The Wallabies have made two changes to their starting XV from the one that went down to the All Blacks 29-9 in Wellington.

It is the lowest number of starting XV changes made between games this year, a positive sign of faith from Cheika despite the fact a 14th consecutive Bledisloe Cup has gone down the gurgler.

The unlucky man at the selection table was Fardy, who after being relegated to the bench for the Sydney Bledisloe game and then recalled a week later at blindside breakaway, has been left out of the match-day 23 altogether.

After starting in 33 of his 35 Tests, as well as featuring in 35 of the Wallabies' previous 43 matches, Fardy makes way for Waratah Dean Mumm, who has come off the pine in four of five fixtures this year.

It was, according to Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, Mumm's accuracy at the lineout that saw him get the nod in what will be just his fourth start in his last 21 Tests and first starting appearance in the back-row since June 2009.

A perceived lack of height in the back-row certainly did not come into calculations, with Mumm (196cm) standing two centimetres shorter than Fardy (198cm).

"I think he's played well when he's come off the bench in both matches and he's finished for us well, shown a lot of energy and deserves an opportunity," Cheika said.

When asked about Fardy's axing, Cheika said: "Maybe a game off will give him the chance to freshen up and get himself fired up to come back."

Meanwhile, Hodge, who Cheika plans on using as a long-kicking weapon after his monster 55-metre penalty in Wellington, edged out 70-Test veteran Drew Mitchell, Luke Morahan and Henry Speight for a spot on the wing to replace Adam Ashley-Cooper, who has flown back to France for club commitments.

"He gives a bit more versatility around how we want to set the team up attacking and defensively," said Cheika of Hodge, who debuted on the bench in Wellington. "And I just like the way he's played. I think he's got good composure, good demeanour and the more experience we get him in these big matches the better he'll be going forward."

As well picking the same front-row of Scott Sio, Stephen Moore and Sekope Kepu, Cheika has retained Wellington second-rowers Kane Douglas and Adam Coleman – the first time this year the Wallabies have used the same lock combinations in back-to-back games.

The Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley five-eighth/inside centre experiment will continue for another week, with Cheika saying he felt the two playmakers had found their "voice" together on the training paddock after sessions at Ballymore Stadium.

"They've got together earlier in the week and started out how they're going to run the team," Cheika said. "We heard from them again today as a team as to how they're going to manage that, so it's probably a bit more about our players taking ownership of how they play the game through the playmakers in particular. The more time they spend together the better off they'll be."

The Wallabies will finalise their bench on Friday with Drew Mitchell, Rory Arnold and a possible debutant in Melbourne Rebels second-rower Lopeti Timani all new faces from the last All Blacks defeat.

"We're very keen to give Lopeti an opportunity to go out and play some Test football," Cheika said. "He's been knocking lumps out of chaps at training."

One thing Cheika has settled on is keeping Israel Folau at fullback. The Wallabies boss appears to be growing increasingly tiresome of suggestions from former players Folau is best suited in the midfield.

"I'm not going to explain my rationale until I hear the rationale why he would play better closer in," Cheika said. "I've coached the player since he's been in rugby, and I think I've got a pretty rapport with him and know exactly where his strengths are. I could bring him in closer and he could get more touches but will he deliver more excellence in there? That's the question you maybe need to ask the people saying he should play at 12."

Wallabies team to face South Africa in Brisbane

1. Scott Sio (20 Tests)

2. Stephen Moore (c) (107 Tests)

3. Sekope Kepu (68 Tests)

4. Kane Douglas (25 Tests)

5. Adam Coleman (2 Tests)

6. Dean Mumm (48 Tests)

7. Michael Hooper (56 Tests)

8. David Pocock (58 Tests)

9. Will Genia (68 Tests)

10. Quade Cooper (59 Tests)

11. Reece Hodge (1 Test)

12. Bernard Foley (32 Tests)

13. Samu Kerevi (3 Tests)

14. Dane Haylett-Petty (5 Tests)

15. Israel Folau (43 Tests)

Reserves (one to be omitted)

Tatafu Polota-Nau (66 Tests)

James Slipper (79 Tests)

Allan Alaalatoa (2 Tests)

Rory Arnold (2 Tests)

Lopeti Timani (possible debut)

Sean McMahon (9 Tests)

Nick Phipps (44 Tests)

Tevita Kuridrani (36 Tests)

Drew Mitchell (70 Tests)