Boks face Wallabies in Rugby W.Cup quarters

South Africa's bid to defend their World Cup title faces its sternest test yet when they meet Tri-Nations foes Australia in a quarter-final on Sunday. The way the draw was made, the Springboks ought to have been playing Ireland. But the Irish pulled off a shock 15-6 pool victory over the Wallabies to finish atop their group and avoid the mighty South Africans. The Springboks are oozing experience and the team named to play Australia, the only other side to win the World Cup twice, is the most experienced ever, featuring 836 caps, surpassing the previous record of 815 posted against Wales in the side's opening match of this tournament. South Africa's starting XV, skippered by hooker John Smit, includes eight players who began the 2007 World Cup final, with a further three on the bench. Only full-back Pat Lambie, fly-half Morne Steyn and flanker Heinrich Brussow of the starting team were not involved in 2007, while Pierre Spies was originally selected but had to withdraw through illness. "It's certainly quite an experienced team but that only really counts once the business is done on Sunday," said Smit. "We have to make sure we take our experiences throughout the World Cup and pressure games and hopefully use it." Bok coach Peter de Villiers, who is without the injured Bakkies Botha and Frans Steyn, said Australia were "pretty much the favourites" after having beaten the Springboks in their last three encounters. "They are at the moment Tri-Nations champions," he said. "We know they are a very dangerous rugby team. "They are confrontational in their forwards and get it right for most of the game. They never, never give up. "And then their exciting backs, if you give them a sniff or space or the ball, they will run and take you to pieces." But Springbok vice-captain Victor Matfield said previous recent results meant nothing in the context of Sunday's do-or-die game. "You can feel the pressure building up to the game," the towering lock said. "It's all about handling that pressure, taking it into the game and using it to your advantage by getting energy from that. "I truly believe everything that's in the past, is in the past. It doesn't count for anything going in to tomorrow's game." Australia coach Robbie Deans had the luxury of a full complement of players to pick from and named his strongest possible match-day 22. Full-back Kurtley Beale, wing Digby Ioane and inside centre Pat McCabe all return from injuries, three of seven changes to the side that beat Russia 68-22 in the Wallabies' final Pool C match last week. Beale replaces injured wing Drew Mitchell, with James O'Connor relocating back to the right wing, McCabe steps in for Berrick Barnes, while Ioane resumes in place of stand-in Radike Samo, who returns to his favoured No 8 berth. Samo's return to the back of the scrum is one of five changes in the forwards, with flanker Rocky Elsom, second row Dan Vickerman, tighthead prop Ben Alexander and loosehead prop Sekope Kepu all reinstated. "All that matters is Sunday," former All Black Deans said. "The winner goes on, the loser goes home. Taking comfort from previous games is the quickest path way to the airport! "The knock out phases of the World Cup are completely different to every other type of rugby we play: the stakes are higher, the intensity greater and the margins between success and failure smaller."