Siya Kolisi to start at number 8 as Springboks face Australia

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi will play at No 8 for the first time in his Test career when the Springboks open their Rugby Championship campaign against Australia in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The 34-year-old, who has 93 Test caps and two Rugby World Cup titles, usually plays on the flank but has previously featured at No 8 for the Sharks.

Kolisi’s positional shift comes as regular No 8 Jasper Wiese serves a four-match ban for headbutting an opponent during a warm-up win over Italy.

Other contenders Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom are sidelined with long-term injuries. His move allows Marco van Staden to start on the flank, with Pieter-Steph du Toit completing the back row.

At fly-half, Manie Libbok has been preferred over Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The Springboks have lost just once in 13 Tests when Libbok has started, compared to four defeats in seven matches when he has come off the bench.

Scrum-half Grant Williams starts ahead of veteran Cobus Reinach, who is named on the bench. Head coach Rassie Erasmus has decided to rest winger Cheslin Kolbe and centre Damian de Allende due to minor injuries.

Edwill van der Merwe, with five tries in his first three Tests, replaces Kolbe, while Andre Esterhuizen comes in for De Allende alongside Jesse Kriel in midfield.

Australia arrive after a 2-1 home series loss to the British and Irish Lions and are aiming to end a four-match losing streak against South Africa.

Springboks: 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 (c), 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

Reserves: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse