By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Rassie Erasmus has named his Springbok team to face Australia in Perth on Sunday, 27 September 2026, with André Esterhuizen set to captain the side.
Erasmus has made 13 changes to the starting team that defeated the All Blacks 43-28 in Baltimore, with only Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker retaining their places in the run-on side.
South Africa’s victory over New Zealand secured them the inaugural Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry title.
The Test marks two significant occasions for No. 8 Jasper Wiese, who earns his 50th Test cap off the replacements bench, while Esterhuizen becomes the 68th player to captain South Africa.
The new-look pack features Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Zachary Porthen in the front row, with Etzebeth partnering Franco Mostert at lock.
Paul de Villiers and Elrigh Louw will operate at flank, while Marco van Staden starts at No 8.
Behind them, Herschel Jantjies returns at scrumhalf alongside Handre Pollard at flyhalf. Pollard has recovered from the niggle that ruled him out during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
Esterhuizen will line up at inside centre alongside Canan Moodie, while Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe and Aphelele Fassi make up the back three.
Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche and Wilco Louw provide front-row cover from the bench, with Lood de Jager covering lock and Wiese offering loose-forward cover.
Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Quan Horn make up the backline replacements.
“Each player in this squad has been working hard at training over the last few months and have had a chance to play in either the first leg of the Nations Championship or RGR, or both, while guys like Handre and Canan have recovered from injury, and they are all quality players, so we are pleased to give them a run and we are excited to see this team in action,” Erasmus said.
“Australia poses a completely different threat to New Zealand in the way they play, so we believe these combinations would be best suited for the challenge that we will face against them.”
Erasmus was also pleased to see Esterhuizen lead the Springboks for the first time.
“He captained the Hollywoodbets Sharks, and he has brought so much to our squad off and on the field, both at centre and in the loose trio, and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity.”
“It will also help build our leadership core even more within the team, with several players having captained the side over the last few seasons, and we trust that he is the right man to take over the captaincy in this match.”
Springboks – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 André Esterhuizen (c), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Bench: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Quan Horn.