South Africa have introduced a sweeping overhaul to their starting fifteen for the upcoming one‑off Test against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday, making a total of thirteen changes to the squad that faced New Zealand in Baltimore. Only two players – lock Eben Etzebeth and wing Ethan Hooker – retain the positions they occupied in the side that secured a 43‑28 victory over the All Blacks, clinching the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series with a 3‑1 win. Etzebeth, who will line up at lock, is set to extend his own record as the most‑capped Springbok ever, moving onto his 147th Test appearance.
His experience will be a cornerstone for a team that is otherwise undergoing a near‑complete reset. In the front row, the coaching staff have paired prop Jan‑Hendrik Wessels with newcomer Zachary Porthen, while hooker Johan Grobbelaar will complete a fresh‑look front‑row unit that aims to bring new energy and stability at the set‑piece.
In the halves, two‑time World Cup champion fly‑half Handre Pollard has recovered from a calf injury and is expected to form a new partnership with scrum‑half Herschel Jantjies, who has also returned to full fitness. The duo will be tasked with orchestrating the Springboks’ attacking platform and managing the tempo against a Wallaby side that has been in strong form of late.
Centre Andre Esterhuizen has been handed the captaincy for the match, becoming the 68th player to lead South Africa. His appointment reflects both his leadership qualities and his versatility across the midfield. Alongside him, lock Franco Mostert makes his first Test appearance since the November encounter with Wales, adding depth to the second‑row.
Despite the massive turnover, only three members of the starting fifteen have fewer than ten caps: winger Edwill van der Merwe, lock Paul de Villiers, and prop Zachary Porthen. This blend of seasoned veterans and relatively uncapped talent underscores coach Rassie Erasmus’s belief that a different combination of players is required to counter the distinct style that Australia brings to the field. "Australia presents a completely different threat to New Zealand in the way they play, so we believe these combinations would be best suited for the challenge that we will face against them," Erasmus explained. He added that the Wallabies have been playing attractive rugby and have won four of their last five matches, with the only blemish being a draw against the Pumas in Argentina.
"This is going to be a big challenge against a team that has been playing good rugby," he said. Erasmus also confirmed that veteran stalwarts Pieter‑Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende will be rested and sent home to spend time with their families after a demanding period of international duty. "They had a heavy workload in the last few months, and they deserve a break," the coach noted, emphasizing the importance of player welfare and recovery.
On the Australian side, head coach Les Kiss is expected to announce his lineup on Friday. Rumours suggest that rising star centre Joseph Suaalii will be given a starting berth on the wing, reflecting the Wallabies’ intent to inject fresh pace and power into their backline.
The South African starting XV, as announced, will be: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (c), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Herschel Jantjies; 1 Marco van Staden, 2 Elrigh Louw, 3 Paul de Villiers, 4 Franco Mostert, 5 Eben Etzebeth, 6 Zachary Porthen, 7 Johan Grobbelaar, 8 Jan‑Hendrik Wessels. The bench will feature: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu, 23 Quan Horn. The match is scheduled for Sunday, 27 September, with a kickoff time of 10:45 am. It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+, giving fans worldwide the opportunity to watch the Springboks take on the Wallabies in what promises to be a fiercely contested encounter.
The game not only offers a chance for South Africa to test their newly assembled squad against a top‑tier opponent, but also provides a valuable platform for emerging players to prove themselves on the international stage. Both coaches have highlighted the importance of adaptability and resilience. Erasmus’s decision to overhaul the lineup reflects a strategic gamble: he is banking on fresh combinations to exploit perceived weaknesses in the Australian style of play, while also managing player fatigue after a grueling season.
Meanwhile, Kiss will likely look to balance experience with youthful exuberance, aiming to maintain the momentum the Wallabies have built over their recent fixtures. In summary, the Springboks enter the Perth test with a dramatically reshaped side, anchored by the record‑breaking presence of Eben Etzebeth and the dynamic wing play of Ethan Hooker.
The match will serve as a litmus test for Erasmus’s bold selection policy and will be a key indicator of how South Africa can adapt their game plan when faced with a different kind of opposition than the All Blacks. The outcome will have implications not only for the immediate result but also for the broader trajectory of the Springbok campaign moving forward.