Wallabies welcome back key trio for Springboks clash

AUSTRALIA will go into their Tri-Nations opener against South Africa buoyed by the return of scrum-half Will Genia, lock Nathan Sharpe and prop Benn Robinson, who have all shaken off injuries and will start Saturday's Test.

Genia has recovered from a fractured hand picked up in last month's one-point loss to England in Sydney and he returns at the expense of Luke Burgess in the team named by coach Robbie Deans yesterday.

Western Force second rower Sharpe rejoins the Wallabies pack after a back injury ruled him out of Australia's last outing, a 22-15 victory over Ireland.

"It's really good to have a few of the troops back who have been unavailable to us," said Deans ahead of the match against the defending Tri-Nations champions in Brisbane.

The Wallabies also brought back first-choice prop Robinson and switched Adam Ashley-Cooper to full-back to allow James O'Connor to move out to the right wing.

Queensland Reds hooker Saia Faingaa remains in the starting line-up as regular Stephen Moore is named on the replacements bench as he works his way back to full fitness after two months on the sidelines with a broken jaw.

For South Africa, scrum-half Ruan Pienaar and flanker Ryan Kankowsi were among four changes in coach Peter de Villiers' starting line-up.

Pienaar will start behind the pack in favour of Ricky Januarie, who was dumped from the 22 for the match at Lang Park, and Kankowski comes in for Francois Louw in the back row.

Winger Gio Aplon has replaced Jean de Villiers, while prop BJ Botha comes in for CJ van der Linde, who has been demoted to the bench.

Giant lock Andries Bekker was ruled out of the clash on Monday with a back injury, while veteran Bakkies Botha and winger de Villiers were suspended for infringements during the opening two losses to the All Blacks. Champions South Africa have not won a test against Australia in Brisbane since the 1970s.

AUSTRALIA: Adam Ashley-Cooper; James O'Connor, Rob Horne, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (captain), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma'afu, Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson. Replacements: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Matt Hodgson, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Kurtley Beale.

SOUTH AFRICA: Zane Kirchner; Gio Aplon, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, BJ Botha, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp. Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ van der Linde, Flip van der Merwe, Dewald Potgieter, Francois Hougaard, Butch James, Juan de Jongh.