Wallabies coach Eddie Jones not happy about facing "half-baked Springboks side"

Australia head coach Eddie Jones said he was disappointed not to face a full-strength South African side in the Rugby Championship opener at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The squad announced by Jacques Nienaber has only nine players in the matchday 23 from the World Cup winning side in the 2019 against England while eight other members, who enjoyed the title win in Japan have headed to New Zealand to help them prepare for the clash against the All Blacks on 15th July.

"What I am hoping for is their best team. I do not want to take down a half-baked Springboks side," Jones told reporters in Sydney.

Despite Jones' comments, South Africa head coach Nienaber defended the team selection was made with a belief of beating the Wallabies.

"From the outset our plan was to select a squad we believe can beat Australia," said Nienaber, who hopes South Africa can maintain a perfect record against Australia in Pretoria.

"We chose to select a group of players at the same time that could travel to New Zealand and give us the best chance to do well in both games."

South Africa XV: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Reserves: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse