CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Winger Corey Toole will make his test debut and Fraser McReight will replace the injured Harry Wilson as captain when the Wallabies play South Africa in their Rugby Championship match on Saturday.
Australia coach Joe Schmidt on Thursday said Rob Valetini would return a No. 8 in place of Wilson, who injured his knee in last week's 38-22 upset comeback victory over the World Cup champion Springboks at Ellis Park.
The Wallabies also sustained key injuries in other positions in the Johannesburg match, including Dylan Pietsch's broken jaw which opened a spot for Olympic rugby sevens player Toole.
Tom Robertson will start at looshead prop, joining Billy Pollard and Taniela Tupou in the frontrow, after veteran James Slipper sustained a concussion last weekend.
"The squad as a whole has recovered pretty well from what was a very draining and physical test match on the high veld last week," Schmidt said. “We struggled to contain a powerhouse Springbok start last weekend and we know that we have to improve leading into what’s likely to be a bruising encounter in Cape Town."
Schmidt has added backrower Nick Champion de Crespigny and young flyhalf Tane Edmed to the bench. Edmed, a replacement in his only test appearance to date, is backup to veteran James O'Connor at No. 10.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus made 10 changes to his lineup earlier in the week. The overhaul reflected strategic changes and the absence of injured skipper Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and both wingers from the Johannesburg defeat.
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Teams:
South Africa: Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel (captain), Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe, Handre Pollard, Grant Williams; Jean-Luc du Preez, Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, R.G. Snyman, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Reserves: Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Len Ikitau, Corey Toole, James O’Connor, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight (captain), Tom Hooper, Will Skelton, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson. Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Andrew Kellaway.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
The Associated Press
