Joe Schmidt reveals his Wallaby hand for Bok clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wallaby head coach Joe Schmidt has announced his team to face the Springboks in Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener.
James O’Connor will start at flyhalf against in Johannesburg.
O’Connor, who is the only change to the starting XV that defeated the British & Irish Lions in Sydney a fortnight ago, comes into the side after Tom Lynagh suffered a concussion in the side’s last outing.
Starting loosehead James Slipper is one of just three players named in the matchday 23 who have worn the gold jersey at Ellis Park, alongside his fellow prop Taniela Tupou and starting scrumhalf Nic White.
Brumby Billy Pollard completes the run on front row at hooker, with his club teammate Nick Frost and Will Skelton starting in the second row for the third consecutive Test.
Bathurst junior Tom Hooper returns to South Africa, having made his debut here in 2023 and will start at blindside flank, combining with Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson in the loose forward trio.
Wilson will again lead the side as No.8.
Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii start in the midfield for the seventh straight occasion, the latter playing his first Test in Africa.
Try-scorers in Sydney, Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen are both selected on the wing, with Tom Wright named at fullback to round out the back three.
Western Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa plays his first Test on African soil since 2018, linking up with Angus Bell and Zane Nonggorr in the replacement front row. The latter having also made his debut in Pretoria in 2023.
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Western Force lock Jeremy Williams is the substitute lock, with the powerful duo of Langi Gleeson and Nick Champion de Crespigny the remaining forward cover.
Sunshine Coast’s Tate McDermott will again be asked to provide energy as the reserve scrumhalf, with the experienced Andrew Kellaway rounding out the matchday 23.
“The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg,” said Schmidt
“There aren’t many bigger Tests than playing South Africa on their home turf, and we know we’re going to need to be at our best on Saturday night.”
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
Date: Saturday, August 16
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT; 01:10, AEST, Sunday, August 17)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
