Wallabies reveal selections for Springboks Test

The Wallabies will be playing their first game under new head coach Eddie Jones when they tackle the Springboks this Saturday, and they will be targeting a first ever win against South Africa in Pretoria.

On Thursday, Jones unveiled his squad, with 22-year-old Tom Hooper selected at blindside flank for his first appearance in Wallaby gold, joining co-captain Michael Hooper and Rob Valetini in the backrow, the latter playing his first ever Test in South Africa.

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The youngest player in the squad at 21, Zane Nonggorr has been named as the replacement tighthead prop with Taniela Tupou requiring more minutes at training before making his return to the playing arena.

French Top 14 champion, Richie Arnold is another in line for his first Test cap at Loftus Versfeld as the replacement lock, while Melbourne Rebels playmaker Carter Gordon is the final potential debutant, remarkably sharing the exact same birthday as Tom Hooper.

An experienced front row sees co-captain James Slipper line up for his 128th appearance in Wallaby gold alongside Waratahs hooker David Porecki and Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa at tighthead prop.

The second-row pairing of Nick Frost and Will Skelton both start in their first Tests in South Africa, the side having last visited the Rainbow Nation in 2019.

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Nic White will start at scrumhalf, reigniting his halves pairing with Quade Cooper who has fully recovered from a ruptured Achilles.  Cooper lining up in South Africa for the first time since 2013.

Reece Hodge will start at inside centre, combining in the midfield with Len Ikitau who will wear the number 13 jersey for the 12th consecutive Test.

Reds flyer Suliasi Vunivalu has earned his first start for Australia on the right wing, with 2022 John Eales Medallist Marika Koroibete on the left edge.  Tom Wright rounds out the run-on side at fullback.

Melbourne duo Jordan Uelese and Matt Gibbon join Nonggorr as the finishing front row, with Pete Samu set to cover the backrow.

Queensland captain Tate McDermott will provide energy as the replacement scrumhalf, with Samu Kerevi set to feature for the Wallabies for the first time since last year’s England Series on home soil.

Four debutants in your first 23 for the year 🇦🇺

⏰ Sun 9 Jul 1:05am AEST
🏟 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
📺 @StanSportAU #RSAvAUS #Wallabies @eToroAU pic.twitter.com/32TFguEuWZ

— Wallabies (@wallabies) July 6, 2023

BOKS’ RECORD AGAINST AUSTRALIA:

Played 92; Won 49; Lost 40; Drawn 3; Points for: 1 817, Points against: 1 641; Tries scored 212, Tries conceded 168; Highest score 61-22; Biggest win 45 points. Win % 53%.

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Milestones:

• The Springboks have won all seven Test matches between the teams at Loftus Versfeld since 1963.
• The Springboks need two penalty goals to score 200 penalty goals against the Wallabies.
• Duane Vermeulen will lead the Springboks for the third time in Saturday’s Test – he led the team on two occasions in 2019 against Argentina and New Zealand.

Miscellaneous:

• The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 448.
• There are 163 caps in the backline, with 285 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 119 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is 23, the forwards 35, while the players on the bench average 14.

Springboks team – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse.

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