Springboks Name Andre Esterhuizen Captain as Rassie Erasmus Makes 13 Changes

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made 13 changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s Test against Australia in Perth, handing inside centre Andre Esterhuizen the captaincy for the first time while resting nearly the entire side that recently defeated New Zealand.

Erasmus Rings the Changes After New Zealand Battles

South Africa enters Saturday’s one-off clash in Perth with a radically different lineup from the team that secured a 43-28 victory against the All Blacks just over a week ago in Baltimore. Having played the bulk of four grueling Tests during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, the core starting group has been given a rest.

Only lock Eben Etzebeth and winger Ethan Hooker retain their spots in the run-on XV from the New Zealand fixture. In total, the coaching staff made seven alterations to the forward pack and six within the backline, turning to a much fresher group to tackle the Wallabies on enemy turf.

Andre Esterhuizen Steps Up as Captain

Inside centre Andre Esterhuizen will captain his country for the first time. The 32-year-old hybrid star becomes the 68th player to skipper the Springboks, stepping into the leadership role while partnering Canan Moodie in the midfield.

Erasmus praised the new skipper’s contributions on and off the pitch. He captained the Sharks, and he has brought so much to our squad off and on the field, both at centre and in the loose trio, and he thoroughly deserves this opportunity, Erasmus said, pointing out that the selection helps build the team’s leadership core even further.

Returning Veterans and Milestone Chasers

Alongside the fresh faces, several high-profile players make their return to the matchday squad. Handre Pollard slots back in at flyhalf, linking up with scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies, who earns his first Test start since November 2021. Franco Mostert returns from injury to pack down alongside Etzebeth in the second row.

On the bench, loose forward Jasper Wiese is set to earn his 50th Test cap. Meanwhile, veteran campaigners Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende have been completely released from camp to rest following heavy workloads.

Assessing the Wallabies Threat in Perth

Australia presents an entirely different tactical puzzle compared to New Zealand, carrying momentum from a stretch that includes four wins in their last five matches. Their recent run features a draw against Argentina, a narrow defeat to Ireland in the Nations Championship, and a comprehensive victory over Italy.

Springboks Name Andre Esterhuizen Captain as Rassie Erasmus Makes 13 Changes — Photo: Planetrugby

Working alongside Head of Athletic Performance Andy Edwards, the Springbok management team utilized a few recovery days following travel to train in Terrigal before shifting into normal Test week preparations on Tuesday. With the hosts playing in front of a home crowd and looking to build momentum ahead of November fixtures, Erasmus expects a fierce battle against physical forwards and an exciting backline.