Rugby World Cup 2015: Australia coach Michael Cheika wants star half-back

Australia have reunited the halfback partnership of Quade Cooper and Will Genia and recalled backs Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell after long periods of worldwide exile for Saturday’s game.

Two traditional rugby powerhouses get their World Cup build up underway, or should I say Rugby Championship campaign underway, with the Springboks travelling to Brisbane to face the Wallabies.

Giteau’s selection at inside centre and whether Cheika opts for incumbent Wallabies No. 7 Michael Hooper or fit-again ex-skipper David Pocock are the key debates ahead of Thursday’s team announcement.

Matt is a true professional and his impact on the team dynamic has been immediate.

Giteau, 32, will start at No 12 on Saturday, outside the restored halves pairing of Will Genia and Quade Cooper, who will start a Test as a combination for the first time since November 2013.

Cheika was impressed with Higginbotham’s work ethic at training since the Wallabies squad began coming together in June and he had faith the 28-year-old would seize his chance in what is his first Test since last October’s Bledisloe Cup clash in Brisbane.

Giteau and Mitchell, who have both been in superb form for European champions Toulon, had their test careers revived after the Australian Rugby Union altered the rules on the eligibility of overseas-based players earlier this year.

“With new combinations comes a new level of energy to our team environment and Will, Quade and Matt certainly bring that”, Cheika said.

“There’s no gambling here”, Cheika said.

“He’s a better player now (he has left Australia) – rugby has found a rightful place in his life”.

The Wallabies last won their opening match of the southern hemisphere championship when they claimed the final Tri-Nations title in 2011, a similar truncated tournament to this one as it also fell in a World Cup year. “I think he’s an unbelievable player – whether that be at 10 or 12”, he said after naming his side on Wednesday.

“We need to do our job up front, which is always a big challenge against South Africa, if we want our backs to be able to get that quality ball”, the veteran hooker said. We’ll see when we get out there and play.

Australia: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13-Tevita Kuridrani, 12-Matt Giteau, 11-Rob Horne, 10-Quade Cooper, 9-Will Genia, 8-Scott Higginbotham, 7-Michael Hooper, 6-Scott Fardy, 5-Rob Simmons, 4-Will Skelton, 3-Sekope Kepu, 2-Stephen Moore (captain), 1-James Slipper.

South Africa: Willie le Roux, J.P. Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Ruan Pienaar; Schalk Burger, Marcell Coetzee, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield (captain), Eben Etzebeth, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.