Cheika gives McMahon nod for Loftus clash

WALLABIES coach Michael Cheika has stuck with the winning formula that has seen his side register backto-back victories in the Rugby Championship.

Hoping for consistency when Australia take on the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow‚ the visiting Aussies have made just one forced change to their starting XV that beat Argentina 36-20 in their last fixture a fortnight ago.

With influential loose-forward David Pocock having undergone surgery on a broken hand‚ Cheika has selected Sean McMahon to start at the back of the scrum in the number eight jersey.

The 22-year-old McMahon will have an opportunity in Pretoria to cement his spot as the first-choice replacement for Pocock in the longterm.

Not only will Pocock also miss next week’s last Rugby Championship match for the Wallabies‚ but he has indicated that he will be taking a sabbatical from the game next year‚ opening up a vacancy in the Aussies’ loose trio.

Cheika will only finalise his bench for the clash today.

There will be a possibility of a debut for winger Sefu Naivalu from the bench‚ should he be selected ahead of injury returnee Henry Speight as backline cover.

The Fijian-born Naivalu‚ who turned down an opportunity for an Olympic gold medal with the Fijian Sevens side‚ became eligible to play for the Wallabies after a three-year residency period just last Monday‚ and Cheika wasted no time in including him in the Australian squad. Should the 24-year-old winger get an opportunity to play tomorrow‚ it will be a childhood dream come true‚ he said.

“If I get that opportunity‚ I’ll take it‚” Naivalu said.

“I’ll never regret anything [not playing for Fiji at the Olympics in Brazil earlier this best for Australia.

“Playing for Australia was part of my dream. I’ll take that dream and I will work hard towards it.”

Naivalu believes that his new teammates have been working hard to ensure a first-time win for the Aussies in Pretoria.

“The boys are very confident‚ whether playing at home or away. The boys have been working hard‚ hopefully we’ll get the result this weekend‚” he said. year]. I’ll do my