Suaalii to wing as Wallabies host much-changed Springboks in Perth
Australia have pushed Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from outside centre to the left wing for their one-off Test against a heavily changed South Africa in Perth.
The two sides met at Optus Stadium on Sunday, 27 September 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 5.30pm AWST. The prize was the Mandela Challenge Plate, first contested in 2000 and held by South Africa since 2023, according to The Guardian.
The fixture sat outside the Nations Championship windows while the Rugby Championship was on hiatus. It came exactly one year before Australia's home Rugby World Cup was due to begin, with the Wallabies set to open that tournament at the same ground.
It was also Les Kiss's first match as Wallabies coach against one of rugby's traditional powers. Kiss turned to Ben Donaldson at No 10, the playmaker role also called fly-half or five-eighth, after Carter Gordon broke his leg against Argentina in the previous match. Donaldson was preferred ahead of James O'Connor and Bernard Foley.
Suaalii's switch was the eye-catching call. A regular centre, in the midfield where crash balls and distribution meet, he started wide on the left where space is tight and finishing matters. Hunter Paisami and Len Ikitau formed the centre pairing, with Max Jorgensen on the other wing and Tom Wright at full-back.
Australia had to make a late change up front. Lock Josh Canham, a second-row forward who jumps in the lineout (the throw-in that restarts play after the ball goes out), was ruled out with a minor hamstring strain after being named in the original side. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto started at No 4 alongside Jeremy Williams, with Lachie Shaw promoted to the bench.
Australia's starting XV was Angus Bell, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Allan Alaalatoa, Salakaia-Loto, Williams, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson as captain, Ryan Lonergan, Donaldson, Suaalii, Paisami, Ikitau, Jorgensen and Wright. The bench had a 6-2 forwards-backs split, meaning six forwards and only two backs among the replacements and no specialist cover at five-eighth. The reserves were Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Taniela Tupou, Shaw, Tom Hooper, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott and Harry Potter.
South Africa, the reigning world champions, arrived with a very different look. Coach Rassie Erasmus made 13 changes to his starting XV after a gruelling four-match series against New Zealand that finished with a decider in Baltimore a fortnight earlier.
Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel and Thomas du Toit were all absent from the matchday squad in Perth. Andre Esterhuizen captained the side from inside centre, with veteran Handre Pollard at No 10 and Eben Etzebeth packing down in the second row.
South Africa's starting XV was Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Pollard, Herschel Jantjies, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Paul de Villiers, Franco Mostert, Etzebeth, Zachary Porthen, Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels. The replacements were Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, Jasper Wiese, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Quan Horn.
For fans, this means a Test of new combinations rather than settled rivalries. Australia chased continuity with one forced tweak. South Africa chased depth. Recent history adds spice. Australia won 38-22 in Johannesburg in August 2025 after trailing 22-0, with captain Wilson scoring twice, while South Africa won both meetings in 2024, 33-7 in Brisbane and 30-12 in Perth.
