A new-look Springbok side will look to keep their Rugby Championship hopes alive when they face Australia at the Allianz Stadium. Get the latest team news, kick-off times and more here!
New-look Boks must respond after Adelaide pasting
Don’t let last week’s 25-17 scoreline fool you, the Springboks were comprehensively outplayed by the Wallabies in Adelaide with two late Kwagga Smith tries scant consolation for South African supporters.
Jacques Nienaber and the Boks’ brains trust have made wholesale changes this week in a bid to keep their Rugby Championship hopes alive. The most notable change sees Damian Willemse start in the 10 jumper with Handre Pollard – who had a bit of a shocker last week – missing out through injury.
Another surprise selection sees rookie Canan Moodie grab a start on the right wing. Jesse Kriel slots into 13 with Lukhanyo Am missing through injury while Faf de Klerk drops out of the matchday 23 completely after his “coming together” with Nic White in Adelaide. He is replaced by the Sharks’ Jaden Hendrikse with former Shark Cobus Reinach providing cover from the bench.
Perhaps the most important change sees Malcolm Marx return to the starting line-up at the expense of Joseph Dweba. Marx is easily the best hooker in world rugby at the moment and needs to be playing as many minutes as his body allows.
Dave Rennie, meanwhile, has named an unchanged run-on XV. They’ll be looking for another fast start this weekend. The Wallabies’ mentor understands the importance of forcing the Boks onto the back foot early on.
However, if the South Africans can dictate terms and grind the Wallabies down through effective use of their set-piece, we could well see a first Bok victory down under in over 10 years.
Nothing better than watching your front row in full flight 🤩
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 31, 2022
Silky hands ✅
Running lines ✅
Complete composure ✅
Try time ✅#AUSvRSA #StrongerTogether #StrongerForever #CastleRugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/VLYq5GOnrj
Betting Odds
Australia understandably come into this game favoured by the bookies. It’s quite a swing from last week, where the Boks went into Adelaide as 5.5 point favourites. Take a look at the betting for this weekend’s tie below:
To Win Match
Australia 17/20 | Draw 20/1 | South Africa 1/1
Handicap
Australia (-1.5) 9/10 | South Africa (+1.5) 9/10
When and where to watch?
You won’t need to be up as early as last week this time around! Kick-off is at 11:35. Build-up to the fixture will commence at 11:05 (immediately after the New Zealand v Argentina game).
Catch both of these games on SuperSport Grandstand (channel 201) on DStv.
Allianz Stadium
The Allianz Stadium in Sydney will host Test footie for the time since June 2018. Ireland ran out 16-20 victors that day. The last time South Africa played at the venue was way back in the 2003 World Cup, with the Boks running out 46-19 winners against Georgia.
You have to look way back to 1996 for the last time South Africa played a Test against the Wallabies at the venue. The hosts would go on to run out 21-16 in front of 41 850 fans.
Teams
Wallabies
15 Reece Hodge, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper (c).
Substitutes: 16 David Porecki, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Darcy Swain, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Jake Gordon, 23 Andrew Kellaway.
Springboks
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Duane Vermeulen, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Warrick Gelant.
