Australia face a significantly reshaped South Africa side in Perth on Sunday, with Les Kiss restoring Hunter Paisami to the Wallabies midfield and moving Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to the wing for his first Test start in that position.
The Springboks have made 13 changes to the starting XV that beat New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore earlier this month. André Esterhuizen will captain South Africa for the first time, while Handré Pollard returns at fly-half after recovering from a calf injury.
The one-off Test takes place at Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, 27 September. Kick-off is scheduled for 5.30 pm AWST, which is 10.30 am BST.
Italy’s Andrea Piardi will referee the match, with Ben O’Keeffe and James Doleman as his assistants and Matteo Liperini as TMO.
Australia enter the fixture after an unbeaten two-Test trip to Argentina, while South Africa arrive after winning their four-match series against New Zealand 3-1.
That contrast makes the Perth Test an important measure for both sides. Australia can test the progress made under Kiss against the world’s top-ranked team. South Africa can assess the depth of their squad less than a year before the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
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Embed from Getty ImagesAustralia reshape their backline
Kiss has selected Suaalii on the left wing for his first start there at either club or international level. He has previously finished Wallabies Tests on the wing, while he has also featured at full-back for the NSW Waratahs.
The change allows Paisami to return at inside centre, with Len Ikitau moving to outside centre. Paisami and Ikitau will start together in Australia’s midfield for the 13th time.
Max Jorgensen starts on the opposite wing, while Tom Wright remains at full-back.
Ryan Lonergan continues at scrum-half after starting every Wallabies Test this year. He again partners Ben Donaldson, who will wear the number 10 shirt in his home city.
The combination gives Australia continuity in the key decision-making positions after their 28-28 draw against Argentina in Mendoza on 5 September.
Australia had beaten Los Pumas 27-21 in Jujuy a week earlier.
Those results followed victories over Japan in Osaka and Townsville. The Wallabies’ 2026 record also includes a 57-10 win over Italy, while Ireland and France both defeated them during the July Nations Championship window.
Suaalii’s switch represents the most significant selection decision.
His size and athletic ability give Australia another option in the air, while Paisami’s return puts a more established centre partnership back together.
South Africa’s kicking game should quickly test that reshuffled back three.
The Springboks regularly contest possession through accurate tactical kicking and aggressive chasing. Australia will need Suaalii, Jorgensen and Wright to deal with that pressure before looking for counter-attacking opportunities.
Wallabies make two changes in the pack
Australia have made fewer alterations among the forwards.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa returns at hooker, while Allan Alaalatoa starts at tighthead prop. Angus Bell completes the front row.
Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams continue in the second row.
Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight and captain Harry Wilson retain their places in the back row, giving the Wallabies continuity against a South African pack that may have changed personnel but not its physical demands.
Charlie Cale misses the match after suffering a shoulder injury in training and looks likely to be sidelined for the rest of 2026. Carlo Tizzano comes into the matchday squad, while Tom Hooper returns after recovering from a slight shoulder knock.
Kiss has selected six forwards among his eight replacements.
Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Hooper and Tizzano provide the forward cover. Tate McDermott and Harry Potter are the two replacement backs.
The 6-2 split shows how much importance Australia are placing on competing with South Africa through the second half.
The Springboks have built much of their success around maintaining forward pressure after making replacements. Australia cannot afford a significant decline at scrum, maul or breakdown when the benches come into the match.
South Africa make 13 changes
Rassie Erasmus has taken a different approach after South Africa completed their four-Test series against New Zealand.
Only Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker remain in the starting XV from the Springboks’ 43-28 win over the All Blacks in Baltimore on 12 September.
André Esterhuizen will captain South Africa for the first time, becoming the 68th player to lead the Springboks in a Test.
He partners Canan Moodie in midfield, with Hooker and Edwill van der Merwe on the wings and Aphelele Fassi at full-back.
Handré Pollard returns from a calf injury to start at fly-half alongside scrum-half Herschel Jantjies.
The selection gives South Africa an experienced controller at number 10 despite the changes around him.
Pollard’s kicking game will also increase the pressure on Australia’s discipline. Conceding penalties inside kicking range could allow South Africa to control both the scoreboard and field position without taking unnecessary risks.
The Springbok pack remains formidable.
Jan-Hendrik Wessels starts at loosehead prop, Johan Grobbelaar at hooker and Zachary Porthen at tighthead.
Etzebeth partners Franco Mostert in the second row.
Paul de Villiers, Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden form the loose-forward combination.
South Africa have also retained significant experience among their replacements. Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager and Jasper Wiese can all enter the match from the bench.
Jasper Wiese is set to earn his 50th Test cap if he comes off the replacements bench.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Morné van den Berg provide further backline options.
Erasmus may have rotated heavily, but Australia’s challenge has not necessarily become simpler.
The new combinations have less Test experience together, although the Springboks can still introduce several established players later in the contest.
Springboks arrive after New Zealand series win
South Africa’s preparation has been shaped by a demanding series against New Zealand.
The All Blacks won the opening Test 33-16 at Ellis Park before South Africa responded with a 33-26 victory in Cape Town.
