Australia v South Africa
Subiaco Oval, 10 tonight
Off-key Wallaby maestro Matt Giteau has vowed to put his kicking woes behind him and step up in the absence of playmaking partner Berrick Barnes tonight.
Giteau has shouldered much of the blame for the gut-wrenching 19-18 Tri-Nations loss to the All Blacks and is working overtime to make amends
against high-flying South Africa.
While coach Robbie Deans made four changes to his starting team, his first five-eighths' general play kicking was another area he pinpointed for improvement.
Giteau had his low skidding kicks charged down several times by the All Blacks, with one leading to the only try of the match at ANZ Stadium.
With Barnes (concussion) ruled out and the powerful Adam Ashley-Cooper taking his place at inside centre, Australia will rely more heavily on Giteau's tactical kicking against the formidable world champions.
"I was charged down a few times and that was due to poor execution and it's something I've worked on this week," Giteau said. "Losing a guy like Berrick Barnes ... I do need to step up and the last two tests I haven't kicked as well as I would have liked."
Giteau attributed his problems - mainly a low elevation - to "little technical things" which would be corrected at Subiaco Oval.
Deans said his No 10, who started 2009 on fire for the Western Force, had already shown on the training paddock he would be back to his best against the unbeaten Springboks.
"He started the season very accurately and some of his [current] performance elements are unusual for him," Deans said. "It's out of the ordinary for him but they are [eminently] fixable."
But former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones believes it is Australia's style of play under Deans that has affected the dangerous Giteau's all-round game.
"He [Giteau] enjoys that flat game taking on defenders," Jones told South African website keo.co.za.
"Now they're playing a New Zealand style where it's deep and wide and he's struggling to impose himself in tests."
Giteau will have two big centres outside him against the Springboks with Ryan Cross moving into the midfield with the versatile Ashley-Cooper, meaning James O'Connor will remain at fullback.
Deans has recalled winger Peter Hynes at the expense of Drew Mitchell, dumped veteran prop Al Baxter for Ben Alexander and rushed Mark Chisholm back into the second row for the injured Nathan Sharpe.
Chisholm, who has just two Sydney club matches under his belt after being sidelined for more than three months with a wrist injury, also faces the massive challenge of calling the lineouts against the Springboks.
Victor Matfield dismantled the Wallabies' set piece in South Africa's 29-17 victory in Cape Town.
In five meetings between the sides in Perth, the ledger is even with two wins each and a draw.
AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA
Australia
James O'Connor
Lachie Turner
Ryan Cross
A. Ashley-Cooper
Peter Hynes
Matt Giteau
Luke Burgess
Richard Brown
George Smith (c)
Rocky Elsom
Mark Chisholm
James Horwill
Ben Alexander
Stephen Moore
Benn Robinson
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Al Baxter, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Drew Mitchell.
South Africa
Ruan Pienaar
JP Pietersen
Jaque Fourie
Jean de Villiers
Bryan Habana
Morne Steyn
Fourie du Preez
Pierre Spies
Juan Smith
H. Brussouw
Victor Matfield
Bakkies Botha
John Smit (c)
B. du Plessis
Tendai Mtawarira
Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Andries Bekker, Schalk Burger, Ricky Januarie, Adi Jacobs, Frans Steyn.
- AAP