Matt Giteau has lost his place in Australia's squad for the opening Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Sydney on Saturday.

Coach Robbie Deans has made seven changes to the starting XV from last weekend's shock loss to Samoa.

Quade Cooper takes the No.10 jersey as expected, after being rested last weekend, with Pat McCabe holding his spot at inside centre in the line-up announced Tuesday.

Giteau, who played flyhalf in Cooper's absence and was the incumbent inside centre before that, wasn't even included on the bench.

James O'Connor and flank David Pocock return from injuries for the South Africa Test, Kurtley Beale and Will Genia were reinstated after starting on the bench last week, while Red locks James Horwill and Robb Simmons will start in the second row.

Australia will field nine of the players who started in last year's history-making win over South Africa at Bloemfontein.

The Wallabies beat the Springboks 41-39 at Bloemfontein last year to secure Australia's first win on the Highveld in the Republic for 47 years.

The epic win, which was achieved by a penalty goal from beyond halfway after the final siren, also secured for Australia the Mandela Challenge Plate.

The trophy, which has been contested by the two countries since 2000, will go on the line again when the two teams meet for the first time since that dramatic day in South African.

Waratahs fullback Kurtley Beale, who held his nerve to kick the penalty goal which won that match, is one of seven changes to the Australian run-on line-up from last Sunday's Test against Samoa.

Two further newcomers have been included on the bench as Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has strengthened the side from that which played Samoa.

Outside of the return of Beale, the other changes to the run on combination see James O'Connor return to the wing in the place of Rod Davies, Cooper at flyhalf and Genia at scrumhalf - replacing Giteau and Nick Phipps respectively - while additions in the forward pack see Pocock at flank, along with Horwill and Simmons at lock.

The return of Pocock, who missed last Sunday's match to allow a niggly foot injury further time to rehabilitate, should add extra presence to the Australian breakdown, with last year's John Eales Medal winner having been a major obstacle for South Africa in the past.

Horwill returns to the Australian line-up for the first time since the 33-12 win over Wales at Cardiff which signed off the 2009 Test season, with the Reds skipper having missed all of last year's Test campaign after blowing knee ligaments during that year's Super Rugby competition.

He had played all 14 Tests of the 2009 season.

Horwill will team up in the second row for the first time in the gold jersey with his provincial teammate, Rob Simmons, after the latter established himself with the Wallabies last year.

Simmons featured four times off the bench during last year's Tri-Nations before significantly starting in Australia's final two Tests of the Spring Tour, which included the record-breaking 59-16 drubbing of the then Six Nations champions France, in Paris.

The two second row forwards were key figures for the Reds during their charge to this year's Super Rugby title.

After being named last week but forced to withdraw on the eve of the match due to a minor hamstring strain, James O'Connor has recovered and will return to the wing and resume the responsibility for goal-kicking in the Australian side.

His last Test outing for Australia saw the 21-year-old contribute a record 29 points to the humiliation of the French.

O'Connor was cleared after under-going scans Monday which showed no damage to the hamstring which troubled him last week.

Inside O'Connor in the backline, Cooper and Genia resume their places as Australia's first-choice inside back combination, having assumed those roles through seven of the final eight Tests that the Wallabies played in 2010.

Reds hooker Saia Fainga'a has been included on the bench after overcoming a hand injury from the Super Rugby final which kept him out last week.

Twin brother Anthony has also been brought onto the bench, a position from where he has earned three of his four Test caps to date.

Anthony's most recent Test appearance came against New Zealand at Sydney in the final match of last year's Tri-Nations.

Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Pekahou Cowan, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Anthony Fainga'a.

Date: Saturday, July 23
Venue: ANZ Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)