Australia host South Africa on Saturday as Matt Giteau returns for the Wallabies after a four-year absence. Will Genia, Quade Cooper and Tevita Kuridrani also return to the starting lineup. Here’s a look at some facts between the two sides and an interview with Giteau himself.
Giteau will earn his 93rd Test cap at the Suncorp stadium while Genia and Cooper start together for the first time since 2013.
Australia will have it tough though as they have lost four out of the last five meetings against South Africa, with the Springboks winning by 18 points or more in all those four victories. They have won just one game in their last seven, against Wales in November.
Injuries have meant that South Africa have had to have a reshuffle. Schalk Burger starts at 8 in place of Duane Vermuelen, while Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, making his Test debut, start at 12 and 13 respectively.
Handre Pollard, the African’s top scorer in last year’s Championship with 43, gets the nod at flyhalf, while top tackler Marcell Coetzee starts at openside and Willie le Roux, who made the most metres for his country with 455, starts at fullback despite a hit-and-miss season.
Kick off: Saturday 18 July, 20:05 local, 10:05 GMT, 11:05 BST.
Australia team:
15. Israel Folau, 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Matt Giteau, 11. Rob Horne, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia, 8. Scott Higginbotham, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Rob Simmons, 4. Will Skelton, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Stephen Moore (c), 1. James Slipper.
Replacements: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Greg Holmes, 19. James Horwill, 20. David Pocock, 21. Nick Phipps, 22. Matt Toomua, 23. Drew Mitchell.
South Africa team:
15. Willie le Roux, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Handre Pollard, 9. Ruan Pienaar vc, 8. Schalk Burger , 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Francois Louw, 5. Victor Matfield (c), 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck. du Plessis , 1. Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17. Heinke van der Merwe, 18. Frans Malherbe, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Oupa Mohoje, 21. Cobus Reinach , 22. Pat Lambie, 23. Lwazi Mvovo.
Sign In