Australia takes on the new-look Springboks in one-off rugby test in Perth

PERTH, Australia (AP) — After a huge 3-1 rugby series win over New Zealand in the so-called “Greatest Rivalry,” South Africa plays Australia on Sunday in what should be the friendly confines of Perth stadium in Western Australia.

Expatriate South Africans in the Western Australia state capital have always showed up in droves at previous matches by their national team, and Sunday will likely be no different.

What will be different is the Springboks starting side from their win over New Zealand in the final match of the series — 13 changes. Only lock Eben Etzebeth and winger Ethan Hooker retained their starting roles from the team that beat the All Blacks 43-28 at Baltimore to seal the 3-1 series win in the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok of all time to 147 test matches.

Props Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Zachary Porthen will join forces with hooker Johan Grobbelaar in a new-look front row, while two-time World Cup-winning flyhalf Handre Pollard returns from a calf injury to form a new halves pairing with fit-again scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies.

Centre Andre Esterhuizen has been named skipper, making him South Africa’s 68th captain.

For Australia, Joseph-Aukuso Sua’alii has a new wing role as the Wallabies brace for an aerial barrage in Sunday’s match. Sua’alii has spent the bulk of his 24 tests at outside center, but will slot in at left wing against South Africa, with Tom Wright to continue at fullback and Max Jorgensen on the right wing.

The world No. 1 Springboks dominated the aerial game during their win over New Zealand, and Sua’alii’s shift out wide is a significant strategy to cope with the high ball.

Western Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and prop Allan Alaalatoa return to the starting lineup, but the rest of the forward pack remains unchanged from the team that drew 28-28 with Argentina in Mendoza earlier this month.

The Wallabies have posted three wins and a draw under new Australia coach Les Kiss, but defending World Cup champions South Africa will be their biggest test.

“We’ve had a solid preparation window here in Perth ahead of what’s going to be a massive test against South Africa,” Kiss said. “Playing against the No. 1 team in the world focuses the mind and we have worked hard on key areas to meet this challenge and continue to grow our game.”

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Teams:

Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Ben Donaldson, Ryan Lonergan, Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell. Reserves: 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, Andre Esterhuizen (captain), Ethan Hooker, Handre Pollard, Herschel Jantjies, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Paul de Villiers, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Zachary Porthen, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, Morne van ⁠den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Quan Horn.

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