McReight to captain the Wallabies in Cape Town

Wagga Wagga junior Corey Toole will make his Wallabies debut against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday evening.

An Olympian with the Australia Sevens program in 2024, Toole, who plays for the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby Pacific, will start on the left wing in place of Dylan Pietsch who suffered a jaw fracture in the side’s win at Ellis Park last weekend.

It’s one of three changes to the starting side, with back-to-back John Eales Medallist, Rob Valetini returning to the team at No 8, replacing regular captain Harry Wilson who is being managed after limping from the field in Johannesburg.

Wilson’s club teammate Fraser McReight will skipper the side from the No 7 jersey. A former Australia Under-20s skipper, McReight will become the 91st player to captain Australia. He also took over as captain in last weekend’s Test after Harry Wilson left the field.

Dubbo product Tom Robertson is the final change to the matchday 23. He’ll start at loosehead prop, after James Slipper returned home under the HIA protocols, joining Billy Pollard and Taniela Tupou in the run on front row.

Nick Frost and Will Skelton are again named as the second-row pair, with Tom Hooper completing the back five of the scrum.

The experienced halves pairing of Nic White and James O’Connor have been selected for what is the second Test of the side's 2025 Rugby Championship campaign. White is the only player in the matchday 23 who was involved the last time the Wallabies played in Cape Town back in 2014.

Len Ikitau inches closer to his 50th cap for the Wallabies, starting at inside centre in his 45th appearance for his country. He’ll again partner with Joseph-Aukuso Suallii in the midfield, the outside centre scoring his first try in a gold jersey last Saturday.

Toole’s club teammate Tom Wright will start at fullback for the 18th time in the last 19 Tests, with 20-year-old Max Jorgensen to line up on the right wing, completing the back three.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell and Zane Nonggorr will again provide ballast as the substitute front row, with Jeremy Williams and Nick Champion de Crespigny the remaining forward cover.

Queensland skipper Tate McDermott is the reserve scrumhalf, having showed his versatility again in Johannesburg; spending time on the wing before finishing the game at halfback. Sydney’s Tane Edmed is the replacement flyhalf, with Andrew Kellaway finalising the matchday 23.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The squad as a whole has recovered pretty well from what was a very draining and physical Test match on the highveld last week.

“We struggled to contain a powerhouse Springbok start last weekend and we know that we have to improve leading into what’s likely to be a bruising encounter in Cape Town on Saturday night.”

Opta Pack - The Rugby Championship 2025 Round 2 - South Africa v Australia.pdf

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Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel (capt), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe; 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams; 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Marco van Staden; 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 RG Snyman; 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Lood de Jager, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Wallaby starting XV: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Corey Toole; 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White; 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight (capt), 6 Tom Hooper; 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost; 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson. Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway.

South Africa v Australia - DHL Stadium, Cape Town @ 5.10pm

Referee: James Doleman (NZR)

Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Television Match Official: Richard Kelly (NZR)

Split Screen/FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)