Australia Revamps Team Ahead of Clash with South Africa

PERTH, Australia (AP) — In a strategic move, Australia’s head coach Joe Schmidt has made significant changes to the lineup ahead of the second Rugby Championship match against South Africa on Saturday. Veteran winger Marika Koroibete returns to the starting side, joining Andrew Kellaway and Tom Wright in the back three. This marks Koroibete's first appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Schmidt has also included Western Force scrum-half Nic White for his first start of the year, emphasizing the need for a more combative and accurate performance following last week’s 33-7 defeat to South Africa in Brisbane. The South African team, fresh off their victory over the Wallabies, will see 10 changes for the upcoming match. Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg and lock Ruan Nortje are set to make their test debuts, while Salmaan Moerat will captain the side in place of regular captain Siya Kolisi, who is among the nine players rotated out. Coach Rassie Erasmus explained that the extensive changes are part of a strategy to build squad depth in preparation for the next Rugby World Cup in Australia. Erasmus highlighted the importance of testing younger players against a top-tier nation, particularly in an away match, to assess the team's overall capabilities. Both teams are looking to bounce back and solidify their positions in the championship, making this encounter a crucial one for their respective campaigns.