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A post-siren try from Tevita Kuridrani has given Australian a stunning 24-20 win over the Springboks in Brisbane.
>>MATCH REPORT: Wallabies snatch victory with late Kuridrani try
>>DAVID LORD: Wallabies come form behind to beat the Boks
>>INJURIES: Genia, Horne out of Wallabies squad
>>NEWS: Cooper turns down Toulon for Rio
The Wallabies scored the first try of the match through Ashley-Cooper but faced a tough asked when South Africa pushed out to a 20-10 lead.
A Michael Hooper try in the 73rd minute gave the Wallabies hope, and Kuridrani got them over the line.
Australia 24 def. South Africa 20
Australia have gone back to the future recalling Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Greg Holmes, Will Genia and Quade Cooper for their Rugby Championship opener against South Africa. Will these selections work or will the Wallabies be heading back to the drawing board? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:00pm (AEST)
In his first team announcement for a home test, coach Michael Cheika has gone for the tried and tested.
Giteau, who won his 92nd cap against Samoa in 2011, will line-up at second five eight alongside Cooper at first five.
Cooper last played for Australia with his Queensland Reds partner Genia on the tour of Europe in November 2013.
Giteau and Cooper are likely to alternate as first receiver with the latter offering more assured game management to complement the Queensland flyhalf’s attacking threat.
Prop Holmes, who looks set to get his first taste of international rugby in eight years, was named on the bench along with winger Mitchell, who made his 63rd appearance for his country against Wales in December 2012.
In the pack, Will Skelton gets his second start in a Wallabies shirt with number eight Scott Higginbotham and blindside flanker Scott Fardy making up for the hulking lock’s lack of a lineout game.
Chieka preferred Michael Hooper to David Pocock at openside in the hotly contest seven jersey, but surely playing both in the starting XV was considered. Australia will look to play at pace and having two outstanding exponents of ruck turnovers would have helped this cause immeasurably.
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has hinted that he plans to rotate players leading up to the World Cup, which starts in September, but there is only one change to South Africa’s starting lineup that beat a World XV in Cape Town last week. Schalk Burger returns at No. 8 replacing Warren Whiteley.
Elsewhere Victor Matfield, the 121-test lock, will lead an experienced forward pack that includes the world class front row of Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira.
Bulls center Jesse Kriel is set to make his test debut in an inexperienced midfield combination with Damian de Allende. Jean de Villiers, who went on as a second-half replacement against the World XV in Cape Town is being rested while he recovers from back from surgery.
South Africa has only beaten Australia once at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, a 38-12 victory in 2013. There are seven survivors from that game in the South African line-up.
Australia enjoys a 9-3 advantage in all matches in Brisbane. Australia achieved their biggest victory in all matches in 2006 (49-0). South Africa won the first match between the countries in Queensland (9-0) in 1956.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.