Rugby: Four changes made to Boks

The Springboks have made four changes, three of them forced by injury, for the Tri-Nations test against Australia on Sunday (NZ time).

Coach Nick Mallett announced the recall of first five-eighths Jannie de Beer after an 18-month absence in place of Gaffie du Toit, while his Free State colleague Brendan Venter is back after three years out of favour. He replaces Franco Smith, who pulled a hamstring against the All Blacks.

The other changes are at outside centre, where Robbie Fleck comes in for Andre Snyman - out for six months with an ankle injury - and Andre Vos starts on the flank in place of Ruben Kruger, who has a hamstring strain.

The defending world champions have lost four successive matches and if they lose on Sunday it will be the country's worst run of results since 1965.

South Africa: Percy Montgomery, Deon Kayser, Robbie Fleck, Brendan Venter, Pieter Rossouw, Jannie de Beer, Joost van der Westhuizen (captain), Rassie Erasmus, Andre Venter, Andre Vos, Albert van den Berg, Selborne Boome, Cobus Visagie, Naka Drotske, Os du Randt.