Tri Nations 2008
Preview: South Africa v Australia
Scrum.com
August 30, 2008
Victor Matfield, player portrait, July 17, 2008
Victor Matfield insists that the Springboks can have no questions about their game by the time they leave for Europe © Getty Images
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South Africa coach Peter De Villiers has made two enforced changes to his Springbok side to face Australia in Saturday's Tri Nations clash in Johannesburg.

Wing Odwa Ndungane comes in for the injured JP Pietersen and prop Brian Mujati replaces the suspended CJ Van der Linde.

Francois Steyn drops out of the matchday 22 due to a concussion and is replaced by utility back Ruan Pienaar.

Jannie Du Plessis and Danie Rossouw replace Mujati and Joe Van Niekirk in the other changes to the bench.

The Boks desperately need a consolation win, having lost all bar one of their Tri-Nations fixtures so far this season and coach Peter de Villiers has backed his side to bounce back.

"The Peter de Villiers game plan is all about adding decision-making to structure and we are stuck at the moment at decision-making," he told a press conference ahead of the game.

"But I back the players and I want them to keep going out and playing what's in front of them. The win will come because we have very good players."

"We don't have control over whether we win or lose and I treat winning or losing as the same," De Villiers said.

"But we let the public down last week and we want them to feel part of a winning recipe."

Skipper Victor Matfield is also well aware of the pressure building on his side.

"We need to win this game for South Africa, the coaching staff and all those involved with the Boks," he told AAP.

"We certainly don't want to get together at the end of the year (before the Boks go to Europe) still asking ourselves questions about our game.

"We need to build some confidence now and ensure we take the chances we create this weekend."

Dual international Timana Tahu will start in a rugby union international for the first time after today being named at inside centre in the Wallabies side for Saturday's Tri-Nations match against South Africa at Johannesburg.

The Melbourne-born 27-year-old, who won a national rugby league premiership and was capped at both state of origin and international level in the 13-man code, has been included in place of the injured Berrick Barnes.

His selection represents one of five alterations to the Wallabies starting XV from that which annexed Australia's first win on South African soil in eight years, last weekend at Durban.

The other changes see fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper regain his position from Drew Mitchell after missing the tour opener due to his broken hand, Hugh McMeniman returns in the second row for the injured Daniel Vickerman, while Phil Waugh and Tatafu Polota-Nau come in for George Smith and Stephen Moore respectively.

Mitchell, Smith and Moore have all been included among the run on reserves as the Qantas Wallabies coaches have looked to spread the work load amongst the playing staff.

Although he acknowledged that the changes could be perceived as showing a lack of respect towards the weekend's opponents, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans insists that this is not the case.

"If anything, in fact it's the opposite," Deans says.

"It's because of the respect we have for them, and the enormity of the challenge we have in front of us trying to win back-to-back South African Test matches, and in Johannesburg for the first time in so long, that we feel we need to bring in some fresh legs.

"Last weekend [in Durban] took a lot out of our guys as it did some of theirs. We will need the impetus that the fresh legs we've included today will bring."

Australia has only once previously won consecutive Tests in Africa. That was 45 years ago, when the second victory was achieved 11-9 at the ground formerly known as Ellis Park. The 1963 success remains Australia's only win (from nine attempts) in Johannesburg.

Deans acknowledges the Wallabies' poor previous history at Ellis Park and the likely South African response due to the current circumstance last year's Rugby World Cup-winning side finds itself in.

"They [South Africa] have got one more shot at it in this year's Tri-Nations," Deans says.

"If they can take it, they can park the rest of the tournament and move forward a lot more positively towards their end of season tour preparations. Ask yourself how you'd feel in their position? There's no doubt they'll be up for it."

Nor is Deans prepared to dismiss Saturday's relevance in the overall context of the Tri-Nations tournament, even though that title will not now be determined until after Australia meet New Zealand in Brisbane on September 13.

Australia has also already secured the Mandela Trophy, which is played for by the two teams, having won the matches in Perth and Durban.

"Saturday still has huge significance - both in terms of momentum in the Tri-Nations; but also as far as the development of our group as a whole is concerned," Deans says.

"By winning in Durban last weekend, we have presented ourselves with an opportunity - to win back-to-back Test matches in South Africa - which is not only rare in an Australian context; but is also historically significant across the game in general.

"We owe it to ourselves, and to everyone who is associated with Australian rugby, to make the most of that opportunity."

South Africa: Conrad Jantjies, Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Jongikhaya Nokwe, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Andries Bekker, Brian Mujati, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Luke Watson, Enrico Januarie, Ruan Pienaar, Percy Montgomery.

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Timana Tahu, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Sam Cordingley, Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill, Matt Dunning, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson.

Replacements: Stephen Moore, Al Baxter, Dean Mumm, George Smith, Brett Sheehan, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

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