Wallabies coach Les Kiss has made a bold selection ahead of Australia's clash against South Africa in Perth, shifting Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from outside centre to the wing. Suaalii, 23, will start alongside Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright in the back-three in the one-off Test on Sunday at Optus Stadium. This move comes as a surprise, given Suaalii's previous starts for the Wallabies at outside centre.
Suaalii was preferred over Harry Potter in the wing position, with Ben Donaldson replacing first-choice flyhalf Carter Gordon, who recently fractured his leg in Australia's Test in Argentina. The changes to the backline are significant, with Kiss opting for a new combination to face the world number one ranked South Africa. The Wallabies face a daunting task against the Springboks, who have won five of their last six Test matches against Australia.
The Wallabies have made a promising start under Kiss' leadership, replacing Joe Schmidt in July. They secured wins against Japan twice and then achieved a win and a draw in Argentina. However, South Africa represents the biggest test of Kiss' fledgling reign, with their squad still boasting class and experience. Kiss emphasized the team's focus, stating that playing against the number one team in the world motivates them to grow their game.
In addition to the backline changes, the Wallabies' pack has also seen some adjustments. Front-rowers Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Allan Alaalatoa are the lone changes to the pack. The team has had a solid preparation window in Perth, according to Kiss, who expressed confidence in their ability to meet the challenge and continue growing their game.
South Africa, on the other hand, will field a new-look lineup after making 13 changes from their Test win over the All Blacks earlier this month. The Springboks are led by Andre Esterhuizen, who has faced scrutiny recently due to a 14-year-old schoolboy disciplinary matter. Esterhuizen's captaincy will be under the spotlight as he leads the team against Australia.
The Wallabies' starting lineup for the Test against South Africa includes Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the backline, with Ben Donaldson and Ryan Lonergan in the halfbacks. The pack consists of Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, and Rob Valetini in the back row, with Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham, Allan Alaalatoa, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, and Angus Bell in the front row.
The Test match between Australia and South Africa will take place on Sunday at Optus Stadium in Perth. With both teams looking to make a statement, the stage is set for an exciting encounter. The Wallabies will look to cause an upset against the world champions, while South Africa aims to continue their dominance.
Key points
- Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been shifted to the wing for the Wallabies' Test against South Africa.
- Harry Potter has been benched in favor of Suaalii in the wing position.
- The Wallabies have made a total of six changes to their lineup for the Test against South Africa.
