For the back-to-back World Champions, this is their biggest game of the year so far. But there’s a quiet confidence in the camp that they can make it five wins in a row over Australia.

The Boks were forced into a late change with Jan-Hendrik Wessels ruled out, paving the way for Boan Venter to come onto the bench as front-row cover.

Boan Venter. Photo: SA Rugby

The Wallabies, meanwhile, are also talking up their chances, but their record at Ellis Park tells a different story – they’ve only ever managed one win at the iconic venue.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi emphasized that the priority is to start the Rugby Championship strongly, and that their focus is firmly on Australia, not the tour to New Zealand later in the competition.

“The talk in our camp has been solely about Australia.”  

“We saw how they played against the British & Irish Lions, and we’ve been in the position they’re in now before. It would be foolish to think they won’t throw everything at us. We’re definitely not looking ahead to the New Zealand games.”

Kolisi, who will pack down at the back of the scrum for the first time in green and gold, added that while they respect what the Wallabies showed against the Lions, the Boks are more concerned with their own standards.

“We don’t think like that – our focus is on our standards. Looking back at our last four games, we know we fell short in areas we pride ourselves on. We were meant to have had an extra week’s break, but we all agreed we hadn’t reached the levels we demand of ourselves,” Kolisi said.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels. Photo: Morgan Piek

“So the focus has been on us. We know as players that we can be much better, more physical, more accurate. We’ve produced that before, and we need to get back there. Yes, we’ve analysed the Wallabies, their players, and what they bring, but the most important thing is for me to go out there and be the best I can be in a Springbok jersey.”

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 Boan Venter, 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

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg