James O’Connor and Rocky Elsom both passed fitness tests to be included in a reshuffled Australia team to play South Africa in the Tri-Nations at Perth tomorrow.
Teenage O’Connor was named to start at fullback on Thursday after overcoming a leg injury, while Elsom was cleared to start at blindside flanker after recovering from an ankle problem.
Their availability was welcome news for a Wallabies team that has suffered a heavy casualty toll and is yet to win a match in this season’s series.
PHOTO: AP
Regular captain Stirling Mortlock will miss the rest of the tournament, while lock Nathan Sharpe and inside center Berrick Barnes were both ruled out of tomorrow’s match after picking up injuries in last weekend’s narrow loss to New Zealand.
Ryan Cross comes into the side for Barnes but will start at outside center to allow the versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper to play inside, while Mark Chisholm replaces Sharpe at lock after recovering from a dislocated wrist.
Australia team: 15-James O’Connor, 14-Lachie Turner, 13-Ryan Cross, 12-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11-Peter Hynes, 10-Matt Giteau, 9-Luke Burgess, 8-Richard Brown, 7-George Smith (captain), 6-Rocky Elsom, 5-Mark Chisholm, 4-James Horwill, 3-Ben Alexander, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-Al Baxter, 18-Dean Mumm, 19-David Pocock, 20-Will Genia, 21-Quade Cooper, 22-Drew Mitchell.
■SPRINGBOKS
REUTERS, SYDNEY
World champions South Africa have recalled Ruan Pienaar to their starting side for tomorrow’s Tri-Nations test against Australia.
Pienaar, better known as a scrumhalf or flyhalf, was surprisingly named at fullback ahead of Frans Steyn.
Steyn, who became the youngest player to win a World Cup when he helped the Springboks to victory in 2007 aged 20, was relegated to the bench.
Burger replaced Danie Rossouw, who is nursing a slight hamstring strain, in a Springboks squad unbeaten in this year’s Tri-Nations.
South Africa team: 15-Ruan Pienaar, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Jaque Fourie, 12-Jean de Villiers, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Fourie du Preez, 8-Pierre Spies, 7-Juan Smith, 6-Heinrich Brussow, 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-John Smit (captain), 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16-Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17-Jannie du Plessis, 18-Andries Bekker, 19-Schalk Burger, 20-Ricky Januarie, 21-Adi Jacobs, 22-Frans Steyn.
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