South Africa have completely reshaped their starting fifteen for the upcoming one‑off Test against the Australian Wallabies in Perth, introducing a total of thirteen new faces into the match‑day squad. Only two players from the side that secured a 43‑28 victory over New Zealand in Baltimore – the historic win that clinched the inaugural Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series with a 3‑1 scoreline – will retain their starting positions.
Lock Eben Etzebeth, who will once again start at lock, and winger Ethan Hooker are the sole holdovers from that winning eleven. Etzebeth’s selection is particularly significant because it will see him extend his own record as the most‑capped Springbok in history, moving onto his 147th Test appearance.
His longevity and experience have made him a cornerstone of the South African pack, and his presence will be vital as the team adapts to a largely new configuration. The new front row will be built around the partnership of props Jan‑Hendrik Wessels and Zachary Porthen, who will bind together with hooker Johan Grobbelaar. This trio replaces several of the veterans who featured in the previous match, offering a fresh combination of power and technique in the set‑piece.
Meanwhile, the half‑back pairing will see the return of two‑time World Cup champion fly‑half Handre Pollard, who has recovered from a calf injury. Pollard will link up with scrum‑half Herschel Jantjies, who is back to full fitness after a period of rest. The reunion of these two play‑makers is expected to inject creativity and tactical nuance into South Africa’s attacking platform.
In a notable leadership decision, centre Andre Esterhuizen has been appointed captain for the encounter, making him the 68th player to lead the Springboks. Esterhuizen’s appointment reflects the coaching staff’s confidence in his on‑field decision‑making and his ability to rally a largely reshuffled side. Lock Franco Mostert, who has not featured in a Test since his appearance against Wales in November of the previous year, will also be handed a starting berth, adding further depth to the second row. Despite the extensive turnover, only three members of the starting fifteen have fewer than ten international caps.
These are winger Edwill van der Merwe, lock Paul de Villiers and prop Zachary Porthen. The remaining ten players are seasoned internationals, ensuring that the side retains a solid core of experience amid the influx of fresh talent. South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus explained the rationale behind the massive 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," Erasmus said. He emphasized that the new combinations were selected to counter the Wallabies’ style, which tends to be more expansive and less structured than the All Blacks’ game plan. Erasmus also addressed the decision to allow senior veterans Pieter‑Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende to return home for family time.
Both players have endured a grueling schedule over the past months, and Erasmus felt they deserved a break after contributing heavily throughout the season. "They had a heavy workload in the last few months, and they deserve a break," he remarked, underscoring the importance of player welfare even at the highest level of competition. The Wallabies, meanwhile, have been in good form, winning four of their last five matches and drawing their most recent game against the Pumas in Argentina. Australian head coach Les Kiss is expected to announce his lineup on Friday, with strong speculation that centre Joseph Suaalii will be given a starting role on the wing, adding further intrigue to the clash.
The South African starting XV 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 feature Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu and Quan Horn. 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 worldwide the opportunity to watch the Springboks and Wallabies battle for supremacy in a one‑off Test that could set the tone for future encounters between the two southern‑hemisphere powerhouses.
The game promises to be a tactical showcase, pitting Erasmus’s newly assembled South African unit against a confident Australian side eager to prove their progress on the international stage.