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Australia and South Africa have each named their sides to compete against each other at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday. The Springboks will be keen to use their home field advantage to avenge a 23-17 loss in Brisbane on September 10, and to stave off the challenge of Argentina who now sit just one point behind on the Rugby Championship table.
Head coach Allister Coetzee has opted to switch his starting halfbacks with Rudy Paige and Morné Steyn replacing incumbents Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies. The new pairing each have significant experience at the grounds by way of their time at the Bulls, with Steyn’s kicking expertise at altitude surely a significant factor in selection.
The only other change to the run-on side is the recall of Patrick Lambie, albeit at fullback with Johan Goosen dropping out. Lambie returns for the first time since starting in the no10 shirt against Ireland on June 11. The reserves see several changes, including a return for Lood de Jager and deposed test fullback Willie le Roux.
Meanwhile Australia have made only one change to the team that defeated Argentina in Perth. Injury to David Pocock hands Sean McMahon an opportunity to start at no8, with Scott Fardy called into the squad as bench cover. James Hanson replaces Tatafu Polota-Nau as backup hooker, while Kane Douglas takes the spot of Rory Arnold. Uncapped Fijian outside back Seta Naivalu has been named in an extended bench along with Tevita Kuridrani, with one to be omitted before the match.
SOUTH AFRICA
1 Tendai Mtawarira 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt.) 3 Vincent Koch 4 Eben Etzebeth 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit 6 Francois Louw 7 Oupa Mohoje 8 Warren Whiteley 9 Rudy Paige 10 Morné Steyn 11 Francois Hougaard 12 Juan de Jongh 13 Jesse Kriel 14 Bryan Habana 15 Patrick Lambie
RESERVES: 16 Bongi Mbonambi 17 Steven Kitshoff 18 Julian Redelinghuys 19 Lood de Jager 20 Willem Alberts 21 Jaco Kriel 22 Lionel Mapoe 23 Willie le Roux
AUSTRALIA
1 Scott Sio 2 Stephen Moore (capt.) 3 Sekope Kepu 4 Adam Coleman 5 Rob Simmons 6 Dean Mumm 7 Michael Hooper 8 Sean McMahon 9 Will Genia 10 Quade Cooper 11 Reece Hodge 12 Bernard Foley 13 Samu Kerevi 14 Dane Haylett-Petty 15 Israel Folau
RESERVES (from): James Hanson, James Slipper, Tom Robertson, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Lopeti Timani, Nick Phipps, Tevita Kuridrani, Sefa Naivalu
