Six Brumbies have been included in the Wallabies starting lineup to take on South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday evening in their opening match of the 2025 Flight Centre Rugby Championship.
Billy Pollard, James Slipper, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau and Tom Wright all retain their place in the starting XV, after impressive performances in the recent 22-12 win over the British & Irish Lions.
Starting loosehead Slipper is one of just three players named in the match day 23 who have worn the gold jersey at Ellis Park, alongside his fellow prop Taniela Tupou and starting scrumhalf and former Brumby Nic White.
Pollard completes the run on front row at hooker, with his club teammate Frost and Will Skelton starting in the second row for the third consecutive Test.
Bathurst junior Tom Hooper returns to South Africa having made his debut there in 2023 and will start at blindside flanker, combining with Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson in the loose forward trio. Wilson will again lead the side as number eight.
James O’Connor comes into the side at fly half and is the only change to the starting XV, replacing Tom Lynagh who suffered a concussion against the Lions.
Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii start in the midfield for the seventh straight occasion, the latter playing his first Test in Africa.
Try scorers in Sydney, Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen are both selected on the wing, with Tom Wright named at fullback to round out the back three.
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 to play South Africa at the Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday August 16 at 5:10pm SAST
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
2025 Wallabies Tests (all dates and times are AEST)
Wallabies 21 defeated Fiji 18 on Sunday July 6 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour
Wallabies 19 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 27 on Saturday July 19 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wallabies 26 defeated by the British & Irish Lions 29 on Saturday July 26 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Wallabies 22 defeated the British & Irish Lions 12 on Saturday August 2 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
The Flight Centre Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup
Wallabies v South Africa at 1:10am AEST on Sunday August 17 at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Wallabies v South Africa at 1:10am AEST on Sunday August 24 at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Wallabies v Argentina at 2:30pm AEST on Saturday September 6 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Wallabies v Argentina at 2:00pm AEST on Saturday September 13 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v New Zealand at 3:05pm AEST on Saturday September 27, Eden Park, Auckland
Wallabies v New Zealand at 5:45pm AWST on Saturday October 4 at Optus Stadium, Perth
Spring Tour
Wallabies v Japan at TBC on Saturday October 25 at National Stadium, Tokyo
Wallabies v England, at 2:10am AEDT on Sunday November 2 at Allianz Stadium, London
Wallabies v Italy at 4:40am AEDT on Sunday November 9 at Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
Wallabies v Ireland at 7:10am AEDT on Sunday November 16 at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Wallabies v France at 7:10am on Sunday November 23 at Stade de France, Paris
