Tri-Nations Series
VS 
Australia vs South Africa
Match schedule
Date: Saturday, 29 August 2009
Kick-off 1105 BST
Venue:Subiaco Oval, Perth
Competition : Tri-Nations Series
Live / Repeat: Live
upcoming match info : Australia - South Africa
Tri-Nations leaders South Africa have named Ruan Pienaar at full-back in place of Frans Steyn for Saturday's game with struggling Australia.
Schalk Burger starts on the bench in Perth, having completed an eight-week ban for eye-gouging in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.
Full-back James O'Connor and flanker Rocky Elsom have both passed fitness tests and will start for the Wallabies.
But Stirling Mortlock, Nathan Sharpe and Berrick Barnes are all injured.
Mortlock, who will miss the rest of the tournament after picking up a knee injury in his side's narrow loss to New Zealand last Saturday, is replaced as skipper by flanker George Smith.
Ryan Cross comes into the side for Barnes but will start at outside centre to allow Adam Ashley-Cooper to play inside, while Mark Chisholm replaces Sharpe at lock after recovering from a dislocated wrist.
The Australian selectors have also made two unforced changes from last weekend's starting side as they seek their first win of this year's Tri-Nations.
Peter Hynes is named on the wing ahead of Drew Mitchell and prop Ben Alexander is selected at tight-head instead of Al Baxter.
The availability of O'Connor, who has shrugged off a leg injury, and Elsom, who has recovered from an ankle problem, is welcome news for a Wallabies team that is yet to win a match in this season's series.
Stormers flanker Burger, who was banned for gouging Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald in the first minute of the crucial second Test in June, replaces the injured Danie Rossouw.
However, it is the inclusion of Pienaar that will confound many, with Steyn starting all three of South Africa's Tri-Nations victories thus far.
Pienaar had been given his chance at fly-half during the 2-1 series defeat of the Lions, and the early part of the current Tri-Nations, but his failure with the boot saw him lose his place to the in-form Morne Steyn.
And Springboks coach Peter de Villiers said the decision to start Pienaar at full-back against Australia was made simply to keep all his players happy.
"Ruan is a brilliant player," he said. "I hope he will add more bite on attack. Frans Steyn has not let us down, he always pulled his weight, but it's important to keep the interest levels high of everyone in the squad.
"We are very organised at the moment, we don't want to become a fruit salad, so 15 will be Ruan's number and 10 will be Morne's number.
Asked whether Pienaar might switch to fly-half from time to time during the game, De Villiers said: "Ruan has been selected to play at full-back and that is where he will concentrate his energies.
"However, if the situation dictates, as it might, we have an option to make use of him at 10."
De Villiers is refusing to be complacent about his side's chances on Saturday, despite their position at the top of the Tri-Nations table.
"The Wallabies have had a few injury problems but we will not underestimate them in any way," he said. "They are playing at home, which is a great advantage and they remain a very good side."
The Springboks will be led by captain John Smit, who will win his 88th cap at the Subiaco Oval, while scrum-half Fourie du Preez will win his 50th international cap.
Australia: J O'Connor; L Turner, R Cross, A Ashley-Cooper, P Hynes; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Robinson, S Moore, B Alexander, J Horwill, M Chisolm, R Elsom, G Smith (captain), R Brown.
Replacements: T Polota-Nau, A Baxter, D Mumm, D Pocock, W Genia, Q Cooper, D Mitchell.
South Africa: R Pienaar; JP Pietersen, J Fourie, J de Villiers, B Habana; M Steyn, F du Preez; P Spies, J Smith, H Brussow, V Matfield, B Botha, J Smit (captain), B du Plessis, T Mtawarira.
Replacements: C Ralepelle, J du Plessis, A Bekker, S Burger, R Januarie, A Jacobs, F Steyn.
Full-back James O'Connor and flanker Rocky Elsom have both passed fitness tests and will start for the Wallabies.
But Stirling Mortlock, Nathan Sharpe and Berrick Barnes are all injured.
Mortlock, who will miss the rest of the tournament after picking up a knee injury in his side's narrow loss to New Zealand last Saturday, is replaced as skipper by flanker George Smith.
Ryan Cross comes into the side for Barnes but will start at outside centre to allow Adam Ashley-Cooper to play inside, while Mark Chisholm replaces Sharpe at lock after recovering from a dislocated wrist.
The Australian selectors have also made two unforced changes from last weekend's starting side as they seek their first win of this year's Tri-Nations.
Peter Hynes is named on the wing ahead of Drew Mitchell and prop Ben Alexander is selected at tight-head instead of Al Baxter.
The availability of O'Connor, who has shrugged off a leg injury, and Elsom, who has recovered from an ankle problem, is welcome news for a Wallabies team that is yet to win a match in this season's series.
Stormers flanker Burger, who was banned for gouging Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald in the first minute of the crucial second Test in June, replaces the injured Danie Rossouw.
However, it is the inclusion of Pienaar that will confound many, with Steyn starting all three of South Africa's Tri-Nations victories thus far.
Pienaar had been given his chance at fly-half during the 2-1 series defeat of the Lions, and the early part of the current Tri-Nations, but his failure with the boot saw him lose his place to the in-form Morne Steyn.
And Springboks coach Peter de Villiers said the decision to start Pienaar at full-back against Australia was made simply to keep all his players happy.
"Ruan is a brilliant player," he said. "I hope he will add more bite on attack. Frans Steyn has not let us down, he always pulled his weight, but it's important to keep the interest levels high of everyone in the squad.
"We are very organised at the moment, we don't want to become a fruit salad, so 15 will be Ruan's number and 10 will be Morne's number.
Asked whether Pienaar might switch to fly-half from time to time during the game, De Villiers said: "Ruan has been selected to play at full-back and that is where he will concentrate his energies.
"However, if the situation dictates, as it might, we have an option to make use of him at 10."
De Villiers is refusing to be complacent about his side's chances on Saturday, despite their position at the top of the Tri-Nations table.
"The Wallabies have had a few injury problems but we will not underestimate them in any way," he said. "They are playing at home, which is a great advantage and they remain a very good side."
The Springboks will be led by captain John Smit, who will win his 88th cap at the Subiaco Oval, while scrum-half Fourie du Preez will win his 50th international cap.
Australia: J O'Connor; L Turner, R Cross, A Ashley-Cooper, P Hynes; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Robinson, S Moore, B Alexander, J Horwill, M Chisolm, R Elsom, G Smith (captain), R Brown.
Replacements: T Polota-Nau, A Baxter, D Mumm, D Pocock, W Genia, Q Cooper, D Mitchell.
South Africa: R Pienaar; JP Pietersen, J Fourie, J de Villiers, B Habana; M Steyn, F du Preez; P Spies, J Smith, H Brussow, V Matfield, B Botha, J Smit (captain), B du Plessis, T Mtawarira.
Replacements: C Ralepelle, J du Plessis, A Bekker, S Burger, R Januarie, A Jacobs, F Steyn.
