Australia swap Pocock for McMahon in Rugby Championship team
Sean McMahon replaces injured No. 8 David Pocock as Australia seek a third straight Rugby Championship victory when they face struggling South Africa in Pretoria Saturday. It will be the first start for 22-year-old McMahon since being part of the team beaten by England in the third Test in Sydney last June. The rest of the team that began a 36-20 triumph over Argentina in Perth two weekends ago have been given a vote of confidence by coach Michael Cheika. Australia suffered six consecutive losses before edging South Africa 23-17 in Brisbane last month after trailing by 11 points during the first half. While New Zealand have clinched first place with two Tests to spare, Australia lead South Africa by three points and Argentina by four in the race to finish second. Cheika named nine replacements with one to be omitted Friday after the final training session ahead of the Test at Loftus Versfeld stadium. As the only hooker, James Hanson is sure to be among the eight on the bench having been called up in the absence of Tatafu Polota-Nau. A Test debut beckons for winger Sefa Naivalu, who was playing club rugby in Victoria state just two years ago. Hooker Stephen Moore will skipper the Wallabies in his 110th Test appearance with the next most capped starters being scrum-half Will Genia and prop Sekope Kefu with 70 each. Team (15-1) Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Reece Hodge; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Sean McMahon, Michael Hooper, Dean Mumm; Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio Replacements (one to be omitted): James Hanson, James Slipper, Tom Robertson, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Lopeti Timani, Nick Phipps, Tevita Kuridrani, Sefa Naivalu
