The return from injury of flanker Rocky Elsom, and the placement of Drew Mitchell at fullback and Sam Cordingley at halfback, highlight the Qantas Wallabies side named today for Saturday's Tri-Nations match against South Africa at Durban.
The trio represent three of the five personnel changes that have been made to the Australian combination from that which lost the second Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland.
Elsom is back after a strained foot ligament prevented his participation in that loss three weeks ago.
His return comes a week earlier than was originally anticipated, but having satisfied the medical and coaching staff as to the level of his preparedness for the task ahead.
Lock James Horwill has also been cleared to play, after being dogged by a foot injury following the Auckland match. Mitchell and Cordingley take the places of the injured Adam Ashley-Cooper and Luke Burgess respectively.
The! other changes to the Australian starting XV from that which appeared most recently in the series; see Daniel Vickerman resume his starting position in the second-row, having come from the bench in his two Test outings of the season to date.
Tighthead prop Matt Dunning is also restored to the run on side for the first time since the opening international of the year against Ireland. He swaps places with Al Baxter, who drops to a place among the run on reserves.
The starting side features four changes from the combination which eclipsed South Africa 16-9 in the Wallabies' opening match of the 2008 Tri-Nations series.
Brett Sheehan is promoted to the match-day squad for the first time this year following Cordingley's elevation into the starting line-up, being joined by Timana Tahu and Ryan Cross among the back replacements.
Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is happy with his team's preparation through the week as it heads towards ! the Durban match.
"Training has gone well, and we'r! e lookin g forward to the opportunity we have in front of us," Deans says.
While the Wallabies' recent run of outs in South Africa has been repeatedly highlighted in the lead-up to the current team's visit, Deans is only interested in looking forward.
"It [the record] highlights the extent of the opportunity that we, as a team, have in front of us to achieve something significant, and that's exciting," Deans says.
"But as far as its relevance is concerned in the preparations for Saturday's game, it doesn't really have any. We're focusing totally on what is in front of us. The history – be it good or bad – isn't a factor once the game kicks off!"
The Qantas Wallabies have been based at sea level in Cape Town all week after arriving in South Africa last Friday night.
Preparations for the Test match will be wrapped up in Cape Town, where the captain's run will be held tomorrow morning, prior to transferring to the Kwa-Zulu Natal coa! st in the afternoon.
The Wallabies will wear black arm-bands during the match as a mark of respect for the former Australian representatives Roy Prosser and Malcolm van Gelder who both passed away just prior to the team's departure for South Africa.
The Qantas Wallabies team to play South Africa at the ABSA Stadium in Durban, on Saturday August 23 (3pm kick off, local), is:
15. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
14. Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds)
13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) captain
12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds)
11. Lote Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs)
10. Matt Giteau (Western Force)
9. Sam Cordingley (Queensland Reds)
8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs)
7. George Smith (Brumbies)
4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
3. Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs)
2. Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run on reserves:
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs)
17. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs)
18. Hugh McMeniman (Queensland Reds)
19. Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs)
20. Brett Sheehan (NSW Waratahs)
21. Timana Tahu (NSW Waratahs)
22. Ryan Cross (Western Force)
