Nic White has usurped Tate McDermott as Australia’s starting halfback for Saturday’s Rugby Championship rematch with the smarting Springboks at Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland favourite McDermott is enjoying a breakout season for the Wallabies but coach Dave Rennie has opted for the experience of White, who played a crucial role off the bench in Sunday’s stunning 28-26 upset on the Gold Coast.
The moustachioed 31-year-old played the entire second half after McDermott copped a knock to his shin.
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White won the crucial penalty with time expired which Cooper cooly converted to seal a fairytale comeback.
The full Wallabies team will be named later this morning.
Suddenly, the selectors have real options in the backline with James O’Connor available for selection after a long-term groin injury.
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With Cooper expected to retain his No.10 jersey, an O’Connor move to fullback is a possibility.
Former Wallabies Chris Latham and Elton Flatley felt that idea had merit.
“There might be chat of him moving back to fullback,” Latham said.
“You need those players that can play unpredictably within a structure.
“I thought that was the difference that Quade brought – he made the Boks sit back and watch.
“Having O’Connor, another strike weapon out there, as well as Samu (Kerevi) with that direct running and ability to offload and ball play… that mix up again will make the Boks think if we rush we’re going to get hurt.”
Flatley pointed out O’Connor’s considerable experience playing at fullback.
“If he’s fit he’s got that experience and know how to do a job in the 15 jersey,” Flatley said.
“For Quade to come back and play like he did was tremendous, I didn’t think he’d go that well personally.
“Physically he’s in fantastic nick and he was rock solid, couldn’t fault him.”
Meanwhile, South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber made two changes to his starting lineup.
Lock Lood de Jager is out with concussion and replaced by Marvin Orie while loosehead prop Trevor Nyakane comes in for Steven Kitshoff.
Star winger Cheslin Kolbe remains sidelined with injury.
“Australia were desperate to win last week and it showed in the way they played,” Nienaber said.
“There is no doubt the result would have given them confidence so we are expecting them to deliver a similarly driven performance this week.”
“This is an experienced group of players who knows what it takes to deliver under pressure and we all know what we need to do to bounce back from last week’s defeat.”
SPRINGBOKS (15-1): Willie le Roux, Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (c), Marvin Orie, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Trevor Nyakane
Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Herschel Jantjies, Damian Willemse