Five Western Force players have been named to take on the world champions South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday evening (local time) as the Wallabies kick off their 2025 Flight Centre Rugby Championship campaign.
Force duo Nic White and Dylan Pietsch will both start again, having starred in the side that defeated the British & Irish Lions in Sydney a fortnight ago.
Force hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa plays his first Test on African soil since 2018, linking up with Angus Bell and Zane Nonggorr in the replacement front row.
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Force lock Jeremy Williams is the substitute second rower, with powerful duo of Langi Gleeson and Nick Champion de Crespigny the remaining forward cover.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg.
“There’s not many bigger Tests than playing South Africa on their home turf and we know we’re going to need to be at our best on Saturday night.”
Wallabies team list
1. James Slipper (147 Tests) – #843; Bond Pirates
2. Billy Pollard (10 Tests) - #958; Lindfield Junior Rugby Club
3. Taniela Tupou (59 Tests) - #917; Brothers Rugby
4. Nick Frost (29 Tests) – #953; Hornsby Lions
5. Will Skelton (34 Tests) - #883; The Hills Sports High School
6. Tom Hooper (13 Tests) - #964; Bathurst Bulldogs
7. Fraser McReight (29 Tests) – #937; Albany Creek Brumbies
8. Harry Wilson (c) (26 Tests) – #933; Gunnedah Red Devils
9. Nic White (73 Tests) - #875, Maitland Blacks
10. James O’Connor (64 Tests) - #832, St Joseph’s College, Nudgee
11. Dylan Pietsch (6 Tests) - #978, Leeton Phantoms
12. Len Ikitau (43 Tests) – #944; Tuggeranong Vikings
13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (8 Tests) – #988; The Kings School
14. Max Jorgensen (11 Tests) – #984; Balmain Wolves
15. Tom Wright (41 Tests) – #939; Clovelly Eagles
Substitutes
16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (21 Tests) - #918, Southern Districts
17. Angus Bell (39 Tests) – #940; Hunters Hill Rugby Club
18. Zane Nonggorr (12 Tests) - #966; Gold Coast Eagles
19. Jeremy Williams (14 Tests) – #973; Wahroonga Tigers
20. Langi Gleeson (17 Tests) - #960; Harbord Harlequins
21. Nick Champion de Crespigny (1 Test) #991; Canberra Grammar School
22. Tate McDermott (45 Tests) – #936; Flinders Rugby Club
23. Andrew Kellaway (41 Tests) - #943, Hunters Hill Rugby Club
The Flight Centre Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup
Wallabies v South Africa
Saturday 16 August, 11:10pm AWST
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Live on Stan Sport
