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Giteau set to play against S Africa

3 minute read

Star Wallabies centre Matt Giteau has completed the side's final training hit-out before the Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Star Wallabies centre Matt Giteau has completed the side's final training hit-out before Saturday's (0100 Sunday AEST) Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Giteau rolled his ankle at a session on Wednesday but was untroubled as the Australian side finalised its preparations at Vodacom Park.

The Wallabies are hoping to channel the gut-wrenching disappointment of last week's loss in Pretoria to achieve their first victory at altitude in the Republic since 1963.

"Everyone's very disappointed and you obviously carry that through the week until the next performance," flanker David Pocock said.

"The beauty is we have another opportunity this week to put that behind us."

A win would also reclaim the Mandela Plate, consign the Springboks to last place on the Tri-Nations table and send Australia into second place on the IRB world rankings.

It would also mean five losses for the Boks in a Tri-Nations series for the first time.

A loss for the Wallabies would leave them facing a massive task to avoid a second straight one-from-six haul from the series, with rested title-holders New Zealand awaiting them in Sydney at the end of an arduous flight home.

Pocock hinted Australia's game-plan would be different to the one which achieved success in Brisbane in July and which the Wallabies tried again at Loftus Versfeld.

The selection of heavyweight forwards Mark Chisholm, Stephen Moore and Ben McCalman could see them play a more direct game.

"(Brisbane's) behind us," Pocock said.

"For us this week it was going back and focusing on our game and concentrating on the little things that in the end add up to less errors and a more consistent 80 minutes.

"We attacked very well and just battled to clear from our half so I think that's going to be a focus from us on the weekend.

"I'm sure they'll be looking to put pressure on us in our own half."

The Australians don't believe growing speculation over Springboks coach Peter de Villiers' job following his support of accused murderer and Bulls prop Bees Roux will distract the home side.

"Looking at their squad, they've got that many older blokes, John Smit, Victor Matfield, that I think a lot of their team will be looking to them and they'll all be looking inward," Pocock said.

"So I don't think it's going to affect them too much.

"We're expecting what came out on the field last week and a bit more this week."