Francois Louw will start for the Springboks on Saturday against Australia at Loftus Versfeld in the team’s penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship fixture of the year.
Rudy Paige makes his debut at scrumhalf, in one of three changes made to the Springbok line-up that started the match against the All Blacks two weeks ago in Christchurch.
Paige, who has made four Test appearances from the Bok bench, will partner the experienced Morné Steyn in the halfbacks. They take over from Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies respectively, both of whom started in the last six Tests of the year.
The only other change to the starting line-up sees Pat Lambie return to the team for the first time since he suffered concussion in the series opener against Ireland in June.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee said the team is looking forward to the Test at Loftus Versfeld, where the Springboks are unbeaten in five previous Castle Lager Rugby Championship Tests against the Wallabies.
“We had a very good training week so far and there is definitely excitement amongst the players to play in front of our South African supporters again as we continue to build continuity with just the three changes to the starting team and an unchanged pack of forwards,” said Coetzee.
“Australia will be determined to build on their previous two wins and they will pose difficult questions to us with their tactical and technical approach. We have our own goals to achieve within the two remaining matches, starting on Saturday when we play the Wallabies in front of a good crowd at Loftus.”
Springbok team to face the Wallabies
15 Pat Lambie
14 Bryan Habana
13 Jesse Kriel
12 Juan de Jongh
11 Francois Hougaard
10 Morné Steyn
9 Rudy Paige
1 Tendai Mtawarira
2 Adriaan Strauss ( c )
3 Vincent Koch
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 Francois Louw
7 Oupa Mohoje
8 Warren Whiteley
Replacements
16 Bongi Mbonambi
17 Steven Kitshoff
18 Julian Redelinghuys
19 Lood de Jager
20 Willem Alberts
21 Jaco Kriel
22 Lionel Mapoe
23 Willie le Roux
