John Smit, the South Africa captain, will lead a much-changed team in the second Test against Italy after recovering from a hamstring injury. Smit missed last weekend's 29-13 victory over the Azzurri but returns to the Springboks' squad for Saturday's game. The team features five new faces, headed by Smit, with the fit-again Schalk Burger, Andries Bekker, Jacque Fourie and Juan Jongh also set to start at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London.
Peter de Villiers, the coach, named Smit as hooker and also made two positional changes with Gio Aplon moving from right wing to full-back and Jean de Villiers from centre to wing. Chris Henry will make his Test debut at No 8 against Australia on Saturday while Ronan O'Gara, the fly-half, has been dropped to the bench for what could be his 100th Test match for Ireland. Henry will replace Jamie Heaslip, who was sent off in Ireland's 66-28 loss to New Zealand in New Plymouth on June 12 and banned for five weeks.
Declan Kideny, the coach, showed little sentiment for O'Gara, the Munster veteran who was replaced by Jonathan Sexton in the starting line-up, though could still bring up 100 caps for his country if he comes off the bench in Brisbane. Australia have made two injury-enforced changes to their line-up for the one-off Test. Adam Ashley-Cooper will start on the wing in place of Digby Ioane, who has a shoulder injury, and Luke Burgess returns at scrumhalf in place of Will Genia who suffered a broken hand during last weekend's 21-20 loss to England.
Robbie Deans, the Australia coach, has ordered his players to rediscover their intensity after the defeat by England. "We let ourselves down. There were reasons why we came up short and it is critical that we rectify them," Deans said. Mils Muliaina and Tony Woodcock have been named in the New Zealand team for Saturday's second Test against Wales at Hamilton. They are among seven changes to the starting team.
Muliaina was named to play his 83rd Test at full-back in place of Israel Dagg who suffered concussion in last weekend's 42-9 win over Ireland at Dunedin. Woodcock, the 62-Test veteran, will take his place in a New Zealand starting line-up for the first time this season, replacing Ben Franks at loose-head prop in a reshaped front row. Neemia Tialata will start his 43rd Test at tight-head prop in place of Owen Franks.
* Agencies
