TRI-NATIONS:SOUTH AFRICA have made four changes to the starting side that beat New Zealand 30-28 in Dunedin last week for their Tri-Nations Test against Australia at Perth's Subiaco Oval tomorrow.
Number eight Pierre Spies, centre Francois Steyn, fullback Conrad Jantjes and hooker Schalk Brits come in.
Spies takes over from Joe van Niekerk, who played in the two Tests against New Zealand, Steyn replaces the injured Adrian Jacobs at centre and Jantjes comes in for Percy Montgomery at fullback.
Brits, who was a late call-up for the injured John Smit and was on the bench last week, replaces Bismarck du Plessis, banned for three weeks for making contact around Adam Thomson's eye last Saturday in Carisbrook.
The uncapped hooker Adriaan Strauss is named on the bench.
Van Niekerk and Montgomery drop out of the 22-man squad, as does reserve flanker Luke Watson. Ryan Kankowski replaces Watson.
Coach Peter de Villiers has picked five forwards and two backs on the bench, signalling his intention to attack the Wallabies through the forwards.
Australian coach Robbie Deans has rushed back Lote Tuqiri, Wycliff Palu and Nathan Sharpe from injury for the game.
The experienced trio come back into the starting line-up after missing Australia's 40-10 win over France in Brisbane on July 5th.
Winger Tuqiri replaces Lachlan Turner, Palu comes in for Stephen Hoiles at eight and Sharpe takes over from Dean Mumm at lock.
"They're all looking good and ready to go again," Deans said of Tuqiri, Sharpe and Palu. "We needed to be absolutely certain that they were right, because the South Africans are going to be the most physical opponents we have played so far . . . we're happy that they are at the level, both physically and mentally, that they need to be to play."
The one major change in the squad comes on the bench, hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau replacing Adam Freier. Polata-Nau had been out with a hand injury and only returned to club play last week.
"Tatafu offers genuine impact (and) his ability to carry could potentially be invaluable in the latter stages of what I'd expect will be a high-tempo game," addedDeans.
Flanker George Smith will play his 87th Test, making him Australia's most capped forward.
Deans conceded the South Africans, coming off the win over New Zealand, posed a major challenge.
"Their record speaks for itself," Deans said. "Historically playing South Africa has always been a massive challenge and recent events have probably only added to the significance of this assignment, but it's one that we're excited about as a group and looking forward to."
AUSTRALIA: A Ashley-Cooper; P Hynes, S Mortlock (capt), B Barnes, L Tuqiri; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Robinson, S Moore, A Baxter; J Horwill, N Sharpe; R Elsom, G Smith, W Palu. Replacements: T Polota-Nau, M Dunning, H McMeniman, P Waugh, S Cordingley, R Cross, D Mitchell.
SOUTH AFRICA: C Jantjes; JP Pietersen, F Steyn, J de Villiers, B Habana; B James, R Januarie; G Steenkamp, S Brits, CJ van der Linde; B Botha, V Matfield (capt); S Burger, J Smith, P Spies. Replacements: A Strauss, T Mtawarira, B Mujati, A Bekker, R Kankowski, R Pienaar, P Grant.
