Springboks make 13 changes for Wallabies Test

South Africa have made 13 changes to the team humiliated by New Zealand two weeks ago for a Tri-Nations Test against Australia here Saturday. Hooker and captain John Smit and number eight Danie Rossouw are the sole survivors from a team that conceded six tries in a 40-7 hiding a week after another heavy defeat at the hands of Australia. South Africa left 21 largely first-choice players at home last month to recover from injuries, although many believe it was a deliberate move to rest senior stars ahead of the Rugby World Cup defence in New Zealand from next month. Coach Peter de Villiers has named his strongest available side to face the Wallabies at the 50,000-seat Kings Park stadium with 105-cap lock Victor Matfield the most senior player. A new backline has Paris-based Francois Steyn at fullback, JP Pieterson and Bryan Habana on the wings, Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers filling the centre slots, Butch James at fly-half and Fourie du Preez at scrum-half. The most significant choice is James, now widely regarded as favourite to wear the number 10 jersey at the World Cup after an ill-timed loss of form by ace goal kicker Morne Steyn. Outstanding when the Springboks won a three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions and the Tri-Nations title two seasons ago, Steyn was the big loser on the Australasia misadventure. He managed just eight points from two Tests -- a couple of penalties against the Wallabies and a conversion against the All Blacks -- and was criticised for standing too deep at set pieces and lacking leadership and flair. Steyn was not helped by playing behind an outclassed green and gold pack in Sydney and Wellington and the poor form of recalled scrum-half Ruan Pienaar, and switching the fly-half to full-back for the New Zealand Test did not work. Heinrich Brussow returns to open-side flank after missing the 2010 Test season and the recent matches in Australia and New Zealand due to a variety of injuries and eighthman Pierre Spies and blind-side Rossouw complete the loose trio. Iconic lock partners Bakkies Botha and Matfield will resume active service and a front row of Smit supported by loosehead Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira and tighthead Jannie du Plessis was expected. Most South African rugby union observers consider Bismarck du Plessis superior to Smit but De Villiers seems set to stick with his skipper as first choice for the World Cup. Teams (15-1) South Africa: Francois Steyn; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Danie Rossouw, Heinrich Brussow; Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha; Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (capt), Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, Gerhard Mostert, Jean Deysel, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Gio Aplon Australia: Kurtley Beale; James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Scott Higginbotham, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (capt); James Horwill, Nathan Sharpe; Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu Replacements: Saia Fainga'a, Salesi Ma'afu, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Radike Samo, Luke Burgess, Anthony Fainga'a