Scrum of the Earth /

Do you think Pieter de Villiers would swap places with Robbie Deans? Scratch that. He’d probably take Ant & Dec’s slot if it was available.

The Wallabies are aiming to do the unthinkable and win back t back Test matches in South Africa while the Boks are staring down the barrel of following England’s lead and making a right dogs dinner out of defending the realm.

Dingo Deans has already won the Mandela Trophy courtesy of two wins in Perth and Durban and now he even has the luxury of freshening things up for the crucial contest against South Africa in Johannesburg as the Wallabies aim to firmly grip one tight hand on the TriNations title.

Dual international Timana Tahu has been handed a first Wallabies start in Johannesburg, joining Adam Ashley-Cooper, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh and Tatafu Polota-Nau in the 1st XV as Drew Mitchell, George Smith and Stephen Moore drop to the bench and Dan Vickerman,is crook.

De Villiers’ face already has about 150 holes dotted around the critics’ dartboards and will hope reinforcements, Odwa Ndungane and Brian Mujati, who return in place of the injured JP Pietersen and CJ Van der Linde respectively, can postpone the arrows until Novemeber at least.

Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawirara have been cleared to play but what must Joe Van Niekerk be thinking? How can the under-fire Pierre Spies and Danie Rossouw be more deserving? And who says favouritism exists in sport?

South Africa: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Andries Bekker, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Percy Montgomery.

Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Timana Tahu,11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Sam Cordingley, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Hugh McMeniman, 4 James Horwill, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 George Smith, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Drew Mitchell.