Australia face a considerably reshaped South Africa facet in Perth on Sunday, with Les Kiss restoring Hunter Paisami to the Wallabies midfield and shifting Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the wing for his first Check begin in that place.
The Springboks have made 13 adjustments to the beginning XV that beat New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore earlier this month. André Esterhuizen will captain South Africa for the primary time, whereas Handré Pollard returns at fly-half after recovering from a calf harm.
The one-off Check takes place at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, 27 September. Kick-off is scheduled for five.30 pm AWST, which is 10.30 am BST.
Italy’s Andrea Piardi will referee the match, with Ben O’Keeffe and James Doleman as his assistants and Matteo Liperini as TMO.
Australia enter the fixture after an unbeaten two-Check journey to Argentina, whereas South Africa arrive after profitable their four-match sequence towards New Zealand 3-1.
That distinction makes the Perth Check an necessary measure for each side. Australia can check the progress made below Kiss towards the world’s top-ranked crew. South Africa can assess the depth of their squad lower than a 12 months earlier than the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
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Australia reshape their backline
Kiss has chosen Suaalii on the left wing for his first begin there at both membership or worldwide degree. He has beforehand completed Wallabies Checks on the wing, whereas he has additionally featured at full-back for the NSW Waratahs.
The change permits Paisami to return at inside centre, with Len Ikitau shifting to exterior centre. Paisami and Ikitau will begin collectively in Australia’s midfield for the thirteenth time.
Max Jorgensen begins on the other wing, whereas Tom Wright stays at full-back.
Ryan Lonergan continues at scrum-half after beginning each Wallabies Check this 12 months. He once more companions Ben Donaldson, who will put on the quantity 10 shirt in his dwelling metropolis.
The mixture provides Australia continuity in the important thing decision-making positions after their 28-28 draw towards Argentina in Mendoza on 5 September.
Australia had crushed Los Pumas 27-21 in Jujuy every week earlier.
These outcomes adopted victories over Japan in Osaka and Townsville. The Wallabies’ 2026 file additionally features a 57-10 win over Italy, whereas Eire and France each defeated them throughout the July Nations Championship window.
Suaalii’s swap represents probably the most important choice resolution.
His measurement and athletic capacity give Australia an alternative choice within the air, whereas Paisami’s return places a extra established centre partnership again collectively.
South Africa’s kicking recreation ought to shortly check that reshuffled again three.
The Springboks commonly contest possession via correct tactical kicking and aggressive chasing. Australia will want Suaalii, Jorgensen and Wright to take care of that stress earlier than in search of counter-attacking alternatives.
Wallabies make two adjustments within the pack
Australia have made fewer alterations among the many forwards.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa returns at hooker, whereas Allan Alaalatoa begins at tighthead prop. Angus Bell completes the entrance row.
Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams proceed within the second row.
Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson retain their locations within the again row, giving the Wallabies continuity towards a South African pack that will have modified personnel however not its bodily calls for.
Charlie Cale misses the match after struggling a shoulder harm in coaching and appears prone to be sidelined for the remainder of 2026. Carlo Tizzano comes into the matchday squad, whereas Tom Hooper returns after recovering from a slight shoulder knock.
Kiss has chosen six forwards amongst his eight replacements.
Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Hooper and Tizzano present the ahead cowl. Tate McDermott and Harry Potter are the 2 alternative backs.
The 6-2 cut up reveals how a lot significance Australia are inserting on competing with South Africa via the second half.
The Springboks have constructed a lot of their success round sustaining ahead stress after making replacements. Australia can not afford a major decline at scrum, maul or breakdown when the benches come into the match.
South Africa make 13 adjustments
Rassie Erasmus has taken a unique strategy after South Africa accomplished their four-Check sequence towards New Zealand.
Solely Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker stay within the beginning XV from the Springboks’ 43-28 win over the All Blacks in Baltimore on 12 September.
André Esterhuizen will captain South Africa for the primary time, changing into the 68th participant to steer the Springboks in a Check.
He companions Canan Moodie in midfield, with Hooker and Edwill van der Merwe on the wings and Aphelele Fassi at full-back.
Handré Pollard returns from a calf harm to start out at fly-half alongside scrum-half Herschel Jantjies.
The choice provides South Africa an skilled controller at quantity 10 regardless of the adjustments round him.
Pollard’s kicking recreation can even enhance the stress on Australia’s self-discipline. Conceding penalties inside kicking vary might enable South Africa to regulate each the scoreboard and area place with out taking pointless dangers.
The Springbok pack stays formidable.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels begins at loosehead prop, Johan Grobbelaar at hooker and Zachary Porthen at tighthead.
Etzebeth companions Franco Mostert within the second row.
Paul de Villiers, Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden type the loose-forward mixture.
South Africa have additionally retained important expertise amongst their replacements. Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager and Jasper Wiese can all enter the match from the bench.
Jasper Wiese is ready to earn his fiftieth Check cap if he comes off the replacements bench.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morné van den Berg present additional backline choices.
Erasmus might have rotated closely, however Australia’s problem has not essentially change into less complicated.
The brand new combos have much less Check expertise collectively, though the Springboks can nonetheless introduce a number of established gamers later within the contest.
Springboks arrive after New Zealand sequence win
South Africa’s preparation has been formed by a demanding sequence towards New Zealand.
The All Blacks gained the opening Check 33-16 at Ellis Park earlier than South Africa responded with a 33-26 victory in Cape City.
