The Wallabies head to South Africa looking to end their drought at Ellis Park as they take on the defending world champions.
Fresh off a win over the British & Irish Lions in Sydney, Joe Schmidt's side has a renewed sense of confidence despite dropping the series.
Meanwhile, the Springboks are eager to start their Rugby Championship defence on a high note.
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Springboks (15-1): Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Siya Kolisi (capt), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden; Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse
- Siya Kolisi starts for the first time at number eight in his illustrious career.
- Grant Williams and Manie Libbok have been preferred in the halves.
- Boan Venter was a late change, replacing Jan-Hendrik Wessels in the finishers.
Wallabies (15-1): Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch; James O'Connor, Nic White; Harry Wilson (capt), Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper; Will Skelton, Nick Frost; Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, James Slipper
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway
- James O’Connor starts at ten for the first time since 2022
- Tane Edmed comes onto the bench in a late change for Nick Champion de Crespigny.
- The Springboks have won their last four Tests against Australia by an average of 22.8 points.
- The Wallabies’ last win over the Springboks in Johannesburg was in 1963 - an 11-9 victory.
- Australia are the only tier one team to not concede a try from a turnover since the 2024 Rugby Championship. Before that, they had conceded eight tries in the previous eight games.
Manie Libbok v James O’Connor
Two tens at different stages of their careers will have a big bearing on how this game goes.
Libbok started just twice in 2024 amid the growing competition at the position for the world champions, with a big performance here making a serious case for later in the competition.
Meanwhile, O’Connor is almost the last man standing after a trio of injuries to Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson, out to rewind the clock.
Springboks by 9
