Montgomery dropped

South Africa yesterday dropped out-of-form full back Percy Montgomery for the Tri-Nations match against Australia in Pretoria on Saturday.

Two other changes were made because of injury, with Braam van Straaten coming in for Marius Joubert at centre and Johan Ackermann replacing lock Victor Matfield who suffered a serious eye injury in Saturday's defeat by the All Blacks.

Conrad Jantjes (21) comes in at full back for Montgomery. The selection of Jantjes, a black player who could not command a place in the Golden Cats Super 12 line-up, ahead of more experienced provincial team-mate Thinus Delport surprised some observers. Jantjes made an impressive debut in the 60-14 victory over Italy last month, but facing a third-string Azzurri team is one thing, confronting the world champions something else.

Australia coach Eddie Jones has handed lock David Giffin an expected recall to the Wallabies side. Giffin missed the final game against the touring British andIrish Lions because of injury.

Meanwhile, English Rugby League chief Rodney Walker launched a scathing attack on the English RFU yesterday, accusing them of misleading him in the "poaching" row between the two codes.

On the day Bradford Bulls and New Zealand star Henry Paul signed a four-year deal with Gloucester, Walker accused the RFU of funding the clubs' raid of top league talent.

Paul's high-profile switch comes amid speculation that the RFU had made money available from their new eight-year deal with the clubs for them to cherry-pick more big-name players from league.

South Africa: C Jantjes; BPaulse, R Fleck, B van Straaten, D Hall; B James, J van der Westhuizen; B Skinstad (captain), A Venter, A Vos, M Andrews, J Ackermann, C Visagie, Lvan Biljon, R Kempson.

Australia: M Burke; A Walker, D Herbert, N Grey, E Flatley, G Gregan; T Kefu, G Smith, O Finegan, J Eales (captain), D Giffin, R Moore, M Foley, N Stiles.