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Cape Town - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has heaped praise on scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who will start against the Wallabies at Newlands on Saturday.
Du Preez replaced Ruan Pienaar in the starting team after the latter started in all four of the Boks' Rugby Championship games so far this season.
Du Preez, who currently plies his trade at Suntory Sungoliath in Japan, was not available for South Africa's away leg in the Rugby Championship.
Meyer, in an interview with Die Burger's website, described Du Preez as not just a good scrumhalf, but like "another coach" to the team.
"With our training sessions I've again realised just what an unbelievable player he is. He keeps the guys calm and provides leadership on defence, attack and with his kicking tactics. It will take a lot of pressure off Jean de Villiers (captain)."
Meyer also believes the fast-paced tempo of the game Du Preez plays in Japan has made him a better player in recent years.
The only other change to the Bok team named on Wednesday was the inclusion of Adriaan Strauss at hooker in place of Bismarck du Plessis.
Kick-off is at 17:00 on Saturday.
Teams:
South Africa:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Juandré Kruger, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein
Australia:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper
Substitutes: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Chris Feauai-Sautia
Du Preez replaced Ruan Pienaar in the starting team after the latter started in all four of the Boks' Rugby Championship games so far this season.
Du Preez, who currently plies his trade at Suntory Sungoliath in Japan, was not available for South Africa's away leg in the Rugby Championship.
Meyer, in an interview with Die Burger's website, described Du Preez as not just a good scrumhalf, but like "another coach" to the team.
"With our training sessions I've again realised just what an unbelievable player he is. He keeps the guys calm and provides leadership on defence, attack and with his kicking tactics. It will take a lot of pressure off Jean de Villiers (captain)."
Meyer also believes the fast-paced tempo of the game Du Preez plays in Japan has made him a better player in recent years.
The only other change to the Bok team named on Wednesday was the inclusion of Adriaan Strauss at hooker in place of Bismarck du Plessis.
Kick-off is at 17:00 on Saturday.
Teams:
South Africa:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Juandré Kruger, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein
Australia:
15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper
Substitutes: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Chris Feauai-Sautia
