South Africa’s Springboks are brimming with confidence as they prepare to face the Australia Wallabies in Brisbane this Saturday.
The highly anticipated clash at Suncorp Stadium marks the kick-off of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, with South Africa fielding a largely familiar squad that recently shared a two-Test series with Ireland.
New faces in the lineup include Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Elrigh Louw, both set to make their first Test starts for the national team. Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 22, steps in at flyhalf after impressing off the bench in four previous appearances this season.
Louw, who has been a consistent performer since his debut in 2022, will start at No. 8.
The matchday squad shows only three changes from the group that faced Ireland, with Louw, two-time Rugby World Cup-winning scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, and utility forward Ben-Jason Dixon being the new additions.
Six players from the dominant 64-21 victory over Portugal in July have been retained: Louw, Reinach, Dixon, RG Snyman, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus expressed his excitement about giving Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Louw their first starts.
“Sacha has made a notable impact off the bench in all four Tests he has played so far, and he’s slotted into the system with ease, so we are excited to see what dynamic he adds to the team as a starter,” Erasmus said.
“His goal-kicking has also been impressive, and we know that against teams like Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina, the margins are very small, so every point will count.”
Erasmus also highlighted Louw’s strong performances for the Vodacom Bulls and his potential impact on the game.
“We’re keen to see what Elrigh brings to the game, given his consistently strong performances for the Vodacom Bulls in the last few seasons and off the bench against Portugal. With Pieter-Steph (du Toit) and Siya (Kolisi) alongside him, he’ll have good guidance to play to his strengths and do what he does best.”
The Springboks’ strategy includes a new halfback combination, with Reinach continuing in the No. 9 jersey, filling in for the injured Faf de Klerk.
Experienced flyhalf Handre Pollard will provide cover off the bench, alongside Grant Williams, who can play both scrumhalf and wing in a six-two split favoring the forwards.
Erasmus emphasized the importance of balancing youth and experience in the team, particularly as they build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
“One of the big talking points for us as a team from the beginning of the season was that we need to get the balance right between selecting teams featuring youth and experience as we build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup,” he explained.
“We’re pleased with the way we’ve been able to integrate some of the young players into the squad this season and give them game time against top opposition.”
Reflecting on the broader selection plan, Erasmus noted the strategic resting of players during the Portugal match to ensure a fresh squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
He expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming challenge against Australia, who have won their last three matches and boast a strong track record against the Springboks in Brisbane.
“We only face the Southern Hemisphere teams in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship now, so we know they’ll pose a completely different challenge to the sides we’ve faced to date,” said Erasmus.
“They are also playing on their home turf where they have a good track record against us in the last few years, so we know it’s going to be a massive challenge.”
Erasmus stressed the significance of starting the competition on a strong note. “We have a challenging campaign with two away games against Australia and then two Tests against New Zealand at home before making a short trip to Santiago where we will face Argentina, and then we wrap up the tournament against Los Pumas in Nelspruit, so it will be vital for us to start well and build good momentum.”
Acknowledging the historical challenge in Brisbane, Erasmus remained optimistic. “This is a new year and new campaign, and a lot has changed for both teams in the last few years, so while we are mindful of that statistic, it won’t affect how we approach this match or next week’s encounter in Perth.”
The match is set to kick off at 06:45 SA time, with the Springboks eager to make a strong start to their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign.
