S Africa v Australia: Teams
South Africa and Australia clash in arguably the pick of the quarter-finals on Sunday in Wellington.
Last Updated: 08/10/11 5:14am
South Africa and Australia clash in arguably the pick of the quarter-finals on Sunday in Wellington.
Neither side will have expected to have me at this stage of the tournament - however Australia's shock defeat to Ireland threw the tournament wide open.
Having lost their past three matches to the Wallabies - including both encounters in this year's Tri-Nations - South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has opted to name his most experienced team.
The Springboks boast 836 caps between them, with skipper John Smit, Gurthro Steenkamp and Jean de Villiers all starting.
Bakkies Botha had been due to play some part in the match only for a recurrence of an Achilles injury ending his tournament early.
Botha joins Frans Steyn in heading home, so Danie Rossouw retains his place in the second row alongside Victor Matfield.
Australia may have suffered an upset in the pool stages but they will be confident that they can continue their impressive form against the Boks.
The Wallabies were comfortable 39-20 winners at home before securing a 14-9 victory away in the Tri-Nations.
And Robbie Deans has been buoyed by news Kurtley Beale, Digby Ioane and Pat McCabe are all fit to play.
Beale (hamstring), Ioane (thumb) and McCabe (shoulder) had been struggling with injury but they have been included in a rejigged back division - with James O'Connor moving to full-back, Berrick Barnes dropping to the bench and Radike Samo returning to his preferred position at No.8.
Flanker Rocky Elsom, second row Dan Vickerman, tighthead Ben Alexander and loosehead Sekope Kepu also come into the side.
South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Willem Alberts, 19 Francois Louw, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Butch James, 22 Gio Aplon
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (capt), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Fainga'a
