1. Bring Foley back at No.10 Bernard Foley’s time in Siberia is over. The Waratahs No.10 may be looking for form but Kurtley Beale’s two-game stint at No 10 was unconvincing. There is still no one in Australia better than Foley at putting shape on the attack and with Matt Toomua beside him (see below) his lack of a long kicking game does not debilitate the team. The Springboks like to send a defender into the face of the opposition No.10 but it creates holes for the likes of Foley if they do not get it right. But Beale has to play. The spot for him this weekend is fullback. The Waratah looked like a burdened player against the Pumas, constantly trying to think two phases head before he even had the ball in his hands

A return to fullback should free him to up just to play some footy, even if it means pushing Dane Haylett-Petty out to wing. Loading 2. Polota-Nau has run out of chances Let’s strip the game back to the basics and rebuild. The Wallabies’ lineout is barely working. It is operating at 73.2 per cent in the Rugby Championship and even the ball they do win is often scrappy. That’s blatantly dysfunctional and Polota-Nau has to carry some of that responsibility. Folau Faingaa’s set-piece work with the Brumbies was strong this season and his selection would give the Wallabies the all-Brumbies front row that finished the Super Rugby so well.

The second part of the equation is the second row. The Waratahs had the best Australian lineout in Super Rugby and Rob Simmons was a big reason for that. Adam Coleman offers the aggression alongside him. 3. Hanigan gets the No 6 jersey Yes, there is a loss of physicality with Simmons and Hanigan in the pack but the Wallabies need to walk again before they run. If you are committed to a strategy, in this case sorting out the lineout, then the Wallabies need another jumper at blindside. This is a game-specific selection against a Springboks side that could easily pick three tall and athletic forwards to contest possession should they wish. Hanigan’s lack of ball-carrying power is mitigated somewhat with the selection of Caleb Timu on the bench.

Lucky 13: Israel Folau should stay in the centres. Credit:AAP 4. Folau starts at No. 13

Hear me out. Hodge has been solid at No 13 but the Wallabies just aren’t getting anywhere near enough punch in midfield. Folau was outstanding when he offered himself as a midfield runner against Argentina. Michael Cheika has been understandably reticent about picking him anywhere but fullback Folau’s metre-making on the Gold Coast may have changed his mind. Folau is no newcomer to the position, and it does allow Foley, Toomua, Beale and Folau to be on the field at the same time. 5. Naivalu comes onto a 5-3 bench

There is a huge temptation to go with a 6-2 split in South Africa given the likely nature of the contest – hard and attritional. However, if you do that you lose the ability to bring in Naivalu who serves two purposes. First, Marika Koroibete has not been at his best, although that has a lot to do with the Wallabies’ misfiring attack. Second, when the Wallabies have enjoyed success in South Africa they have done so when they moved the ball and created some chances for their back three. England’s Jonny May caused the Springboks all manner of problems with his pace during June, and the Wallabies can’t go into their shells in anticipation of an aerial bombardment that may not come. The Springboks only kicked 15 times in Brisbane. My Wallabies team to face the Springboks

1. Scott Sio (Brumbies) 2. Folau Faingaa (Brumbies) 3. Allan Alalaatoa (Brumbies) 4. Rob Simmons (Waratahs) 5. Adam Coleman (Rebels)

6. Ned Hanigan (Waratahs) 7. Michael Hooper (Waratahs) 8. David Pocock (Brumbies) 9. Will Genia (Rebels) 10. Bernard Foley (Waratahs)

11. Dane Haylett-Petty (Rebels) 12. Matt Toomua (Leicester) 13. Israel Folau (Waratahs) 14. Marika Koroibete (Rebels) 15. Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)