Wallabies predicted team: ‘Golden opportunity’ for playmaker as Joe Schmidt to go with 6-2 split against Springboks
Ben Donaldson is likely to wear 10 for the Wallabies against South Africa.
Now that the Wallabies have named their squad for the opening rounds of the Rugby Championship, we have decided to pick a predicted team that will face the Springboks.
Australia are set to take on South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 16 before the teams collide again at DHL Stadium in Cape Town the following Saturday.
Here’s our predicted Wallabies side for Round One of the competition.
15 Tom Wright
Looks to have the full-back jersey locked up at the moment, especially after an impressive British and Irish Lions series. His speed to get on the outside of defences and his impressive boot are two of many strengths Wright has and he will be crucial to Australia’s hopes this Rugby Championship. Growing in confidence with every match.
14 Max Jorgensen
A similar feeling surrounds this hugely exciting youngster on the wing. Jorgensen grabbed two tries in the recent Lions series and looks the real deal at international rugby. Blessed with pace and a steely edge, what was noticeable against the tourists was how he took every chance that came his way. That is a fantastic trait at this level.
13 Joseph Suaalii
Got better as the Lions series played out and this Rugby Championship is another test of the rugby league convert’s qualities and progression in the 15-man sport. He is likely to go up against Jesse Kriel next week and that battle will be one to watch for sure as Suaalii looks to build on some solid foundations from his recent Test outings.
12 Len Ikitau
Set to keep hold of the 12 jersey due to strong shifts against the Lions and that blossoming partnership with Suaalii. The pair look a good fit in midfield and Ikitau will be desperate to enjoy a solid Rugby Championship before he departs for Exeter Chiefs on a nine-month deal. A tough operator and will need to be against the Springboks.
11 Dylan Pietsch
Surely has done enough to keep his hands on a starting shirt after that rugged display against the Lions. Pietsch is ultra consistent and his abrasive style will come in handy in South Africa as he looks to throw down a marker against those crossing his path. Arguably should have played all series against the Lions after a fine 2025.
10 Ben Donaldson
With Tom Lynagh missing due to concussion, the key playmaking position goes to Donaldson and it’s a golden opportunity for him to put his name forward for the jersey long term. Donaldson is set to get the start over James O’Connor and Tane Edmed for this opener and while tests don’t come much tougher he should relish this chance.
9 Nic White
Thought he had retired? Think again. White has answered Joe Schmidt’s SOS due to Jake Gordon being ruled out and is set to feature in the Springboks games on the road. We expect him to retain the shirt he wore against the Lions in Sydney after a wonderful performance of game management and peskiness that got under the Lions’ skin.
The forwards
8 Harry Wilson
The Wallabies captain will once again lead from the front and will be desperate to not let the strong work Australia did in the final two Tests of the Lions series go to waste. He will have his work cut out against this Springboks pack but he’s such a warrior who inspires by his actions and has an improving group of forwards in front of him.
7 Fraser McReight
A tireless performer on the openside flank, McReight has this Wallabies seven shirt locked up at the moment and is a shoo-in for the Rugby Championship opener in Jo’burg.
6 Rob Valetini
The whole of Australia will hope he’s passed fit to start next weekend, such is his dominance on the gainline as a carrier. The Lions witnessed first hand his impact in the second Test and Schmidt will be desperate to have him involved in some capacity. It would be a major setback if Valetini were to be absent against the world champions.
5 Will Skelton
What a specimen. A locked in starter of course as he was incredible against the Lions and, like Valetini, provided that physical edge they were lacking in Test I. The Springboks will definitely look to limit the impact Skelton has on the opening match at Ellis Park but doing so is by no means easy. Expect Skelton to make his presence felt.
4 Nick Frost
David Campese was full of praise for Frost after his recent performances and rightly so as he was in excellent touch. His combination in the engine room with Skelton worked beautifully and Schmidt will hope that continues against the Springboks, who have locks for days in their squad. Frost must command the airways at the lineout.
3 Taniela Tupou
Returned to Test rugby with a bang last week as he backed up his hulking First Nations & Pasifika XV shift with one of a similar ilk. Is there a more destructive tighthead prop in the world game? When fit, he would walk into many international side’s teams and Australia will hope he stays in top shape for this Rugby Championship charge.
2 Billy Pollard
The stocks are looking rather bare at hooker at the moment after the retirement of David Porecki and absence due to injury of Matt Faessler. 23-year-old Pollard gave an accomplished performance against the Lions in Test III and is pretty much nailed on to retain their number two jersey in Johannesburg. What an opportunity to impress.
1 James Slipper
Incredible what he is doing at 36 years of age but Slipper takes the shirt he wore in the recent three Tests and subsequently keeps Angus Bell on the bench. It was not long ago that Bell was regarded as one of the best loosehead props on the planet but Slipper’s fine form has seen him take an iron grip on the Wallabies number one jersey.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21 Langi Gleeson, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 James O’Connor
The 6-2 bench split here as the Wallabies will need to fight fire with fire for the full 80 minutes up front, so having that extra forward would be wise next weekend.
We expect the same front-row trio to be rolled out as Nonggorr keeps his spot after an impressive cameo last week and Williams to be a lock option. However, he could be backed up by the versatile Salakaia-Loto, who can also fill in as a blindside, while Gleeson keeps his spot ahead of the unlucky Tom Hooper due to how he impacts a game.
That leaves two backline options and the outstanding McDermott will no doubt bring an injection of pace to the game while the experienced O’Connor is fly-half cover.