Springboks fired up

South Africa lock Victor Matfield has dismissed suggestions Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash with Australia is a dead rubber, despite the Springboks having nothing left to play for.

Peter de Villiers’ men have no chance of winning the Tri-Nations after four defeats in their last five matches, but Matfield insists there will be plenty at stake at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg this weekend.

“We’ve got a really great record and it always feels great to play a Test at this venue,” he said.

“No Test match is a dead rubber. Even though there will be no trophies to be won on Saturday, we have to show we are on the right track.

“There’s still the end-of-year tour to come and we don’t want to go on that trip thinking about whether we should change things or worry if things are working or not.

“We want to get some confidence out of this game and to do that we will have to make the most of the opportunities we create. We have to turn those opportunities into points.”

The Boks will have to draw on their impressive record of 29 wins from 41 Tests at the Johannesburg ground to ease the pressure on De Villiers.

The team were booed off the pitch following last weekend’s 27-15 defeat to the Wallabies and the coach has been widely criticised for the expansive approach he has adopted.

Australia coach Robbie Deans is confident his side can incorporate the five changes he has made to his starting XV and beat South Africa.

The game means nothing with the Tri-Nations trophy to be decided when the Wallabies host New Zealand in Brisbane on September 13.

Australia have also wrapped up the Mandela Shield with wins in Perth and last weekend’s 27-15 triumph in Durban.

Deans has brought in Timana Tahu to make his first start for the Wallabies, full-back Adam Ashley-Cooper returns from a broken hand to regain his position from Drew Mitchell while Hugh McMeniman returns in the second row for the injured Daniel Vickerman.

The only two changes not enforced by injury see Phil Waugh and Tatafu Polota-Nau come in for George Smith and Stephen Moore respectively.

“They’re the two unforced changes and the motivation behind them is they’ll bring a real enthusiasm and an injection of energy that will probably not only be required but good for us,” Deans said.

The call-up of Tahu is perhaps the most notable of the inclusions as it caps a meteoric rise for the 27-year-old dual-code international after he converted from rugby league earlier this year.

Tahu impressed in a 20-minute cameo appearance against the Springboks in Durban last weekend to book his starting role in place of the injured Berrick Barnes at inside centre.

“He’s played a lot of second five-eighth in recent times and shown that his skill-set suits it and he’s evidently a lot more comfortable in that position and gets a lot more involvement and a bloke like Timana, when he is involved, things happen,” Deans said.

Tahu was thrilled to finally to get the call-up and just wants to get out on the park and prove his worth.

“It’s a proud moment for me, I’m excited and I can’t wait until Saturday,” the former Newcastle Knight said.

Deans was also happy to get the Rocky Elsom suspension and subsequent appeal out of the way and keep the focus on the task at hand.

Elsom had his one-match ban for pulling down Springboks captain Victor Matfield overturned on appeal on Thursday and is free to play.