South Africa vs Australia Preview & Prediction | 2025 Rugby Championship | Round 2
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World champions seek revenge over Australia in Cape Town after a surprise loss to the Wallabies in their Rugby Championship opener last week.
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 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 RG Snyman,3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Lood de Jager, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Australia team news
Squad: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Akuso Suaalii, 12 Len Iketau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway
South Africa vs Australia prediction
Australia only won one match in the entirety of the 2024 Rugby Championship but they have already matched that after just one round of games, seeing off reigning champions South Africa with a stunning 38-22 victory in Johannesburg, picking up a bonus point in the process.
What made the Wallabies’ victory even more remarkable was the fact they were 22-0 down before scoring 38 unanswered points, and there’s no doubt that it was their best result under Joe Schmidt’s tenure.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has unsurprisingly rung the changes for this rematch in Cape Town, with experienced flyhalf Handre Pollard replacing Manie Libbok, who struggled last week once the game got away from the Springboks. Pollard's inclusion is one of ten alterations from last week's defeat.
A strong response is expected from the world champions here, and although Australia will come into this match with confidence after last week’s heroics, the hosts are unlikely to make the same mistakes again.
South Africa vs Australia tip: South Africa to win
