The Wallabies are set to take on the Springboks in Perth on Sunday, with coach Les Kiss selecting Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i at wing to combat the aerial threat of the world champions. Sua'ali'i, who has started 22 of his 24 previous Tests at centre, will directly oppose Edwill van der Merwe. The move is a sign of how dominant the Springboks' contestable kicking game has become, and Kiss believes Sua'ali'i's athleticism will make him a nuisance on both sides of the ball.
The Wallabies have a formidable attacking trio with Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright completing the back three, while they look defensively more solid with Sua'ali'i in place to deal with the expected aerial assault. Sua'ali'i may switch wings on defence to contest the high ball against Ethan Hooker, who was superb in the air in the recent Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks. The Wallabies' backline has both pace and skill, but it will require their forwards to produce a complete 80-minute performance to stand a chance.
With Sua'ali'i's move to wing, Hunter Paisami earns a recall to centre where he will partner Len Ikitau. Kiss has also loaded his bench with forwards in a 6-2 split, leaving scrumhalf Tate McDermott and utility back Harry Potter as backline reserves. This suggests that Kiss knows his side will need parity up front if they are to stand any chance against the Springboks. The Boks' bench is stacked with class and power, making it clear that Kiss is on to something.
The Springboks have selected a slightly experimental starting lineup, with a loose trio that is untested as a combination. Marco van Staden will start at No 8, with Paul de Villiers and Elrigh Louw on the flanks. De Villiers has been a revelation since making his Test debut against England in July and will be tasked with leading the breakdown battle. The Bok backline has both pace and skill, but up front is where the match will be won and lost.
The return of Franco Mostert to lock will add a tirelessness to the Bok effort, while second-row partner Eben Etzebeth just seems to improve with age. Hooker Johan Grobbelaar will also be looking to make an impact after being unused during the Greatest Rivalry series. The Boks have not apparently settled on a permanent understudy to Malcolm Marx, who is arguably the best player in the world right now.
The Wallabies know the foundation of the Boks' game – set piece strength, mauling and overall power – so they will need to focus on stopping it. Wallaby forwards' coach Tom Donnelly said the team needs to focus on themselves and execute their game plan accurately. The Wallabies used a similar tactic to shock the Boks by beating them 38-22 at Ellis Park in 2025, primarily through quick passing, speed and width.
Former flyhalf James O'Connor, who started in that 2025 match, said the key to their comeback was finding a way to fight back and playing off the Boks' mistakes. He described the game as the "beautiful game of rugby" and said that when you play a team that is a true and worthy opponent, and you come out on top, there's absolutely no better feeling. The Boks have been warned ahead of the Perth showdown.
Key points
- Wallabies coach Les Kiss selects Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i at wing to combat the aerial threat of the Springboks.
- The Springboks have selected a slightly experimental starting lineup, with a loose trio that is untested as a combination.
- The match will be won and lost up front, with the Boks' set piece strength, mauling and overall power posing a significant challenge to the Wallabies.
