Australia coach Michael Cheika sprung a selection surprise by dropping flyhalf Bernard Foley to the bench and installing Kurtley Beale into the playmaker role for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against South Africa in Brisbane.

Australia opened the tournament with back-to-back defeats to New Zealand and Foley was among a number of Wallabies under pressure following subdued performances in the heavy losses at Sydney and Auckland.

Matt Toomua has been promoted from the bench to Beale's inside centre role, while attacking threat Israel Folau has been reinstated at fullback in the squad named on Thursday after he missed the Eden Park match with an ankle strain.

Brumbies lock Rory Arnold will start his first Test of 2018 in place of Izack Rodda in the second row, while prop Taniela Tupou has overcome a hamstring complaint to grab a spot on the bench for the match at Suncorp Stadium.

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus named a new-look front row and shuffled his loose forwards with loosehead prop Steven Kitshoff and hooker Bongi Mbonambi starting next to tighthead Frans Malherbe. Tendai Mtawarira and Malcolm Marx have been dropped to the bench.

With Francois Louw playing for English club side Bath last week then flying to Australia, captain Siya Kolisi swaps to the openside of the scrum, after playing on the blindside against Argentina in Durban and Mendoza. Louw is on the bench.

Pieter-Steph du Toit starts as blindside in the squad released on Thursday, and Warren Whiteley completes the loose trio at No 8. Elton Jantjies swaps places at flyhalf with Handré Pollard, who has been demoted to the bench, while Faf de Klerk will remain at scrumhalf.

Erasmus also rotated his midfield, which means a first start in 2018 for Damian de Allende, who resumes his centre partnership with Jesse Kriel. Uncapped outside back Cheslin Kolbe has been given a spot on the bench.

South Africa are looking to bounce back after a disappointing away loss to Argentina in their last Rugby Championship start, having won the opener against the Pumas in Durban.

Australia and South Africa have drawn their last two matches, playing out a 23-23 stalemate in Perth before being locked at 27-27 in Bloemfontein. South Africa, beaten in Argentina in their last start, have not won on Australian soil since their 2013 defeat of the Wallabies at the same venue as Saturday's match.

Australia: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Dane Haylett-Petty, 13-Reece Hodge, 12-Matt Toomua, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Kurtley Beale, 9-Will Genia, 8-David Pocock, 7-Michael Hooper (captain), 6-Lukhan Tui, 5-Adam Coleman, 4-Rory Arnold, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Scott Sio. Replacements: 16-Folau Faingaa, 17-Tom Robertson, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Izack Rodda, 20-Ned Hanigan, 21-Joe Powell, 22-Bernard Foley, 23-Jack Maddocks.

South Africa: 15-Willie le Roux, 14-Makazole Mapimpi, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damien de Allende, 11-Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10-Elton Jantjies, 9-Faf de Klerk, 8-Warren Whiteley, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6-Siya Kolisi (captain), 5-Franco Mostert, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Frans Malherbe, 2-Bongi Mbonambi, 1-Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16-Malcolm Marx, 17-Tendai Mtawarira, 18-Wilco Louw, 19-RG Snyman, 20-Francois Louw, 21-Embrose Papier, 22-Handre Pollard, 23-Cheslin Kolbe.