Australia boosted by return of Kurtley Beale and Digby Ioane

Duncan Bech
Friday 07 October 2011 11:06 BST
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Australia have been strengthened by the return of full-back Kurtley Beale and winger Digby Ioane for Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against South Africa.

Beale and Ioane have recovered from respective hamstring and thumb injuries, enabling the Wallabies to re-select all but one of the XV that opened the tournament against Italy.

Pat McCabe, who has been in the treatment room with a shoulder problem, is selected at inside centre with Berrick Barnes dropping to the bench.

James O'Connor switches to the right wing with Ioane replacing Radike Samo in the number 11 jersey. Samo is restored to his preferred position of number eight.

Samo's return to the back of the scrum is one of five changes to the pack that helped demolish Russia 68-22.

Flanker Rocky Elsom, second row Dan Vickerman, tighthead Ben Alexander and loosehead Sekope Kepu are all reinstated.

"We've gone with the players and the combinations, which have served us best through the year to date," said Australia coach Robbie Deans.

Team: K Beale (NSW Waratahs); J O'Connor (Western Force), A Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), P McCabe (Brumbies), D Ioane (Queensland Reds); Q Cooper (Queensland Reds), W Genia (Queensland Reds); S Kepu (NSW Waratahs), S Moore (Brumbies), B Alexander (Brumbies), D Vickerman (NSW Waratahs), J Horwill (Queensland Reds, capt), R Elsom (Brumbies), D Pocock (Western Force), R Samo (Queensland Reds).

Replacements: T Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs), J Slipper (Queensland Reds), N Sharpe (Western Force), B McCalman (Western Force), L Burgess (NSW Waratahs), B Barnes (NSW Waratahs), A Fainga'a (Queensland Reds).

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