The return of Quade Cooper to the flyhalf position represents one of just two changes to the Wallabies starting XV for Saturday’s Tri-Nations Test against South Africa in Pretoria.

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Cooper, who has missed the last two Test matches due to suspension, replaces his Queensland Reds teammate Anthony Faainga in the run-on combination – with Matt Giteau moving out one position in the backline to inside centre.

Faainga has been included among the replacements on bench.

The 22-year-old Cooper’s most recent Test appearance came during last month’s 30-13 win over South Africa at Brisbane, which opened the three-game Mandela Trophy series.

Australia’s starting XV for this weekend features just one change from the formation which ran on that day, with Adam Ashley-Cooper now occupying the outside centre position in place of the injured Rob Horne, while Kurtley Beale has come into the team at fullback.

The bench for this weekend’s Test match is notable for the inclusion of both the uncapped Reds loose forward Scott Higginbotham and the lightly tried Western Force utility forward Ben McCalman.

Higginbotham, who will become the 847th player to represent Australia in Test matches should he be required to take the field, takes the place of the injured Matt Hodgson.

He would become the 27th player to have been introduced to Test ranks since Robbie Deans took over as Wallabies coach in 2008.

The versatile McCalman, who made his sole Test appearance to date off the bench during the earlier win over South Africa, takes over from the Reds second row forward Rob Simmons.

A win on Saturday would reclaim for the Wallabies the Mandela Trophy after Australia won the opening Tri-Nations international between the two teams.

Australia last held the trophy in 2008, the year it last won a Test in South Africa.

Skipper Rocky Elsom, prop Benn Robinson, Giteau and wing Drew Mitchell are the sole starting line-up survivors from the 27-15 win in Durban two years ago, although both Giteau and Mitchell will on the weekend appear in different positions.

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Saia Faainga, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 James Slipper, 18 Ben McCalman, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Faainga.

Date: Saturday, August 28
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)