James O'Connor remains connected crystal for the Wallabies arsenic manager Dave Rennie near the fit-again prima retired of his match-day squad for Saturday's Rugby Championship rematch against the satellite champion Springboks.
Speaking to Nine and Stan Sport during Sunday's upset win, O'Connor declared himself acceptable and acceptable to spell successful the Test cauldron aft recovering from a groin wounded that has sidelined him since Super Rugby.
But with five-eighth Quade Cooper piloting Australia to a memorable triumph connected the Gold Coast, Rennie has stuck with Tom Banks astatine fullback and Reece Hodge and Jordan Petaia arsenic his seat backline cover.
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Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui said connected Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven this week that Nic White and O'Connor would beryllium his picks arsenic the Rugby World Cup halves pairing successful 2023.
And chap erstwhile Test stars Chris Latham and Elton Flatley told reporters that O'Connor had a beardown lawsuit to play astatine fullback up of Banks if Cooper's fairytale signifier continued.
"We would decidedly not person played him a fullback a mates of months agone and anterior to that due to the fact that from a precocious velocity moving position helium conscionable hasn't deed immoderate decent numbers for the past mates of years," Rennie said of O'Connor.
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"But he's worked truly hard and he's the sharpest I've seen him.
"He's decidedly into the carnal signifier wherever we deliberation we could usage him arsenic a inferior arsenic opposed to conscionable a 10."
White has travel successful for Tate McDermott astatine halfback aft a beardown interaction show connected Sunday portion Rennie has besides freshened up his beforehand row.
Props Taniela Tupou and James Slipper travel into the starting lineup for Allan Alaalatoa and Angus Bell respectively portion Tom Robertson and Darcy Swain are caller faces connected the bench.
It volition beryllium a peculiar nighttime for the indefatigable Michael Hooper, who volition interruption George Gregan's grounds for astir Tests arsenic Wallabies skipper (59).
"It's an unthinkable milestone for Hoops connected Saturday evening successful Brisbane and it's a testament to him arsenic a idiosyncratic and a player," Rennie said.
"I've been truthful impressed with his enactment some connected and disconnected the tract and his thrust to beryllium amended each day.
"We were truly arrogant of the effort from our men past Sunday and we're good alert of the ferocity that a wounded Springboks outfit volition bring to Suncorp Stadium."
Meanwhile, South Africa manager Jacques Nienaber made 2 changes to his starting lineup.
Lock Lood de Jager is retired with concussion and replaced by Marvin Orie portion loosehead prop Trevor Nyakane comes successful for Steven Kitshoff.
Star winger Cheslin Kolbe remains sidelined with injury.
"Australia were hopeless to triumph past week and it showed successful the mode they played," Nienaber said.
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"There is nary uncertainty the effect would person fixed them assurance truthful we are expecting them to present a likewise driven show this week."
"This is an experienced radical of players who knows what it takes to present nether unit and we each cognize what we request to bash to bounce backmost from past week's defeat."
WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Banks, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper (c), Lachlan Swinton, Matt Philip, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Folau Fainga'a, James Slipper
Reserves: Feleti Kaitu'u, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Reece Hodge, Jordan Petaia
SPRINGBOKS (15-1): Willie le Roux, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (c), Marvin Orie, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane
Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Herschel Jantjies, Damian Willemse
English (US) ·