Schmidt backs O'Connor at No 10 for Wallabies

James O’Connor will start at flyhalf against South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday evening (5.10pm) as the Wallabies kick-off their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign.

O’Connor, who is the only change to the starting XV that defeated the British & Irish Lions in Sydney a fortnight ago, comes into the side after Tom Lynagh suffered a concussion in the side’s last outing.

Starting loosehead James Slipper is one of just three players named in the match day 23 who have worn the gold jersey at Ellis Park, alongside his fellow prop Taniela Tupou and starting scrumhalf Nic White.

ACT Brumby Billy Pollard completes the run on front row at hooker, with his club teammate Nick Frost and Will Skelton starting in the second row for the third consecutive Test.

Bathurst junior Tom Hooper returns to South Africa having made his debut here in 2023 and will start at blindside flanker, combining with Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson in the loose forward trio. Wilson will again lead the side from No 8.

Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii start in the midfield for the seventh straight occasion, the latter playing his first Test in Africa.

Try scorers in Sydney, Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen are both selected on the wing, with Tom Wright named at fullback to round out the back three.

Western Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa plays his first Test on African soil since 2018, linking up with Angus Bell and Zane Nonggorr in the replacement front row. The latter having also made his debut in Pretoria in 2023.

Western Force lock Jeremy Williams is the substitute second rower, with Langi Gleeson the remaining forward cover.

Sunshine Coast’s Tate McDermott will again be asked to provide energy as the reserve scrumhalf while backup flyhalf Tane Edmed is also on the bench, with the experienced Andrew Kellaway rounding out the matchday 23.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg.

“There’s not many bigger Tests than playing South Africa on their home turf and we know we’re going to need to be at our best on Saturday night.”

Click below for full match pack.

Opta Pack - The Rugby Championship 2025 Round 1 - South Africa v Australia.pdf

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Springbok starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams; 8 Siya Kolisi (capt), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden; 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse.

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

South Africa v Australia - Saturday @ Emirates Airline Park (5.10pm)

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)

Assistant Referees: James Doleman (NZR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Television Match Official: Tual Trainini (FFR)

FPRO: Richard Kelly (NZR)

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby