Overview
- Siya Kolisi shifts to No. 8 for the first time in Tests to cover for banned Jasper Wiese and injured forwards.
- Manie Libbok wins the fly-half shirt over Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu as Erasmus backs his playmaking strengths.
- South Africa have committed to a 5-3 forwards-backs bench split but will add RG Snyman late if Australia name six forwards among their replacements.
- Australia arrive buoyed by a British & Irish Lions win and aim to break a winless run at Ellis Park dating back to 1963.
- As reigning world champions, the Springboks plan to exploit high-altitude conditions and dominate the breakdown in their Rugby Championship opener.