South Africa vs Australia Preview & Prediction | 2025 Rugby Championship | Round 1
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The 2025 Rugby Championship begins as reigning world champions South Africa welcome an improving Australia side to Johannesburg.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – FloRugby
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – FloRugby
South Africa team news
Squad: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit , 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse
Australia team news
Squad: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tane Edmed, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Andrew Kellaway
South Africa vs Australia prediction
World champions South Africa lost just one game as they romped to a fifth Rugby Championship title last year, and they are largely seen as joint-favourites (along with New Zealand) to defend their title this time around.
The Springboks open the tournament on home soil in Johannesburg, with the match set to take place at altitude at Ellis Park, commonly thought of as one of the most difficult places to play for visiting teams.
It was a miserable 2024 Rugby Championship for Australia, who lost five of their six games as they finished bottom of the pile.
However, they have shown significant improvement since then and competed well physically with the British & Irish Lions recently, losing the series 2-1 but ultimately coming away with plenty of positives.
This Australia side is still a work in progress under Joe Schmidt, and it would be a surprise if they were to trouble South Africa here, in what should be difficult conditions.
South Africa vs Australia tip: South Africa to win with -16.5 handicap
