The Springboks could lose their No 1 World Rugby ranking against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, 17 August.
Kick-off is at 11:55 (SA time).
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The top-ranked Springboks will play the ninth-placed Wallabies for the second time in as many weekends this weekend, having thumped Australia 33-7 in their opening Rugby Championship match in Brisbane last Saturday.
Springboks boast a good overall record against Australia
Rassie Erasmus’s men have never played at the Optus Stadium before, but did play 10 Tests at the old Subiaco Oval and one at the Perth Oval in Western Australia.
The Springboks only won four of those matches at the Subiaco Oval (between 1998 and 2014) and drew their only game at the Perth Oval in 2017.
The Springboks’ overall record against the Wallabies is far better, having won 51, lost 40 and drawn three of their 94 Tests payed to date.
Erasmus sprang something of a surprise this week when he made as many as 10 changes to the starting XV for this weekend.
While no one would ever call the matchday squad a ‘B’ team, facts are facts, it’s considerably less experienced than every line-ups named in recent times.
The run-on team only boasts 332 Test caps, compared to the 801 total of the starters last weekend – and a far cry from the all-time record 990 (vs Ireland at Kings Park in July 2024) and the 975 the weekend prior against the Irish at Loftus Versfeld.
Throw in a Salmaan Moerat leading the side for only the second time and two players making their starting debuts, and one must ask: Has Rassie gambled once too often?
Probably not.
Leading South African bookmakers Betway have installed the Springboks as overwhelming 1/10 favourites, with Australia on offer at 45/10.
The draw after 80 minutes can be backed at 34/1.
Explainer
Ahead of the Test, the Springboks sit top of the rankings pile with 93.11 points, with Australia on 78.96.
A victory by any margin for the Springboks won’t see their points tally change. Similarly, a defeat by any margin won’t see Australia’s points total alter either.
However, a draw would see South Africa lose one full point and drop behind current second-placed Ireland in the standings, while in such a scenario, Australia would pick up a point, but stay ninth.
A win for Australia by 15 or fewer points would see them pick up two points (and the Springboks lose two points), and move to eighth place, with the Springboks dropping to second spot.
A victory by 16 or more points for the Wallabies would see them pick up three points, moving them up to seventh – and the Springboks down to third.
LATEST WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS
| RANK | COUNTRY | POINTS |
| 1 | South Africa | 93.11 |
| 2 | Ireland | 92.12 |
| 3 | New Zealand | 88.37 |
| 4 | France | 86.96 |
| 5 | England | 85.40 |
| 6 | Argentina | 83.64 |
| 7 | Scotland | 82.82 |
| 8 | Italy | 79.98 |
| 9 | Australia | 78.96 |
| 10 | Fiji | 77.44 |
| 11 | Wales | 76.04 |
| 12 | Georgia | 74.10 |
| 13 | Samoa | 73.65 |
| 14 | Japan | 71.63 |
| 15 | Portugal | 70.61 |
| 16 | Tonga | 68.66 |
| 17 | Uruguay | 67.39 |
| 18 | Spain | 66.29 |
| 19 | USA | 66.01 |
| 20 | Romania | 62.62 |
TEAMS
Australia
TBA
South Africa
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Handre Pollard
Your prediction for Saturday?
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