Beale Given Time to Prove Fitness

Australia are giving full-back Kurtley Beale as long as possible to prove his fitness for Sunday's World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Auckland.

Beale, who has twice been forced off with a hamstring strain during the tournament, has been named in coach Robbie Deans' starting XV.

However, if he is not fit, Adam Ashley-Cooper will go to full-back and Anthony Fainga'a will start at outside centre.

"We will leave it as long as we can before making a decision," said Deans.

"It will be tough on Kurtley if he has to miss this one, but we will take no chances. If he can't play, he will contribute off the field as he always does.

"He is a great presence in the group, whether he's running or just providing voice.

"He's a big part of the spiritual element of the group, he's very much a source of positive energy.

"Adam and Ant are both good men. They will do a more than capable job in Kurtley's absence."

Each of this weekend's four semi-finalists have a number seven in their side that strike fear deep into opposition hearts

Pat McCabe has recovered from a shoulder injury and will start at inside centre in a side that will be unchanged from their quarter-final victory over South Africa, if Beale, who limped out of that win, is fit.

On the bench, Rob Simmons is selected ahead of veteran lock Nathan Sharpe, who will have to wait to become only the fifth Australian to win 100 Test caps.

"We make the decisions that we believe are going to be best for us and sentiment around the 100 [Tests] doesn't come into consideration," Deans added.

"Rob is athletic and he's got a slightly different skills set to Sharpie and we anticipate a lateral challenge from the All Blacks.

"We suspect they will use the ball side to side, they will see some opportunities to do that from our last outing and that's the point of difference between Simmons and Sharpe."

Australia's last victory over New Zealand at Eden Park was in 1986 and the All Blacks have not been beaten by anyone at the ground in 17 years.

But Deans believes those statistics will count for little on Sunday.

"Those are impressive numbers for sure," he said. "But they don't matter once Sunday's match kicks off.

"Rugby World Cup elimination matches are stand-alone contests, distinct from any other that are played in the international game.

"The pressure is divided equally on both sides as there is no tomorrow, and the ultimate prize [a place in the Rugby World Cup final] awaits the side which earns that right of passage."

Australia: Kurtley Beale/Adam Ashley-Cooper; James O'Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper/Anthony Fainga'a, Pat McCabe, Digby Ioane; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Dan Vickerman, James Horwill (capt), Rocky Elsom, David Pocock, Radike Samo.

Replacements: Tatafu Polota Nau, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Anthony Fainga'a/ Rob Horne

Deans Not Relying on Wallabies History

Australia coach Robbie Deans feels his side's record against South Africa will count for nothing when they meet in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

The Wallabies have won five of the last six meetings including two victories en route to winning the Tri Nations.

"Taking comfort from previous games is the quickest path to the airport," said Deans ahead of the 0600 BST kick-off.

South Africa assistant coach Gary Gold said: "Australia were very good in the Tri-Nations and haven't got any worse."

The defending champions have not lost a World Cup match since they were beaten by Australia in the 2003 quarter-finals.

But Deans insisted history would not have any bearing on the outcome of the match in Wellington.

"The knock out phases of the World Cup are completely different to every other type of rugby we play," he stated.

"The stakes are higher, the intensity greater and the margins between success and failure smaller.

"We've seen that to some extent already in the tournament through the key pool matches and you can pretty much guarantee that it will only intensify from here.

"History will be created this weekend and we desperately want our piece of it. There's no tomorrow, unless you create one for yourself."

The 52-year-old also praised the Springboks for their winning mentality.

"South Africa still have the core group from the last World Cup together," he commented. "They know what it takes to be successful in knockout rugby and know how to close out the tight games.

"They've already shown that in this tournament when they came from behind to beat Wales by a point.

"They have a group which has the knowledge and belief that it can get things done. They will bring that mentality forward with them on Sunday.

"If we are going to earn the right to advance to the next round, we have to match it."

South Africa are bidding to become the first back-to-back world champions following their win against England in Paris four years ago.

But Gold is focusing solely on Australia and believes an eagerly-awaited breakdown battle could prove the "defining factor".

Springboks openside flanker Heinrich Brussow and Australia's David Pocock go head to head in a contest that may go some way towards deciding which country meets New Zealand or Argentina in the semi-finals.

"The guys who master the breakdown the best and adhere to the referee's interpretations the best are probably going to be in the best position to win this game," said Gold.

Gold urged his side to focus on their strengths and not Australia's, adding: "The Australian team can live, physically, with the best at the moment.

"They are a very young and athletic side and they have exciting backs that will move you around the park. And they have forwards that can keep up, so they are a dangerous team.

"We've worked hard on them and we will give them the respect they deserve this weekend.

"But from our point of view we have our strengths as well, and it is important we concentrate on what our strengths are."

Rocky Extends ARU Contract

Rocky Elsom will remain in Australia until the end of 2013 after agreeing a new contract with the ARU and the NSW Waratahs on Tuesday.

Elsom, sensationally axed as Wallabies skipper last month, will rejoin the Waratahs for the next two Super Rugby seasons after opting to leave the Brumbies and will be available for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour.

The 28-year-old debuted for the Wallabies in 2005 against Samoa and is the 20th player to re-commit to Australian rugby this year.

The powerful blindside flanker has accumulated 70 Test caps, 24 as Wallabies captain, and is now the fourth most capped loose forward in Wallabies history.

New Waratahs coach Michael Foley said of Elsom's return: "When you're recruiting you're always looking for the best players to fill vacancies in your squad and when Rocky came off contract we knew he was the best person to fill that back row place we had available.

"Rocky's a very special player, he has a great skill set and when he's at his best there's no doubt that he's one of the leading backrowers in the world.

"The fact that he has played at a number of teams now and decided to return to NSW shows he has a lot of belief in where this squad can go in the next couple of years.

"Most of our starting players have been involved in the national program so there won't be any problem with Rocky slotting straight back into the squad and as someone who has captained Australia we'll be looking to him to bring those leadership skills to the team."

Having played every minute of the Wallabies 15 Tests in 2010, Elsom managed just 60 minutes of Super Rugby for the Brumbies due to hamstring and ankle injuries.