Australia Eye Revenge Against South Africa in Perth

Australia will seek redemption when they face reigning world champions South Africa in Perth on Saturday morning, following a disappointing 33-7 defeat in the Rugby Championship opener. The Wallabies were outplayed by the Springboks in Brisbane, with Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse among the scorers as South Africa secured a five-try victory.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will demand an improved performance in Perth as he continues to mold his young and relatively inexperienced side, who had shown promise in summer tests against Wales and Georgia leading up to the Championship. Australia may benefit from some changes to the Springboks’ lineup, as coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed he has made 10 alterations to the team that won last week, excluding Kolisi and Arendse.

It remains to be seen whether Australia can exploit the perceived ‘weaknesses’ in South Africa’s starting fifteen, but the Springboks will pose a significant challenge as they strive to claim their first Rugby Championship title since 2019.

Follow all of the build-up to the clash in Perth below: