Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has opted to start Rudy Paige and Morné Steyn in the halfbacks and Pat Lambie at fullback against Australia on Saturday.

Coetzee made three changes to the Boks' starting lineup for their penultimate Rugby Championship Test of the year. Paige, making his starting debut, and Steyn replace Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies respectively. Lambie comes in for Johan Goosen, who drops out of the match 23 altogether.

The five changes to the bench see hooker Bongi Mbonambi come in ahead of Malcolm Marx and prop Julian Redelinghuys take over from Lourens Adriaanse. Lood de Jager has recovered from a bruised knee and returns via the bench at the expense of Franco Mostert. Lionel Mapoe and Willie le Roux will provide backline cover.

'The selection of Pat at fullback fits into the way we want to play this weekend, together with his experience, calmness and leadership, which will be invaluable. He has shown great confidence all week long,' said Coetzee. 'Elton and Faf remain an integral part of the squad and both are part of our future plans, but Rudy and Morné deserve an opportunity to start.

'We are very pleased to have Lood and Julian, who have both shrugged off injuries, and Willie will add a lot of experience on the bench.

'Australia will be determined to build on their previous two wins and they will pose difficult questions to us with their tactical and technical approach. We have our own goals to achieve within the two remaining matches, starting on Saturday,' Coetzee added.

Springboks – 15 Pat Lambie, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira. Subs: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Jaco Kriel, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Willie le Roux.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images