Tri-Nations:Australia coach Robbie Deans has made five changes to his starting line-up to face South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday in a desperate bid to snap a worrying four-Test losing streak. Outhalf Will Genia and openside flanker David Pocock have both been handed maiden Tri-Nations starts, while Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell and Tatafu Polota-Nau also return to the side.
Barnes' return from a head injury suffered against New Zealand in Sydney allows Adam Ashley-Cooper to revert to outside-centre at the expense of Ryan Cross, with Mitchell to replace Peter Hynes on the wing in the other change out wide.
Polota-Nau's inclusion as starting rake sees Stephen Moore - widely considered the form hooker in world rugby last season - dropped to the bench, while skipper George Smith has been shifted to number eight to allow Pocock to start at openside flanker.
Richard Brown has paid a heavy price for a poor performance in Saturday's 32-25 loss to the Springboks, dropping out of the match-day 22 to allow Wycliff Palu to return on the bench.
Deans said Pocock had earned his spot on the back of strong contributions off the bench in recent Tests.
"George is comfortable at the back of the scrum while Dave has shown, in the opportunities he's had to date, that he is worthy of a crack from the start," he said.
The coach added of Genia's inclusion ahead of the out-of-form Luke Burgess: "Will has shown us since he joined the squad at the start of the Tri-Nations that he is up to this level, and we saw that again last Saturday night.
"Having Berrick, whom he knows so well and has such a great understanding with, playing alongside him will also help."
Meanwhile, prop Al Baxter's career hangs in the balance after he was dropped from the squad for Western Force young gun Pek Cowan.
Utility Quade Cooper has been selected on the bench but must prove his fitness after spraining his knee at Subiaco Oval.
While the Tri-Nations and Mandela Trophy are both out of reach for the Wallabies this year, Deans was quick to remind his charges of the importance of Saturday's clash with the world champions.
"It's a Test match and against the world's best team at one of the premier venues in world rugby. That's not a prospect any of our blokes would take lightly," Deans said.
"Every time you put on your national jumper you want to - and expect to - do your best. That motivation doesn't change, regardless of the circumstance."
Australia:O'Connor, Lachie, Ashley-Cooper, Barnes, Mitchell, Giteau, Genia, Smith, Pocock, Elsom, Chisholm, Horwill, Alexander, Polota-Nau, Robinson. Replacements: Moore, Cowan, Mumm, Palu, Burgess, Cooper, Hynes.
South Africa:Pienaar, Ndungane, Fourie, De Villiers, Habana, Morne Steyn, Du Preez; Mtawarira, Bismarck Du Plessis, Smit, Botha, Matfield, Brussow, Smith, Spies. Replacements: Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Rossouw, Burger, Januarie, Jacobs, Frans Steyn.
