Rugby
Wallabies opt for six–two split as O’Connor returns at flyhalf─── MORGAN PIEK 07:50 Fri, 15 Aug 2025
The Wallabies coach, Joe Schmidt, has gone for a six–two split on his bench for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg, while handing a start at flyhalf to a somewhat forgotten Wallaby.
Originally planning a five–three split, Schmidt switched to six forwards and two backs after a late change in personnel. Nick Champion de Crespigny was called onto the bench after Ben Donaldson – who had been set to feature – picked up an injury during Thursday afternoon’s training session.
The only change to the Wallabies starting XV that faced the British & Irish Lions in the third and final Test in Sydney comes at flyhalf, where James O’Connor has been named to marshal the backline. He replaces Tom Lynagh, who sustained a concussion in Sydney.
Nick Champion de Crespigny. Photo: Wallabies
O’Connor will partner Western Force scrumhalf Nic White, who “retired” from international rugby for all of one week after the Lions series.
Schmidt’s South African counterpart, Rassie Erasmus, is often criticised – particularly by former Waratahs and Scotland coach Matt Williams – for favouring the six–two split. It will be interesting to hear Williams’s views this week, as Erasmus himself hinted earlier that he might also go with a six–two configuration depending on what Schmidt opted for.
Schmidt explained that the decision was purely down to Donaldson’s late injury.
“Our original split was 5–3, but Ben Donaldson pulled up injured right at the end of training today, so he’s out of the mix,” said the New Zealander.
“So we’ve adjusted accordingly for now, but we may still tweak it again – it’s only just happened. We’ve got a lot of faith in Nick Champion de Crespigny; he had a very good game in the first Test against the Lions, so he’s certainly an option for us.
“To get our coverage in the backline is another factor. We’ve got a couple of options there, and obviously Carlo Tizzano was also part of a 6–2 split in the second Test against the Lions.”
Ben Donaldson. Photo: X
Schmidt added that a final call on the bench will be made after Friday’s captain’s run at Ellis Park.
“We’ve built a solid group over the last year or so, and we took a few lessons from South Africa when we were here last year,” he said.
“We’d like to think we’re building well and focusing on what works for us. Up until the second-last play at training today (yesterday), it was going to be a 5–3 split. But with Ben out, we’ve adjusted. We’ll reassess after the captain’s run tomorrow. It just didn’t make sense to keep him in the group knowing he won’t be available this weekend.”
Saturday’s Test between the Springboks and the Wallabies at Ellis Park kicks off at 17:10.
Springboks - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché
Replacements - 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse
Wallabies - 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph Sua’ali’i, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nick White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements - 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Andrew Kellaway
