Deans rested most of the Super 15-winning Queensland Reds for Australia’s opening test of the season last week but it backfired spectacularly, with a committed Samoan squad scoring four tries against two in a 32-23 victory at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.

As expected Reds halves Will Genia and Quade Cooper return to the starting lineup but Pat McCabe retained his spot at inside center at the expense of Giteau, who scored 18 points when he filled in at flyhalf against Samoa and was expected to move back into midfield for the Tri-Nations series. The 28-year-old Giteau has been a regular in the Wallabies backline and has played more than 90 tests since his debut in 2002.

In other changes, James O’Connor and flanker David Pocock return from injuries to take on the Springboks, Queensland locks James Horwill and Robb Simmons were added to bolster Australia’s second row and Kurtley Beale and Genia were reinstated after starting on the bench last week.

“Last Sunday was a massive wake up call for the group. We can’t turn back the clock on that performance, it will stay with us as a reminder, but we do have total control as to how we respond,” Deans said. “Our standards were inadequate for what is required at test level and we paid the price.

“There are no short cuts in test rugby. There is no substitute for rolling up the sleeves and doing the little tasks that, while they might not carry the glamor, are critical for the overall success of the team.”

Other additions to the squad were Queensland Reds twin brothers Saia and Anthony Faingaa, who were both included on the bench.

Last weekend’s result was a massive boost for Samoa only two months out from the World Cup, but a dent in Australia’s preparations only a week after the Reds won the southern hemisphere’s provincial championship for the first time in the professional era.

Australia squad: Kurtley Beale, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (captain), James Horwill, Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu. Reserves: Saia Faingaa, Pekahou Cowan, Nathan Sharpe, Matt Hodgson, Scott Higginbotham, Nick Phipps, Anthony Faingaa.