South Africa will take only two players from the side that defeated Australia last month into Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash in Sydney against a Wallabies outfit missing suspended winger Lote Tuqiri.
Backs Ruan Pienaar and JP Pietersen were the only survivors from the Springboks’ starting line-up that won 22-19 in Cape Town after South Africa decided to rest some top-line and injured players ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Number eight Bob Skinstad will captain a side lambasted as a ”B” team by Australian Rugby Union officials furious at the selection policy.
Wallaby veterans Stephen Larkham and George Gregan, who will play their last Tests on Australian soil Saturday, have more international caps between them (231) than the entire Springbok starting XV (229).
South Africa coach Jake White was forced to make a late change after prop Cobus Visagie suffered a dislocated elbow at training on Tuesday, handing Jannie du Plessis his Test debut.
Du Plessis is the only uncapped player in the run-on side, although his brother, Bismarck, will have the chance to make his debut from the bench, as will back Peter Grant.
Australia called up winger Mark Gerrard to replace speedster Lote Tuqiri, who was suspended for two matches when he missed training Monday after an alcohol-fuelled night out.
There were also two injury-enforced changes to the run-on side that defeated the All Blacks last weekend, with Stephen Hoiles in at number eight for Wycliff Palu (shoulder) and prop Adam Freier replacing Stephen Moore (sternum).
Gerrard said the Wallabies were keen to put the controversy of Tuqiri’s suspension behind them.
”Unfortunately those things happen,” he told reporters.
”It’s probably not what we expect as a team as a whole but the boys are concentrating on this week’s game and looking forward to the World Cup after the Tri-Nations.
”So that’s something that’s in the back of our minds but we’re obviously going to forget about that in the next few days and concentrate on what we have to do on the weekend, and that’s obviously beat South Africa at home.”
Veteran flyhalf Larkham will earn his 100th Test cap at the Sydney’s Olympic Stadium, while Gregan will make his 133rd international appearance.
Coach John Connolly paid tribute to the pair, saying he expected an emotional farewell from Australian fans.
”We’ve just been so blessed in this country to have such incredibly consistent players playing in two of our key positions over the past 12 or so years,” he said.
”They are two great warriors of Australian sport and I’m sure they will receive a fitting farewell from the supporters on Saturday night in what is such a crucial Test for the Wallabies.” — Sapa-AFP
Teams:
Australia: Julian Huxley; Mark Gerrard, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan; Stephen Hoiles, George Smith, Rocky Elsom; Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe; Guy Shepherdson, Adam Freier, Matt Dunning. Reserves: Sean Hardman, Al Baxter, Hugh McMeniman, David Lyons, Phil Waugh, Scott Staniforth, Drew Mitchell.
South Africa: Bevin Fortuin; Breyton Paulse, Waylon Murray, Wynand Olivier, JP Pietersen; Derick Hougaard, Ruan Pienaar; Bob Skinstad (captain), Pedrie Wannenburg, Wikus van Heerden; Johann Muller, Johan Ackermann; Jannie du Plessis, Gary Botha, CJ van der Linde. Reserves: Bismarck du Plessis, Eddie Andrews, Albert van den Berg, Jacques Cronje, Michael Claassens, Peter Grant, Jaco Pretorius.