Wallabies at strength against South Africa

AUSTRALIA have their best squad of the year available for today’s Tri-Nations opener against South Africa because they can choose from 26 fit players, says coach Eddie Jones.

"This is undoubtedly the strongest squad we've had to choose from this year, when you bring back players such as Stephen Larkham, Owen Finegan (flanker) and Matt Burke (utility back)," Jones said.

Australia have not been on top form this year, losing 25-14 against England in Melbourne last month, as the tourists won their first test on Australian soil in 11 attempts.

On that occasion, centre Nathan Grey played flyhalf for the Wallabies, with Larkham injured and Elton Flatley suspended for poor discipline.

Larkham will play a role in the test against the Springboks, although he is not yet ready for a full match, according to Jones. "Stephen is certainly fit to play rugby but I don't know if he can play 80 minutes at top speed," said the Wallaby coach.

"It is a big ask when you have been out of the game for a long time, but he is fit enough to start."

Flatley missed training on Monday with a sore knee, but will also be fit to play on Saturday.

Australia have a poor record in South Africa, and last won here in 2000. It is something that Jones once coach of the ACT Brumbies in the Super 12 is aware of, although he is not sure exactly why it is so.

"I don't know why we have done badly in the past, I can only talk from my experience as a coach about how we have approached touring South Africa," he said.

"With the Brumbies we ended up being successful. With Australia in the last two years we have done it poorly and played poorly.

"This time we have taken a different approach and I feel we will be ready to play well on Saturday.

"We took a couple of days off in Stellenbosch (a wine-farming town near Cape Town) which was good, the blokes found their feet, got into the right time zones and got their sleeping patterns right. We're confident we'll be in a good physiological and mental state to play well on Saturday."

Jones said Australia's hosting of the World Cup later this year provided more motivation for his team to do well in the Tri-Nations.

"Of the three sides, we want to win the Tri-Nations the most," he said.

"When we play against New Zealand and South Africa we want to win the games, but at the same time at the back of our minds we've got a second plan in place, we've got a plan where we are building towards the World Cup."