South Africa have introduced a sweeping thirteen‑player overhaul to the starting XV for their one‑off Test against the Wallabies in Perth on Sunday. Only two members of the side that defeated New Zealand 43‑28 in Baltimore – lock Eben Etzebeth and winger Ethan Hooker – retain their starting positions, underscoring the magnitude of the changes. Etzebeth, who will now have played a record 147 Test matches, continues to extend his status as the most‑capped Springbok in history.
His experience anchors a front row that will look very different from the one that secured the series win in the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. Newcomers Jan‑Hendrik Wessels and Zachary Porthen will partner hooker Johan Grobbelaar, forming a fresh trio that will need to gel quickly in the set‑piece. In the half‑back department, two‑time World Cup champion fly‑half Handre Pollard has recovered from a calf injury and is set to link up with a fit‑again scrum‑half Herschel Jantjies.
Their partnership replaces the previous combination and offers the coaching staff a chance to inject new tactical ideas into the Springboks’ attacking play. Andre Esterhuizen has been handed the captaincy, becoming the 68th player to lead South Africa. The centre’s appointment reflects both his leadership qualities and the need for a steadying presence amid the extensive personnel shuffle. Lock Franco Mostert, who has not featured in a Test since the November clash with Wales, is also back in the mix, adding depth to the second‑row.
Despite the large number of changes, only three starters 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 inexperienced players highlights Rassie Erasmus’s willingness to balance continuity with renewal. Erasmus explained the rationale behind the overhaul, noting that Australia presents a distinct set of challenges compared with New Zealand.
“Australia poses 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,” he said. The South African coach emphasised that the Wallabies have been in good form, winning four of their last five matches and drawing once against the Pumas in Argentina.
In addition to the on‑field adjustments, Erasmus confirmed that veteran forwards Pieter‑Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende will be released to return home for family time after a demanding stretch of fixtures. “They had a heavy workload in the last few months, and they deserve a break,” Erasmus added, underscoring the importance of player welfare in his selection calculus.
On the Australian side, head coach Les Kiss is expected to announce his squad on Friday, with strong indications that rising star Joseph Suaalii will start on the wing. The Wallabies will look to exploit any lack of cohesion in the Springboks’ newly assembled pack and backline, while South Africa will rely on the leadership of Etzebeth and the fresh energy of Pollard and Hooker to impose their game plan.
The confirmed Springbok starting XV reads as follows: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen (captain), 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 includes Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu and Quan Horn, providing depth across the forward pack and backline. The match is scheduled for Sunday, 27 September, with a 10:45 a.m.
kickoff, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+. This encounter offers a crucial test for Erasmus’s revamped side and a chance for the Springboks to demonstrate that their strategic reshuffle can translate into on‑field success against a high‑performing Australian outfit.