Australia lock Josh Canham will miss Sunday’s one-off Test against the Springboks in Perth. He picked up a mild hamstring injury.
Canham felt sore after the Wallabies trained in Perth on Friday. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will take his place in the starting team, and Lachlan Shaw joins the bench.
“It is always a big loss when you lose your lineout caller and Canham has been playing some really good footy for us,” Wallabies captain Harry Wilson told reporters on Saturday.
Canham had been in good form. His absence hurts Australia’s hopes of keeping their unbeaten run under new coach Les Kiss.
Salakaia-Loto is a big, strong forward. He is expected to cope with the physical style of the South African pack, even if Canham’s work in the air will be missed.
“Someone like Lukhan coming into the starting team… I know how excited he will be and he will be raring to go,” Wilson said.
“We know (South Africa) are a team that wants to go through us and they’re a big abrasive forward pack,” the captain said. “To have someone like Lukhan next to you, gives you that bit of confidence and he really relishes those battles.”
Kiss took over from Joe Schmidt in July. Since then, the Wallabies have beaten Japan twice in a row. They also won an away series in Argentina for the first time.
Australia now hope to beat world number one South Africa. It would be the biggest win of Kiss’s short time in charge.
The Springboks made 13 changes from their last Test against New Zealand earlier this month. They are coming off a 3-1 series win over the All Blacks.
“We know what team they’re going to be,” Wilson said of South Africa. “We’ve watched them very closely play some unbelievable Test footy against the Kiwis.”
“There have been a few changes, but they’ve still got 10 World Cup winners, so we’re really excited for it,” he said.
Andre Esterhuizen will captain the Springboks from inside centre. Handre Pollard starts at flyhalf, with Herschel Jantjies at scrumhalf.
Aphelele Fassi is at fullback. Edwill van der Merwe and Ethan Hooker are on the wings, and Canan Moodie plays outside centre.
Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert form the lock pairing. The front row is Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar and Zachary Porthen.
Paul de Villiers, Elrigh Louw and Marco van Staden make up the loose trio. Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are among the replacements.
For Australia, Ben Donaldson starts at flyhalf and Ryan Lonergan at scrumhalf. Wilson leads the side from number eight, with Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight on the flanks.
Jeremy Williams partners Salakaia-Loto in the second row. Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii make up the back three and centres.
South Africa have won five of their last six Tests against Australia. That run includes a 30-12 win at Perth’s Optus Stadium in 2024.
Source: this article is based on reporting by news24.com. Image: news24.com. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.