SA name Pienaar at fullback

WORLD CHAMPIONS South Africa have recalled Ruan Pienaar at the expense of Frans Steyn for tomorrow’s Tri-Nations Test against Australia at Perth.

Pienaar, better known as a scrumhalf or outhalf, was surprisingly named at fullback ahead of Steyn, who became the youngest player to win a World Cup when he helped the Springboks to the 2007 title aged 20.

Earlier this season, the versatile Pienaar had lost his place at outhalf to lethal goalkicker Morne Steyn but coach Peter de Villiers said he was too good a player to leave out.

James O’Connor and Rocky Elsom both passed fitness tests to be included in a reshuffled Australia team.

Teenager O’Connor was named to start at fullback after overcoming a leg injury, while Elsom was cleared to start at blindside flanker after recovering from an ankle problem.

SOUTH AFRICA:R Pienaar; J P Pietersen, J Fourie, J de Villiers, B Habana; M Steyn, F du Preez; T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J Smit, B Botha, V Matfield, H Brussow, J Smith, P Spies. Replacements: C Ralepelle, J du Plessis, A Bekker, S Burger, R Januarie, A Jacobs, F Steyn.

AUSTRALIA:J O'Connor; L Turner, R Cross, A Ashley-Cooper, P Hynes; M Giteau, L Burgess; B Robinson, S Moore, B Alexander, J Horwill, M Chisholm, R Elsom, G Smith (capt), R Brown. Replacements: T Polota-Nau, A Baxter, D Mumm, D Pocock, W Genia, Q Cooper, D Mitchell.