Australia drop Burke for Springboks clash

Australia have dropped Matthew Burke for the Tri-nations clash with South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday.

Australia have dropped Matthew Burke for the Tri-nations clash with South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday.

Chris Latham will start at full-back in the only change to the starting team that lost 50-21 to New Zealand last weekend.

Burke, whose place kicking was instrumental in Australia's 1999 World Cup win, is named on the substitutes bench. He has been struggling for form following a knee injury.

Reserve hooker Adam Freier has lost his place on the bench to Jeremy Paul while inside centre Steve Kefu makes way for fit-again utility back Matt Giteau.

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Prop Ben Darwin is also omitted after injuring his knee in training, allowing experienced front rower Glenn Panoho to return to international duties for the first time in more than two years.

Australia team:15-Chris Latham; 14-Wendell Sailor, 13-Mat Rogers, 12-Elton Flatley, 11-Lote Tuqiri; 10-Stephen Larkham, 9-George Gregan (captain); 8-Toutai Kefu, 7-Phil Waugh, 6-George Smith, 5-Daniel Vickerman, 4-David Giffin, 3-Patricio Noriega, 2-Brendan Cannon, 1-Bill Young.

Replacements:16-Jeremy Paul, 17-Glenn Panoho, 18-Nathan Sharpe, 19-Owen Finegan, 20-Chris Whitaker, 21-Matt Giteau, 22-Matthew Burke.