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Australia and South Africa shuffle packs

Wycliff Palu returns to the Aussie pack
Wycliff Palu returns to the Aussie pack

Australia have welcomed back a host of players from injury ahead of their Tri-Nations opener against South Africa on Saturday.

The Wallabies have recovered Nathan Sharpe (groin), Lote Tuqiri (knee), Wycliff Palu (neck) and Matt Dunning (leg) in time for the Test in Perth.

Berrick Barnes (shoulder) and James Horwill (eye) have also recovered from injuries sustained in the second Test against France in Brisbane.

Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau will see his first action under coach Robbie Deans from the bench after recovering from a broken hand, while lock Dan Vickerman will be rested for another week to allow him to regain his fitness following ankle surgery.

On the South African side, Pierre Spies, Francois Steyn and Conrad Jantjes have been called into the South Africa starting XV.

Spies gets the nod ahead of Joe van Niekerk, Steyn replaces the injured Adrian Jacobs and Jantjes comes in at number 15 ahead of Percy Montgomery.

Victor Matfield will captain the side in the absence of John Smit, who will miss the remainder of the tournament with a groin injury sustained in the Tri-Nations opener against New Zealand.

Smit's replacement, Bismarck du Plessis, is also sidelined through suspension after he was ruled to have come in contact with the eyes of All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson in his side's dramatic victory in Dunedin on Saturday night.

Du Plessis will be replaced at number two by Schalk Brits.
Uncapped Adriaan Strauss, who joined the squad on Tuesday as back-up hooker, was included as one of the replacements.

AUSTRALIA team to face South Africa in Perth on Saturday, 11.05am:

Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (capt), Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.

SOUTH AFRICA team:

Conrad Jantjes, JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield (capt), Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, Schalk Brits, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, Peter Grant.

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