James O\u2019Connor will make his first Test appearance since 2022 after being named in the Wallabies squad to take on the Springboks in the Rugby Championship opener.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 35-year-old has selected to start Saturday\u2019s Test in Johannesburg and will feature at fly-half, and will likely be tasked with playing the whole 80 minutes.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Connor is the only out-and-out number 10 in the squad, with Ben Donaldson suffering an injury in training on Thursday to rule him out of the clash.<\/p>\n
Nic White will therefore provide cover at pivot should his playmaking team-mate go down injured and will also be the back-up goal-kicker.<\/p>\n
That is the biggest surprise in Joe Schmidt\u2019s<\/a> 23 with the rest of the backline unchanged from the one that impressively defeated the British and Irish Lions in Sydney.<\/p>\n Len Ikitau and Joseph Suaalii continue at centre while Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen and Dylan Pietsch once again combine in the Wallabies<\/a> back three.<\/p>\n No changes to the pack<\/p>\n Up front, they have not made any alterations as Harry Wilson captains from number eight and he is joined in the loose trio by Fraser McReight and Tom Hooper.<\/p>\n Will Skelton continues at lock and he combines with Nick Frost in a well-balanced engine room as they look to combat the Springboks\u2019<\/a> lineout and maul.<\/p>\n It is also a big job for the front-row of Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard and James Slipper, who will have the difficult challenge of negating South Africa\u2019s scrummaging threat in the Rugby Championship clash.<\/p>\n Springboks team: Siya Kolisi in historic positional switch as Rassie Erasmus makes huge calls at half-back against Wallabies<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Rassie Erasmus \u2018changed mind\u2019 over Siya Kolisi while Springboks boss makes \u2018Bomb Squad\u2019 tease ahead of Wallabies announcement<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n With the set-piece and physical battle absolutely crucial, the Wallabies have gone for a 6-2 split on the bench, with Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson and Nick Champion de Crespigny the forward replacements.<\/p>\n Rob Valetini has not recovered in time from his injury to take his place in the squad, while Donaldson\u2019s absence means there is no reserve fly-half.<\/p>\n Andrew Kellaway, who can play either full-back or wing, is in the 23 shirt with Tate McDermott the only other back on the bench.<\/p>\n They could therefore force the Boks, who have gone for a 5-3 split this weekend, into making a late change. Head coach Rassie Erasmus suggested that they may alter their tactics after Australia\u2019s team announcement and go with a 6-2 should Schmidt opt for a forward-heavy set of replacements.<\/p>\n \u201cThe group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg,\u201d the Wallabies head coach said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s not many bigger Tests than playing South Africa on their home turf and we know we\u2019re going to need to be at our best on Saturday night.\u201d<\/p>\n