Rookie prop Benn Robinson will make his Test debut against South Africa in the Tri Nations finale at the Ellis Park cauldron on Saturday.

The 22-year-old Waratah will face a baptism of fire at loose-head against veteran Springboks hard man Os du Randt.

Springboks coach Jake White said Tuesday the rebuilding Australian scrum would be targeted by the massive pack he named Wednesday, back in form after paving the way for South Africa's win over New Zealand last weekend.

Australian coach John Connolly has made only forced changes to the side which went down 34-27 to New Zealand last month with prop Greg Holmes resting at home, winger Lote Tuqiri suspended and utility Mat Rogers nursing a knee injury.

Western Force back Cameron Shepherd will replace Tuqiri for his run-on debut while 28-year-old teammate Scott Staniforth will play his first Test since 2002 from the Wallabies bench.

The Springboks will be missing only winger Bryan Habana from the side which downed the All Blacks 21-20 in Rustenburg, allowing the exciting Sharks back JP Pietersen to make his Test debut.

Meanwhile, news that the eight-team Australian provincial competition was given the thumbs up at the ARU was welcomed by the Wallabies hierarchy in Johannesburg.

"I think it's great for rugby, I think it's great from the players' point of view," Connolly said.

"I think it gives the players a great opportunity and a better chance of being successful at the higher level.

"It won't do any harm to the club football whatsoever."

Asked if the APC would be financially viable, Connolly said: "The number crunchers and the people who put that together, that's up to them.

"Purely from a rugby point of view I think it's vital."

Wallabies captain George Gregan also welcomed the move.

"As the game's evolved over the last 11 years there's definitely been a need for that next level of competition ... it's great news for Australia rugby and a good way to go forward," Gregan said.

The Australian pack is also priming itself for a jump-off this Saturday with the man regarded as the world's best lineout forward, Victor Matfield, in the final Tri Nations Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Wallabies jumping tactician Dan Vickerman, who has been leading the side's lineout drills at training with a fierce intensity, said the Wallabies still had some distance to travel before they reached the standards that would make them happy in that contest.

"We've still got a little way to go but ... I think we're getting there," he said.

"In the final Bledisloe Cup Test in Auckland we were moving on in the right direction so it's another step, it's a work in progress to get things right."

The ex-Cape Town resident was happy to acknowledge that Matfield is the world's No.1 leaper.

"He reads the lineout really well and he executes his own lineout well," Vickerman said.

Australia: Chris Latham, Clyde Rathbone, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Cameron Shepherd; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt); Wycliff Palu, Phil Waugh, Rocky Elsom, Dan Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe, Rodney Blake, Jeremy Paul, Benn Robinson. Res: Tai McIsaac, Al Baxter, Mark Chisholm, George Smith, Brett Sheehan, Mark Gerrard, Scott Staniforth.

South Africa: JP Pietersen, Akona Ndungane, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Wynand Olivier; Andre Pretorius, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, AJ Venter, Pedrie Wannenburg, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, BJ Botha, John Smit (capt), Os du Randt. Res: Chiliboy Ralapelle, Lawrence Sephaka, Albert van den Berg, Jacques Cronje, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Breyton Paulse.

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