Australia team to face South Africa - James O'Connor to start Rugby Championship Opener

The starting XV features just three players who have previously played at Ellis Park — loosehead prop James Slipper, tighthead Taniela Tupou, and scrum-half Nic White — adding to the scale of the challenge against the Springboks on their home turf.

Slipper will pack down alongside hooker Billy Pollard and Tupou in the front row, with Nick Frost and Will Skelton continuing their second-row partnership for a third straight Test. Tom Hooper, who made his debut in South Africa in 2023, starts at blindside flanker, joining Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson in the loose forwards.

The midfield pairing of Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii starts together for the seventh consecutive Test, with Suaalii making his first appearance on African soil. Sydney try-scorers Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen keep their spots on the wings, while Tom Wright starts at full-back.

On the bench, Brandon Paenga-Amosa plays his first Test in South Africa since 2018, joined in the replacement front row by Angus Bell and Zane Nonggorr — the latter having made his debut in Pretoria in 2023. Jeremy Williams covers lock, while Langi Gleeson and Nick Champion de Crespigny provide loose forward power. Tate McDermott will again bring energy as the reserve scrum-half, with Andrew Kellaway offering versatile backline cover.

Head coach Joe Schmidt said the squad had embraced the challenge of preparing in Johannesburg.

“The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg.

There’s not 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.”

(Tests in brackets; * denotes debutant)

Replacements
16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (21)
17. Angus Bell (39)
18. Zane Nonggorr (12)
19. Jeremy Williams (14)
20. Langi Gleeson (17)
21. Nick Champion de Crespigny (1)
22. Tate McDermott (45)
23. Andrew Kellaway (41)