench.
South Africa team: Francois Steyn; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield, Flip van der Merwe; Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (capt), Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ van der Linde, Danie Rossouw, Ryan Kankowski, Ricky Januarie, Butch James, Juan de Jongh.
Australia team: K Beale; J O'Connor, A Ashley-Cooper, M Giteau, D Mitchell; Q Cooper, W Genia; B Robinson, S Faingaa, S Ma'afu, D Mumm, N Sharpe, R Elsom, Pocock, R Brown.
Replacements: S Moore, J Slipper, B McCalman, S Higginbotham, L Burgess, B Barnes, A Faingaa.