The Springboks then won 29-24 in Johannesburg before completing a 3-1 series victory with a 43-28 win in Baltimore on 12 September.
World in Sport covered the build-up to that decisive fixture in its South Africa vs New Zealand fourth Test preview.
The four matches provided an intense block of preparation, but they also contributed to Erasmus’ decision to rotate his side.
Siya Kolisi and Jesse Kriel are among those absent from the matchday squad. Damian de Allende and Pieter-Steph du Toit returned home earlier in the build-up, while Cheslin Kolbe suffered a jaw injury during the New Zealand series.
South Africa therefore arrive with a less familiar line-up but plenty of motivation for those given an opportunity.
The Springboks are already looking towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup. They will return to Perth during the tournament to face Romania in the pool stage.
That gives Sunday’s Test additional value beyond the result.
Australia have momentum under Kiss
Australia’s season has contained setbacks, particularly against Ireland and France, but recent performances have given Kiss a clearer platform.
The Wallabies beat Japan 35-32 in Osaka before producing a more convincing 56-17 victory in Townsville.
They then travelled to Argentina and collected a win and a draw.
Australia’s 27-21 victory in Jujuy required patience, while the 28-28 result in Mendoza showed both the progress and the work still required.
South Africa will raise the level considerably.
The Springboks punish loose exits, poor discipline and inaccurate set pieces more severely than most teams.
Australia will therefore need more than attacking ambition. Their ability to control territory could prove just as important.
Donaldson will carry much of that responsibility at fly-half.
He will need to balance playing quickly with recognising when South Africa’s defensive line leaves little space.
Lonergan’s service from scrum-half will also matter. Quick possession could allow Australia to move South Africa’s heavier forwards, but slow ball would give the visitors time to reset.
The set piece could shape the Test
Australia’s scrum faces one of its most difficult examinations of the season.
Bell, Paenga-Amosa and Alaalatoa start against Wessels, Grobbelaar and Porthen, but both benches could alter the contest.
South Africa can introduce Nche, Marx and Wilco Louw.
Australia have Ross, Pollard and Tupou.
Scrum penalties could determine field position late in the match, particularly if the scores remain close.
The line-out carries similar importance.
Australia will want Wilson and their other jumpers to provide clean possession rather than allowing Etzebeth and Mostert to disrupt the platform.
The Springboks can turn even a small territorial advantage into sustained pressure through their maul.
Australia must also avoid giving South Africa easy attacking entries through penalties.
That battle could influence whether the Wallabies get enough possession to use their backs.
Embed from Getty ImagesPerth has produced a close rivalry
Australia and South Africa have met 10 times in Perth.
The record stands at four wins each and two draws, illustrating how difficult the venue has been to separate the teams historically.
Australia have generally enjoyed a stronger home record against South Africa than they have in away Tests.
South Africa won both Tests on Australian soil in 2024, beating the Wallabies 33-7 in Brisbane before securing a 30-12 victory at Optus Stadium one week later.
That remains the most recent meeting between the teams in Perth.
Australia will therefore have recent evidence of the standard required.
World in Sport’s South Africa v England analysis also examined the problems opponents face when trying to play through South Africa’s defensive pressure and forward strength.
The personnel may change, but many of those structural challenges remain.
Key match details
| Detail | Australia vs South Africa |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, 27 September 2026 |
| Venue | Optus Stadium, Perth |
| Kick-off | 5.30pm AWST / 10.30am BST |
| Australia captain | Harry Wilson |
| South Africa captain | André Esterhuizen |
| Referee | Andrea Piardi |
The Perth fixture is a standalone international outside the Nations Championship programme.
World in Sport’s Rugby Championship table guide explains the competition’s format and its scheduled return in 2027.
Australia and South Africa teams
Australia: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii; Ben Donaldson, Ryan Lonergan. Angus Bell, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (captain).
Replacements: Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Taniela Tupou, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Harry Potter.
South Africa: Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, André Esterhuizen (captain), Ethan Hooker; Handré Pollard, Herschel Jantjies. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, Zachary Porthen, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Paul de Villiers, Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden.
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, Morné van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Quan Horn.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhat to watch in Perth
South Africa’s 13 changes create the central question around the Test.
The Springboks have removed many established combinations, but Erasmus has retained enough experience to surround those given greater responsibility.
Australia’s selection has greater continuity.
That should help the Wallabies early, particularly if they can establish tempo before South Africa settle.
Suaalii’s first Test start on the wing adds another point of interest. His work under the high ball will be tested, while the return of Paisami alongside Ikitau gives Australia a powerful midfield combination.
South Africa will expect Pollard to control territory and their forwards to build pressure.
Australia will want more speed.
The Wallabies have shown signs of improvement under Kiss, but Sunday’s opponent provides a much tougher examination than Japan or Argentina.
South Africa, meanwhile, must show that their depth can preserve the standards established during the series win over New Zealand.
That tension gives the Perth Test its significance.
Australia have an opportunity to measure their progress against the back-to-back world champions. South Africa have another chance to test the wider squad that Erasmus may need when the Rugby World Cup returns to Australia next year.
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