South Africa centre Francois Steyn was ruled out of the Rugby Championship Test against Australia at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday after failing a fitness test on an ankle injury.

Steyn, who rejoined the Coastal Sharks this year after several seasons with French Top 14 club Racing Metro, recovered from a twisted ankle sustained this week in training only to injure it again.

Jaco Taute from the Golden Lions comes into the Springbok starting line-up at outside centre for a first cap with captain Jean de Villiers moving across to his preferred inside centre position.

The elevation of versatile Taute, who can operate at fullback, wing or centre and was a key figure when the Lions won the Currie Cup last season, means Juan de Jongh will take his place among the seven replacements.

Another late change on the bench sees Lions tighthead prop Pat Cilliers replace injured Coenie Oosthuizen, who had just returned to the squad after a lengthy injury-induced absence.

Springboks: Zane Kirchner; Bryan Habana, Jaco Taute, Jean de Villiers (capt), Francois Hougaard; Johan Goosen, Ruan Pienaar; Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw; Andries Bekker, Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: Tiaan Liebenberg, Pat Cilliers, Flip van der Merwe, Marcell Coetzee, Elton Jantjies, Juan de Jongh, Patrick Lambie