Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has recalled evergreen James O’Connor to the Wallabies after the side to take on South Africa at Johannesburg was named overnight.
O’Connor replaces the injured Tom Lynagh as a bomb squad (a 6-2 forward split) was named for the reserves bench.
THE BOMB SQUAD
- This refers to the forwards that come off the reserve bench to finish the
game in the final 30-40 minutes. - Standard bench splits are 5-3 (five forwards to three backs).
- The Springboks have opted for a 6-2 and even 7-1 split last year.
O’Connor played for the Crusaders when they won this year’s Super Rugby title in June and subsequently called into the Wallabies squad for the British and Irish Lions tour although he did not play.
The Wallabies have not won on the high veldt at Ellis Park (Johannesburg) since 1963.
James Slipper will pack down alongside Taniela Tupou and hooker Billy Pollard in the front row.
Nick Frost and Will Skelton will start in the second row with Tom Hooper starting at blindside with Rob Valetini still injured.
Nic White will partner O’Connor, Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen are on the wings, Tom Wright is at fullback and Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii in the centres; it will be Suaalii’s first Test in South Africa.
On the bench, the 6-2 split (six forwards to two backs) sees replacement flyhalf Ben Donaldson miss out completely; the backs are Tate McDermott and Andrew Kellaway.
The split was originally a 5-3 split until playmaker Ben Donaldson suffered an injury at training and was dropped as a precaution.
“The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg,” Schmidt told rugby.com.au.
“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: James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Nic White, James O’Connor, Dylan Pietsch, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright. Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tate McDermott and Andrew Kellaway.
SPRINGBOKS SQUAD FOR WALLABIES
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will start at No. 8 for the first time in a Test when coach Rassie Erasmus named his squad earlier in the week.
The 34-year-old is normally a flanker but will the position after other top contenders unavailable.
Regular No 8 Jasper Wiese is serving a four-match ban after head-butting a rival in a win over Italy last month while Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom suffered serious pre-Test season injuries and are likely out for the year.
SPRINGBOKS: Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Siya Kolisi (c), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden; Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie and Damian Willemse.
