Johannesburg – Australia have changed both wings and the hooker for a Rugby Championship Test against South Africa in Cape Town Saturday.
Fit-again Adam Ashley-Cooper and powerful Joe Tomane replace Peter Betham and Rob Horne on the wings and Saia Fainga'a comes into the middle of the front row for Tatafu Polota-Nau.
The other 12 starters in a 32-25 home victory over Argentina two weeks ago retain their places for the fifth-round match at Newlands stadium.
Polota-Nau was ruled out by an ankle injury, Horne moves to the bench and Betham drops out of the 23-man matchday squad.
Coach Ewen McKenzie also changed his replacements split from six forwards and two backs to five and three, and recalled experienced prop Benn Robinson for Pek Cowan.
Forward Matt Hodgson gives way to permit the inclusion of Horne, whose late try in Perth this month gave the Wallabies a 24-23
triumph over the Springboks.
The Cape Town clash will likely decide who finishes runners-up in the southern hemisphere championship as Australia and South Africa trail New Zealand by six points with two rounds left.
McKenzie explained his changes in an Australian Rugby Union (ARU) media release.
“We have been really impressed with the effort Saia (Fainga'a) has put in off the field recently and he will be determined to make the most of this opportunity.
“It is great to add the experience of Adam (Ashley-Cooper) to the squad and we expect him to be refreshed and ready to go after missing our most recent Test.
“While we have been impressed by how Rob (Horne) has performed on the wing, we feel Joe (Tomane) deserves an opportunity to also show us what he has got.
“Benn (Robinson) was never out of the selection picture and we have been pleased with the improvements he has made to his game throughout the year,” said the coach.
Team (15-1)
Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane; Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Scott Fardy; Rob Simmons, Sam Carter; Sekope Kepu, Saia Fainga'a, James Slipper
Replacements: James Hanson, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Scott Higginbotham, Nic White, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne
Coach: Ewen McKenzie – Sapa-AFP