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The 2024 Rugby Championship gets underway as Australia face reigning world champions South Africa at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
New Australia head coach Joe Schmidt heads into his first tournament off the back of comfortable, if perhaps unconvincing, wins against Wales and Georgia earlier in the summer but an established Springboks side will be the toughest test yet for the Wallabies.
And South Africa will be looking to translate their World Cup form into the Rugby Championship. Though they’ve won the biggest prize in rugby in 2019 and 2023, the Springboks haven’t managed to triumph in this competition since 2019, winning just three times since the turn of the millennium.
Both sides welcome uncapped players alongside their established internationals – with South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus bringing in three new faces after a dramatic drawn series with Ireland earlier this summer and his opposite number Schmidt calling up four – so there is plenty of intrigue on both sides as the Wallabies look to test themselves against the world’s best.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Rugby Championship clash:
When is it?
Australia v South Africa kicks off at 5.45am BST on Saturday, 10 August, and takes place at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.
How can I watch it?
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Team news
Australia hand a debut to flanker Carlo Tizzano, who steps in on the openside after injuries to Fraser McReight and Liam Wright. Prop Taniela Tupou misses the Rugby Championship opener due to a family bereavement, while Marika Koroibete has returned to the Wallabies’ squad but is not yet included in the matchday 23. Luke Reimer could join Tizzano in making a back-row debut off the bench.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus hands a first start to rising star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fly-half after a couple of excellent performances off the bench at full-back. Elrigh Louw is another first-time starter at the base of the scrum, while RG Snyman is fit to feature despite an injury scare in training. Six forwards wait to make an impact from the bench.
Confirmed line-ups
Australia XV: 1 Isaac Kailea, 2 Matt Faessler, 3 Allan Alalatoa (c); 4 Nick Frost, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto; 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 8 Harry Wilson; 9 Jake Gordon; 11 Philip Daugunu, 12 Hunter Paisami, 13 Len Ikitau, 14 Andrew Kellaway; 15 Tom Wright.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Luke Reimer; 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch.
South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Frans Malherbe; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 RG Synman; 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Elrigh Louw; 9 Cobus Reinach, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Willie le Roux.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith; 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard.
Odds
Australia 2/1
Draw 20/1
South Africa 4/11
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Prediction
Australia’s less-than-perfect victory against Georgia, and test wins against a much-changed Wales team, show that Schmidt’s side are steadily improving under their new manager. Nevertheless, world champions South Africa are a far more established side, and their more established 15 should have enough firepower to beat the Wallabies in their own backyard. South Africa to win.
