Key events
And out the two sides run. Plenty of cheers for both sets of players with a significant South African contingent in the stands.
Siya Kolisi is leading his team in song as they line up in the tunnel waiting to walk out. He is a superhuman sportsman.
Australia will be wearing gold jerseys and green shorts today. South Africa green jerseys and white shorts.
Much has been made about Australia’s record at Suncorp Stadium. Since the turn of the millennium they have faced South Africa in Brisbane eight times, winning on seven occasions, most recently in 2021. The Springboks haven’t tasted victory over the Wallabies in Queensland since 2013.
It’s mild and dry in Brisbane this afternoon with a southerly breeze that shouldn’t be too much of a factor.
Australia will be hoping the full house at the atmospheric Suncorp Stadium provides a 16th man.
Englishman Luke Pearce has the whistle. He was in charge three years ago when Quade Cooper kicked the Wallabies to victory over the Springboks just down the road at Gold Coast’s Robina Stadium.
South Africa XV
In contrast to the inexperienced Australian 23 and the experimental Schmidt, Rassie Erasmus has a squad full of match-winning prowess. 20 of the 23 named earlier this week were involved in the recent titanic double-header against Ireland with debutant Elrigh Louw, and the returning Cobus Reinach and Ben-Jason Dixon coming into the fold.
But around an hour before kick-off it was revealed that RG Snyman had been forced out with a foot niggle. In the reshuffle, Pieter-Steph du Toit moves from the back to the middle row, Dixon moves off the bench to No 7, and Salmaan Moerat enters the matchday squad.
As always, the Springbok pack is fearsome (Malcolm Marx on the bench for crying out loud!) but all eyes will be on the halfbacks with Reinach deputising for the injured Faf de Klerk, who is nursing a niggle, alongside debutant five-eighth Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. If that partnership fails, Erasmus has Handre Pollard among the replacements.
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handré Pollard
Australia XV
The Australian line-up is as much about who isn’t there, as who is. Gun winger Marika Koroibete isn’t included after joining the squad from Japan, with Schmidt explaining: “Marika wasn’t quite ready. This week was about orientating him and getting him back up to speed. I think Marika will be available beyond this week, but this week was a little bit too soon.”
Also absent is Taniela Tupou with the prop withdrawing following the death of his father. There’s another new halfback pairing, and increasingly influential backrower Fraser McReight misses out with a thumb injury.
There are five changes in total to the starting XV. In the pack, Matt Faessler returns at hooker, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto returns to the second-row, and Carlo Tizzano will make his Test debut, in place of McReight.
In the backs, Jake Gordon and Noah Lolesio will partner in the halves with Tate McDermott dropping to the bench and Ben Donaldson missing out entirely.
Only three starters have played more than 29 Tests, while six of the eight replacements have six-caps or fewer, a list including debutant Luke Reimer. This is a very green and gold Test outfit.
1. Isaac Kailea, 2. Matt Faessler, 3. Allan Alaalatoa (c), 4. Nick Frost, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Carlo Tizzano, 8. Harry Wilson, 9. Jake Gordon, 10. Noah Lolesio, 11. Filipo Daugunu, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Len Ikitau, 14. Andrew Kellaway, 15. Tom Wright.
Replacements: 16. Josh Nasser, 17. James Slipper, 18. Zane Nonggorr, 19. Jeremy Williams, 20. Luke Reimer, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch
The step up in class for the Wallabies today is enormous. Wales and Georgia were sparring partners, South Africa are the heavyweight champions of the world.
Daniel Gallan observed progress following Australia’s most recent victory over Georgia.
But three wins out of three matches is something that Schmidt can hang his hat on. And for a man who has built a reputation on forging identities, on implementing cohesive plans and creating structure out of chaos, he’ll point to a team that served up some entertaining afternoon footy and is trending in the right direction.
An optimistic Angus Fontaine sets the scene.
The Wallabies are on the up. They have won four straight, the longest winning streak of any nation in the IRB top 10, and are unbeaten under new coach Joe Schmidt, with a 3-0 record this season. A winning start to 2024 was essential after the Eddie Jones-engineered mess of 2023 and Schmidt has delivered, defeating Wales and Georgia to instil vital confidence.
Preamble
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v South Africa in round one of the 2024 Rugby Championship. Kick-off at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane is 2.45pm (AEST).
After a hat-trick of morale boosting victories to begin the Joe Schmidt era, the Wallabies face a reality check.
Are Australia still on a downward trajectory or is the only way up following the Eddie Jones debacle?
Is a world ranking of nine (closer in ranking points to 19th placed USA than the top-rated Springboks) an accurate reflection of the current group, or a nasty hangover?
Does home advantage still count at Fortress Suncorp, or has the gap between South Africa, the two-time defending World Cup holders, and also-rans Australia, widened to such an extent that it no longer matters?
It will be a revealing afternoon.
For now, Schmidt has done all that has been asked of him – knocking over a poor Wales and avoiding calamity against Georgia.
But irrespective of their opponents there remain familiar failings in gold, not limited to the influence of the No 10, discipline at the breakdown, and untimely unforced errors. Advancement in those areas would count as progress today, even in defeat. The bigger picture for Australian rugby is 2025 and beyond, the hard work preparing for a golden future begins in Brisbane.
If you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.