Louw will line-up at number eight in Johannesburg, with South Africa looking to improve on their second place finish in last year's competition.

Eben Etzebeth will captain the side in the absence of Siya Kolisi, while Rynhardt Elstadt and Herschel Jantjies will both make their Test debuts.

Elstadt is included in an experienced back row that includes Louw and Pieter-Steph du Toit. Jantjies, will play alongside the 33-cap Elton Jantjies (fly-half) in a new-look half-back combination.

On the bench there is also a return to the Bok fold for a number of familiar faces as Erasmus casts his net wide with the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad in mind. They are Ulster loose forward Marcell Coetzee, Cobus Reinach, the mercurial Frans Steyn and Dillyn Leyds.

The Springbok pack for Saturday’s match on the Highveld is hugely experienced, sharing 394 caps, and is expected to the lead the charge against the wily Wallaby forward unit. Etzebeth has 75 caps to his name, his lock partner Lood de Jager is set to make his 39^th appearance, while Tendai Mtawarira has already played in 107 Tests.

South Africa team to face Australia

15. Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), 5 caps - 5 points (1 try)

14. Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 20 (4t)

13. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 40 - 60 (12t)

12. André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 0

11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 4 - 20 (4t)

10. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), 33 - 229 (2t, 42c, 45p)

9. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), uncapped

1. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 107 - 10 (2t)

2. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 26 - 15 (3t)

3. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 37 - 5 (1t)

4. Eben Etzebeth (captain, DHL Stormers), 75 - 15 (3t)

5. Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), 38 - 20 (4t)

6. Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), uncapped

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 46 - 20 (4t)

8. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 65 - 45 (9t)

Replacements:

16. Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), 11 - 5 (1t)

17. Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), uncapped

18. Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), 13 - 0

19. Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), 1 - 0

20. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), 28 - 30 (6t)

21. Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), 10 - 10 (2t)

22. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 56 - 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)

23. Dillyn Leyds (DHL Stormers), 9 - 5 (1t)

The Springbok pack for Saturday’s match on the Highveld is hugely experienced, sharing 394 caps, and is expected to the lead the charge against the wily Wallaby forward unit. Etzebeth has 75 caps to his name, his lock partner Lood de Jager is set to make his 39th appearance while Tendai Mtawarira has already played in 107 Tests.

The Springbok team to Australia in Johannesburg:

15. Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), 5 caps - 5 points (1 try)

14. Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 20 (4t)

13. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 40 - 60 (12t)

12. André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 0

11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 4 - 20 (4t)

10. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), 33 - 229 (2t, 42c, 45p)

9. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), uncapped

8. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 65 - 45 (9t)

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 46 - 20 (4t)

6. Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), uncapped

5. Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), 38 - 20 (4t)

4. Eben Etzebeth (captain, DHL Stormers), 75 - 15 (3t)

3. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 37 - 5 (1t)

2. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 26 - 15 (3t)

1. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 107 - 10 (2t)

Replacements:

16. Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), 11 - 5 (1t)

17. Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), uncapped

18. Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), 13 - 0

19. Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), 1 - 0

20. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), 28 - 30 (6t)

21. Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), 10 - 10 (2t)

22. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 56 - 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)

23. Dillyn Leyds (DHL Stormers), 9 - 5 (1t)

The Springbok pack for Saturday’s match on the Highveld is hugely experienced, sharing 394 caps, and is expected to the lead the charge against the wily Wallaby forward unit. Etzebeth has 75 caps to his name, his lock partner Lood de Jager is set to make his 39th appearance while Tendai Mtawarira has already played in 107 Tests.

The Springbok team to Australia in Johannesburg:

15. Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), 5 caps - 5 points (1 try)

14. Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 20 (4t)

13. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 40 - 60 (12t)

12. André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 0

11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 4 - 20 (4t)

10. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), 33 - 229 (2t, 42c, 45p)

9. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), uncapped

8. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 65 - 45 (9t)

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 46 - 20 (4t)

6. Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), uncapped

5. Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), 38 - 20 (4t)

4. Eben Etzebeth (captain, DHL Stormers), 75 - 15 (3t)

3. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 37 - 5 (1t)

2. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 26 - 15 (3t)

1. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 107 - 10 (2t)

Replacements:

16. Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), 11 - 5 (1t)

17. Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), uncapped

18. Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), 13 - 0

19. Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), 1 - 0

20. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), 28 - 30 (6t)

21. Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), 10 - 10 (2t)

22. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 56 - 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)

23. Dillyn Leyds (DHL Stormers), 9 - 5 (1t)

The Springbok pack for Saturday’s match on the Highveld is hugely experienced, sharing 394 caps, and is expected to the lead the charge against the wily Wallaby forward unit. Etzebeth has 75 caps to his name, his lock partner Lood de Jager is set to make his 39th appearance while Tendai Mtawarira has already played in 107 Tests.

The Springbok team to Australia in Johannesburg:

15. Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), 5 caps - 5 points (1 try)

14. Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 20 (4t)

13. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 40 - 60 (12t)

12. André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 0

11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 4 - 20 (4t)

10. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), 33 - 229 (2t, 42c, 45p)

9. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), uncapped

8. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 65 - 45 (9t)

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 46 - 20 (4t)

6. Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), uncapped

5. Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), 38 - 20 (4t)

4. Eben Etzebeth (captain, DHL Stormers), 75 - 15 (3t)

3. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 37 - 5 (1t)

2. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 26 - 15 (3t)

1. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 107 - 10 (2t)

Replacements:

16. Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), 11 - 5 (1t)

17. Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), uncapped

18. Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), 13 - 0

19. Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), 1 - 0

20. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), 28 - 30 (6t)

21. Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), 10 - 10 (2t)

22. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 56 - 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)

23. Dillyn Leyds (DHL Stormers), 9 - 5 (1t)

The Springbok pack for Saturday’s match on the Highveld is hugely experienced, sharing 394 caps, and is expected to the lead the charge against the wily Wallaby forward unit. Etzebeth has 75 caps to his name, his lock partner Lood de Jager is set to make his 39th appearance while Tendai Mtawarira has already played in 107 Tests.

The Springbok team to Australia in Johannesburg:

15. Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), 5 caps - 5 points (1 try)

14. Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 20 (4t)

13. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 40 - 60 (12t)

12. André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 0

11. Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 4 - 20 (4t)

10. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), 33 - 229 (2t, 42c, 45p)

9. Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), uncapped

8. Francois Louw (Bath, England), 65 - 45 (9t)

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 46 - 20 (4t)

6. Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), uncapped

5. Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), 38 - 20 (4t)

4. Eben Etzebeth (captain, DHL Stormers), 75 - 15 (3t)

3. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 37 - 5 (1t)

2. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 26 - 15 (3t)

1. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 107 - 10 (2t)

Replacements:

16. Schalk Brits (Vodacom Bulls), 11 - 5 (1t)

17. Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), uncapped

18. Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), 13 - 0

19. Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), 1 - 0

20. Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Ireland), 28 - 30 (6t)

21. Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints, England), 10 - 10 (2t)

22. Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 56 - 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)

23. Dillyn Leyds (DHL Stormers), 9 - 5 (1t)

Louw named at number eight for Rugby Championship opener

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