Massive defeats to the All Blacks elicited opposing responses from Australia and South Africa ahead of Saturday's crucial Tri-Nations rugby union showdown at Lang Park.
Eddie Jones retained all but one of his 15 starters from Australia's record 50-21 loss to New Zealand last week, while Rudolf Straeuli made wholesale changes to the Springboks lineup following a 52-16 loss to the All Blacks at Pretoria the previous weekend.
Fullback Matt Burke was relegated to the Australian bench, with Jones promoting Chris Latham in a bid to inject more pace out wide -- where he's pinpointing his attack.
Joost van der Westhuizen was dropped in one of one of six changes to South Africa's lineup.
The veteran scrumhalf made way for Craig Davidson, while Cats flyhalf Andre Pretorius won his first cap at fullback at the expense of Brent Russell.
Russell became a matchwinner as a replacement in the 26-22 upset against the Wallabies at Cape Town three weeks ago but struggled against the All Blacks.
Jorrie Muller was drafted in to partner De Wet Barry in midfield, while versatile prop Robbie Kempson and lock Selborne Boome were recalled and backrower Joe van Niekerk returns from injury.
"There are players who have paid the price for an unacceptable performance against the All Blacks and there are players who have been rotated in our effort to establish a squad in which all players are capable of starting in any test in the World Cup," Straeuli said.
Jones also had an eye on the World Cup, although he preferred to work with his existing staff.
"We're focussed on our own performance this week. If we get that right, we'll be able to handle anything South Africa throws at us," said Jones, adding: "It wouldn't surprise me if [South Africa] did play with a bit of width."
* Australia: Chris Latham, Wendell Sailor, Mat Rogers, Elton Flatley, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (captain); Toutai Kefu, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Daniel Vickerman, David Giffin, Patricio Noriega, Brendan Cannon, Bill Young. Reserves: Jeremy Paul, Glenn Panoho, Nathan Sharpe, Owen Finegan, Chris Whitaker, Matt Giteau, Matthew Burke
* South Africa: Andre Pretorius, Stefan Terblanche, Jorrie Muller, De Wet Barry, Ashwin Willemse, Louis Koen, Craig Davidson, Juan Smith, Joe van Niekerk, Corne Krige (captain), Victor Matfield, Selborne Boome, Richard Bands, Danie Coetzee, Robbie Kempson. Reserves: Dale Santon, Lawrence Sephaka, Bakkies Botha, Wikus van Heerden, Joost van der Westhuizen, Gcobani Bobo, Brent Russell
Australia goes into the match on a three-test losing stretch, its worst since 1995, and hasn't lost four consecutive tests in two decades. Still, Jones said he had two outcomes in mind before each test.
"We're 100 percent committed to winning the games," he said. "At the same time, you've got to have another plan going along and that plan is to be right for the World Cup.
"We're certainly not undervaluing the Tri-Nations, but there's been things that we've been trying -- some of them not too successfully -- that are geared toward the World Cup. And we're not the only side doing that."
Straeuli was heavily criticized for chopping and changing his squad earlier in the season as the Springboks struggled in a 2-0 series win over Scotland and Louis Koen's last-minute goal helped them escape with a 26-25 win over Argentina.
His decision to make major changes ahead of the Tri-Nations opener in Cape Town sparked calls for his dismissal, but he regained some support with the narrow win over the Australians -- inspired by Barry's basic but phenomenal midfield defense.
More changes were expected following the loss to the All Blacks, South Africa's worst at home, when the Springboks leaked seven tries.
Australia also surrendered seven tries to the All Blacks on home soil, with five of the seven coming via counterattack or turnovers of possession.
Jones blamed the poor defense on a lack of cohesion and inexperience of former rugby league international Mat Rogers at outside center, playmaker Steve Larkham returning from injury and Lote Tuqiri winning his first starting cap on the wing.
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