In Perth, Australia, South Africa’s rugby team is making 10 changes to the starting lineup ahead of their upcoming match against Australia in the Rugby Championship. Among the changes, scrumhalf Morne van den Berg and lock Ruan Nortje are set to earn their first test starts, with Salmaan Moerat leading the team as captain from the lock position, replacing regular captain Siya Kolisi.

The Springboks are looking to test their squad’s depth and build for the future, with coach Rassie Erasmus emphasizing the importance of giving younger players a chance to prove themselves. Players like Marco van Staden and Pieter-Steph du Toit will also feature in adjusted positions, as South Africa aims to assess their strength against a top-tier nation away from home.

Having secured a 33-7 victory over the Wallabies last weekend, South Africa’s revamped lineup will face an Australian team eager to bounce back from their recent loss. Australia had a strong start to their season with wins against Wales and Georgia before falling to the Springboks, and they were expected to announce their team for the upcoming Perth test on Thursday.

The South African team for the upcoming match includes Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Elrigh Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat as captain, Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels. The reserves feature players like Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, and Handre Pollard.