A full-strength Australian squad is gunning to add next month’s Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa to its bulging trophy cabinet, batsman Michael Clarke said on Wednesday. Australia swept to a third successive victory in the 50-over World Cup in the Caribbean this year, won the last Champions Trophy and are ranked the top Test side in the world.

Springbok coach Jake White has hit back at critics of his selection of an under-strength Tri-Nations squad to tour Australia and New Zealand. ”I find it odd that I’m not allowed to take this squad overseas. We have to look at the bigger picture in a World Cup year and, besides, there are only three new caps in the squad,” White told reporters on Wednesday.

A new-look South African side will hope to impress coach Jake White in a one-off international against Samoa in Johannesburg on Saturday. White has made 13 changes to the starting team that completed a 2-0 series win over England last weekend, resting most of his first-choice players and handing a debut to flanker Luke Watson.

Stormers loose forward Luke Watson will make his Springbok debut on Saturday after being named on Wednesday in a new-look South African starting XV for a one-off Test against Samoa. Watson was not chosen by coach Jake White in his original 45-man training squad for the Tests against England and Samoa.

Samoa coach Michael Jones acclaimed South Africa on Tuesday as potentially the best side in the world after naming his team for Saturday’s one-off Test. ”To play against the might of the Springboks at Ellis Park is the ultimate and it will provide a benchmark for the players as we look at the bigger picture, which is the World Cup in September,” Jones told reporters.

Former South Africa captain Bobby Skinstad will return to international rugby on Saturday after four years out, including a spell in the lower leagues of the English game. Skinstad was called into the Springbok squad on Friday for the second Test against England in Pretoria because number eight Danie Rossouw has flu.

While all is calm in the Springbok camp, England have endured another fraught week of preparation for the second Test against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday. The mysterious stomach virus that struck the tourists shortly after their arrival two weeks ago continues to dog the squad and two more players have been flown in.

England coach Brian Ashton has included three new caps in what he described as an ”interesting mix” for the first Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Fullback Mike Brown, loosehead prop Nick Wood and lock Dean Schofield received their first call-ups on Tuesday as England look to take on the Springboks with nearly 30 first-choice players left at home.