* Giteau, Mitchell, Holmes recalled
* Genia, Cooper reunited at halfback
* Hooper gets flanker nod ahead of Pocock (Adds detail, quotes)
SYDNEY, July 16 (Reuters) - Australia went back to the future on Thursday when Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Greg Holmes and halfbacks Will Genia and Quade Cooper were recalled to Wallabies colours for the Rugby Championship opener against South Africa.
In his first team announcement for a home test, coach Michael Cheika also preferred Michael Hooper to David Pocock at openside flanker for Saturday's match at Lang Park in Brisbane.
Giteau, who won his 92nd cap against Samoa in 2011, will line-up at inside centre alongside Cooper, who last played for Australia with his Queensland Reds partner Genia on the tour of Europe in November 2013.
Prop Holmes, who looks set to get his first taste of international rugby in eight years, was named on the bench along with winger Mitchell, who made his 63rd appearance for his country against Wales in December 2012.
Giteau and Mitchell, who have both been in superb form for European champions Toulon, had their test careers revived after the Australian Rugby Union altered the rules on the eligibility of overseas-based players earlier this year.
Cooper and Giteau are likely to alternate as first receiver with the latter offering more assured game management to complement the Queensland flyhalf's attacking threat.
"With new combinations comes a new level of energy to our team environment and Will, Quade and Matt certainly bring that," Cheika said.
"Matt is a true professional and his impact on the team dynamic has been immediate. His form in Toulon and work ethic since joining the squad has been first class."
Bernard Foley, who started 12 of Australia's 14 tests last year at flyhalf, was left out of the matchday squad along with his fellow New South Wales Waratahs back Kurtley Beale.
In the pack, Will Skelton gets his second start in a Wallabies shirt with number eight Scott Higginbotham and blindside flanker Scott Fardy making up for the hulking lock's lack of a lineout game.
Who would occupy the number seven shirt had attracted most speculation, however, and Cheika decided to stick with incumbent Hooper and name Pocock, who has missed two years of test rugby through injury, on the bench.
"David has showed tremendous grit and determination to return to the Wallabies in challenging circumstances," Cheika added.
"To be out of the Wallabies environment for two years and return a better a player shows his character. It is something he, and this country should be proud of."
Team: 15-Israel Folau, 14-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13-Tevita Kuridrani, 12-Matt Giteau, 11-Rob Horne, 10-Quade Cooper, 9-Will Genia, 8-Scott Higginbotham, 7-Michael Hooper, 6-Scott Fardy, 5-Rob Simmons, 4-Will Skelton, 3-Sekope Kepu, 2-Stephen Moore (captain), 1-James Slipper
Replacements: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-Scott Sio, 18-Greg Holmes, 19-James Horwill, 20-David Pocock, 21-Nick Phipps, 22-Matt Toomua, 23-Drew Mitchell