Australia coach Robbie Deans has beefed up his pack in an effort to match the physicality of South Africa's set-piece in Saturday's Tri-Nations test in Bloemfontein following the 44-31 Pretoria defeat last Saturday.
In three changes hooker Stephen Moore and number eight Ben McCalman were promoted from the bench while lock Mark Chisholm earned a recall having not featured for the Wallabies since earning his 51st cap against Ireland in June.
Lock Dean Mumm, hooker Saia Faingaa and number eight Richard Brown drop to the bench while loose forward Scott Higginbotham falls out of the match 22 completely from last Saturday.
“The changes are less about shortcomings and more about considering the order in which we will use our blokes,” said Deans.
“McCalman has done really well off the bench and he will bring a real physical presence. Mark Chisholm has a big frame and we want him to use it at the set-piece. We believe that we will be better for the added weight in the scrums," added Deans.
The 22-year-old McCalman will be making his starting debut after two substitute appearances while the match will be a special occasion for Moore and wing Drew Mitchell with both men set to reach the 50-test mark on Saturday.
Australia have won only twice in South Africa at altitude, the last time at Ellis Park in Johannesburg in 1963 and Mitchell said that although the team was aware of their seeming inability to win on the high veld there was a belief that they could beat South Africa.
“The boys have a collective belief that we are capable of doing it. We beat South Africa in Brisbane this year and although it is different playing them in South Africa we feel that based on our previous performances against them we have shown that we are capable (of winning)."
Australia: Kurtley Beale; James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Salesi Ma'afu, Mark Chisholm, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom, David Pocock, Ben McCalman. Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Dean Mumm, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Anthony Faingaa.