The Springboks then gained 29-24 in Johannesburg earlier than finishing a 3-1 sequence victory with a 43-28 win in Baltimore on 12 September.
World in Sport lined the build-up to that decisive fixture in its South Africa vs New Zealand fourth Check preview.
The 4 matches supplied an intense block of preparation, however in addition they contributed to Erasmus’ resolution to rotate his facet.
Siya Kolisi and Jesse Kriel are amongst these absent from the matchday squad. Damian de Allende and Pieter-Steph du Toit returned dwelling earlier within the build-up, whereas Cheslin Kolbe suffered a jaw harm throughout the New Zealand sequence.
South Africa subsequently arrive with a much less acquainted line-up however loads of motivation for these given a chance.
The Springboks are already wanting in the direction of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. They are going to return to Perth throughout the event to face Romania within the pool stage.
That provides Sunday’s Check further worth past the end result.
Australia have momentum below Kiss
Australia’s season has contained setbacks, significantly towards Eire and France, however latest performances have given Kiss a clearer platform.
The Wallabies beat Japan 35-32 in Osaka earlier than producing a extra convincing 56-17 victory in Townsville.
They then travelled to Argentina and picked up a win and a draw.
Australia’s 27-21 victory in Jujuy required endurance, whereas the 28-28 lead to Mendoza confirmed each the progress and the work nonetheless required.
South Africa will elevate the extent significantly.
The Springboks punish free exits, poor self-discipline and inaccurate set items extra severely than most groups.
Australia will subsequently want greater than attacking ambition. Their capacity to regulate territory might show simply as necessary.
Donaldson will carry a lot of that accountability at fly-half.
He might want to stability enjoying shortly with recognising when South Africa’s line of defense leaves little area.
Lonergan’s service from scrum-half can even matter. Fast possession might enable Australia to maneuver South Africa’s heavier forwards, however gradual ball would give the guests time to reset.
The set piece might form the Check
Australia’s scrum faces one in every of its most tough examinations of the season.
Bell, Paenga-Amosa and Alaalatoa begin towards Wessels, Grobbelaar and Porthen, however each benches might alter the competition.
South Africa can introduce Nche, Marx and Wilco Louw.
Australia have Ross, Pollard and Tupou.
Scrum penalties might decide area place late within the match, significantly if the scores stay shut.
The road-out carries comparable significance.
Australia will need Wilson and their different jumpers to offer clear possession quite than permitting Etzebeth and Mostert to disrupt the platform.
The Springboks can flip even a small territorial benefit into sustained stress via their maul.
Australia should additionally keep away from giving South Africa straightforward attacking entries via penalties.
That battle might affect whether or not the Wallabies get sufficient possession to make use of their backs.
Perth has produced a detailed rivalry
Australia and South Africa have met 10 occasions in Perth.
The file stands at 4 wins every and two attracts, illustrating how tough the venue has been to separate the groups traditionally.
Australia have typically loved a stronger dwelling file towards South Africa than they’ve in away Checks.
South Africa gained each Checks on Australian soil in 2024, beating the Wallabies 33-7 in Brisbane earlier than securing a 30-12 victory at Optus Stadium one week later.
That continues to be the newest assembly between the groups in Perth.
Australia will subsequently have latest proof of the usual required.
World in Sport’s South Africa v England evaluation additionally examined the issues opponents face when making an attempt to play via South Africa’s defensive stress and ahead power.
The personnel might change, however lots of these structural challenges stay.
Key match particulars
| Element | Australia vs South Africa |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, 27 September 2026 |
| Venue | Optus Stadium, Perth |
| Kick-off | 5.30pm AWST / 10.30am BST |
| Australia captain | Harry Wilson |
| South Africa captain | André Esterhuizen |
| Referee | Andrea Piardi |
The Perth fixture is a standalone worldwide exterior the Nations Championship programme.
World in Sport’s Rugby Championship desk information explains the competitors’s format and its scheduled return in 2027.
Australia and South Africa groups
Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii; Ben Donaldson, Ryan Lonergan. Angus Bell, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (captain).
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Harry Potter.
South Africa: Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, André Esterhuizen (captain), Ethan Hooker; Handré Pollard, Herschel Jantjies. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, Zachary Porthen, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Paul de Villiers, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden.
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, Morné van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Quan Horn.
What to look at in Perth
South Africa’s 13 adjustments create the central query across the Check.
The Springboks have eliminated many established combos, however Erasmus has retained sufficient expertise to encompass these given larger accountability.
Australia’s choice has larger continuity.
That ought to assist the Wallabies early, significantly if they will set up tempo earlier than South Africa settle.
Suaalii’s first Check begin on the wing provides one other focal point. His work below the excessive ball can be examined, whereas the return of Paisami alongside Ikitau provides Australia a strong midfield mixture.
South Africa will anticipate Pollard to regulate territory and their forwards to construct stress.
Australia will need extra velocity.
The Wallabies have proven indicators of enchancment below Kiss, however Sunday’s opponent gives a a lot more durable examination than Japan or Argentina.
South Africa, in the meantime, should present that their depth can protect the requirements established throughout the sequence win over New Zealand.
That pressure provides the Perth Check its significance.
Australia have a chance to measure their progress towards the back-to-back world champions. South Africa have one other probability to check the broader squad that Erasmus may have when the Rugby World Cup returns to Australia subsequent 12 months.
