Prop Holmes, who looks set to get his first taste of international rugby in eight years, was named on the bench along with winger Mitchell, who made his 63rd appearance for his country against Wales in December 2012.

Giteau, 32, 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.

Cooper and Giteau are likely to alternate as first receiver with the latter offering more assured game management to complement the Queensland fly-half’s attacking threat.

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

“Matt is a true professional and his impact on the team dynamic has been immediate. His form in Toulon and work ethic since joining the squad has been first class.”

Bernard Foley, who started 12 of Australia’s 14 tests last year at fly-half, was left out of the matchday squad along with his fellow New South Wales Waratahs back Kurtley Beale.

In the pack, Will Skelton gets his second start in a Wallabies shirt with number eight Scott Higginbotham and blindside flanker Scott Fardy making up for the hulking lock’s lack of a line-out game.

Who would occupy the number seven shirt had attracted most speculation, however, and Cheika decided to stick with incumbent Hooper and name Pocock, who has missed two years of test rugby through injury, on the bench.

“David has showed tremendous grit and determination to return to the Wallabies in challenging circumstances,” Cheika said.

“To be out of the Wallabies environment for two years and return a better a player shows his character. It is something he, and this country should be proud of.”

With regular Springboks skipper Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn recuperating from injury, coach Heyneke Meyer has turned to Bulls fullback Jesse Kriel to fill the gap at outside centre, as he did for the 46-10 victory over a World XV last weekend.

Schalk Burger steps in at the back of the scrum to replace Duane Vermeulen, who is a doubt for the World Cup because of neck surgery, with Warren Whiteley failing even to secure a spot among the replacements.

Meyer, who has a long injury list, said he would be rotating his squad throughout the championship, which has been truncated to allow the teams to prepare for the World Cup in England later this year.

“We’re expecting a massive contest for the ball on the ground on Saturday and with Schalk there next to Francois Louw and Marcell Coetzee, as well as Bismarck du Plessis, we’ve got a lot of players who are very good at the breakdowns,” Meyer said.

“Warren Whiteley played very well last weekend, but he knows exactly where he stands and will play again for the Boks this season. For this match though, we decided to go with this specific loose trio.

“I’ve said last week that we will make changes, but it’s also important to keep some form of momentum.

“Saturday’s match is going to be massive in the context of our season and we have to ensure we tick the right boxes.”

Victor Matfield will captain the side from the second row alongside Eben Etzebeth with Lood de Jager in line to win his 10th cap from the bench.

Meyer went with the experienced front row of the du Plessis brothers, Bismark and Jannie, and Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira but promising young prop Frans Malherbe is among the replacements and should get his chance in the second half.

“If we’re not at our best, it will be a long day at the office,” Meyer said.

“But we played some brilliant rugby last weekend and the challenge this weekend is to build on that and improve in the areas we lacked.

“Our basics have to be spot on and it will also be a great test for our defensive systems against a Wallaby side that can rip any team to shreds with the ball in hand.”

Teams

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.

Replacements: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-Scott Sio, 18-Greg Holmes, 19-James Horwill, 20-David Pocock, 21-Nick Phipps, 22-Matt Toomua, 23-Drew Mitchell.

South Africa: 15-Willie le Roux, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Handre Pollard, 9-Ruan Pienaar, 8-Schalk Burger, 7-Marcell Coetzee, 6-Francois Louw, 5-Victor Matfield (captain), 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Jannie du Plessis, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16-Adriaan Strauss, 17-Heinke van der Merwe, 18-Frans Malherbe, 19-Lood de Jager, 20-Oupa Mohoje, 21-Cobus Reinach, 22-Pat Lambie, 23-Lwazi Mvovo.