South Africa have completely reshaped their starting XV for the upcoming one‑off Test against the Wallabies in Perth, introducing 13 fresh faces into the squad. Only two players – lock Eben Etzebeth and winger Ethan Hooker – have retained their starting positions from the side that secured a 43‑28 victory over New Zealand in Baltimore, clinching the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series with a 3‑1 win. Etzebeth, who will take the field at number five, is set to extend his own record as the most‑capped Springbok ever, moving onto his 147th Test appearance.
His longevity and experience anchor a back row that is otherwise undergoing a major transformation. The new front row will feature props Jan‑Hendrik Wessels and Zachary Porthen alongside hooker Johan Grobbelaar, offering a fresh combination that coach Rassie Erasmus hopes will bring renewed energy to 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 back in the starting lineup. He will partner with scrum‑half Herschel Jantjies, who has also returned to full fitness, forming a new halves pairing that should provide both tactical kicking and quick service from the base of the ruck.
The coaching staff have highlighted the importance of this partnership in countering the Australian style of play, which they describe as distinct from the All Blacks’ approach. Andre Esterhuizen has been handed the captaincy for the match, becoming the 68th player to lead the Springboks. The centre will wear the armband and is expected to guide a relatively inexperienced backline that includes only three starters with fewer than ten caps – winger Edwill van der Merwe, lock Paul de Villiers and prop Zachary Porthen.
Their limited international exposure will be a test of depth, but Erasmus is confident that the blend of seasoned veterans and fresh talent will be well‑suited to the challenge posed by Australia. Lock Franco Mostert, who has not featured in a Test since the November encounter with Wales, is also named in the starting pack.
His return adds further weight to the second row, complementing Etzebeth’s experience with a player who has proven his mettle in both domestic and overseas competitions. Erasmus explained his selection philosophy, noting that "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." He also emphasized the physical demands placed on senior players over the past months, stating that veterans Pieter‑Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende were allowed to return home to spend time with their families after a heavy workload.
"They deserved a break," Erasmus added. The Springboks will line up 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 will include Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu and Quan Horn. Australia’s head coach Les Kiss is expected to announce his squad on Friday, with strong speculation that rising star Joseph Suaalii will be given a starting berth on the wing. The Wallabies have been in good form, winning four of their last five matches and drawing once against the Pumas in Argentina.
Erasmus acknowledged the difficulty of the task ahead, saying, "This is going to be a big challenge against a team that has been playing good rugby, and who have won four of their last five matches, with their other result being a draw against the Pumas in Argentina." The match is scheduled for Sunday, 27 September, with kickoff at 10:45 a.m. local time.
It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+, offering fans around the world the chance to watch a high‑stakes encounter between two of the sport’s most storied nations. Both teams will be looking to cement their status on the international stage, and the extensive changes in the Springbok line‑up suggest a willingness to adapt and innovate in pursuit of victory.