BLOEMFONTEIN (Reuters) - Jack Dempsey, Marika Koroibete and Izack Rodda will all make their first starts for Australia in the Rugby Championship clash against South Africa on Saturday, with coach Michael Cheika saying the trio had earned their places in the first team.
Flanker Dempsey will replace Ned Hanigan, while Koroibete will pick up his second cap on the wing instead of Henry Speight. Rodda takes over from Rob Simmons among the locks.
Cheika said all three had deserved an opportunity to start after impressing off the bench in the Southern Hemisphere championship.
"I just thought I would give him a crack and give him a go," Cheika said of Rodda's inclusion, while adding Dempsey's selection was a case of "changing it up".
On Koroibete, the coach said: "He did well in the first game and now starting, he will have a chance to prepare himself for the whole week and get ready.
"He still has a bit to work on in terms of finding his lines off set-pieces and things like that, but defensively and his work-rate, and stuff like that, he's on the money."
Former captain Stephen Moore is the only major change to the bench, the hooker coming back in place of Jordan Uelese.
Team:
15-Israel Folau, 14-Marika Koroibete, 13-Tevita Kuridrani, 12-Kurtley Beale, 11-Reece Hodge, 10-Bernard Foley, 9-Will Genia, 8-Sean McMahon, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Jack Dempsey, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Izack Rodda, 3-Sekope Kepu, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16-Stephen Moore, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Allan Alaalatoa, 19-Rob Simmons, 20-Ned Hanigan, 21-Lukhan Tui, 22-Nick Phipps 23-Samu Kerevi, 24-Henry Speight.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutehrford/John O'Brien)
