Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto insists South Africa’s mass changes aren’t a slap in the face for Australia ahead of Saturday night’s Rugby Championship re-match in Perth.
The Springboks have made a whopping 10 changes to the starting side that walloped the Wallabies 33-7 in Brisbane last week.
Among the players rested this week are captain Siya Kolisi, props Frans Malherbe and Gerhard Steenekamp, hooker Bongi Mbonambi, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, centre Damian de Allende and fullback Willie le Roux.
Flanker Ben-Jason Dixon was ruled out through injury, while RG Snyman will miss with a foot complaint.
Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg and lock Ruan Nortje will earn their first Test starts.
Although the bench is loaded with experience, there are only a combined 30 caps between positions one to five in the starting line-up.
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus played down talk that the changes were a sign of disrespect towards the Wallabies, saying he made the move to further develop his squad’s depth ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
“If you look at this team, there are 14 World Cup winners and there’s only two guys that are new caps,” Erasmus said.
“So this is not disrespect to Australia, and this is not us feeling nonchalant about the game.”
Salakaia-Loto said he and his Wallabies teammates don’t have any issues with the selection overhaul.
“Look, it’s no disrespect at all,” he said.
“They’ve still got 14 World Cup winners in their squad.
“Their depth is a big reason why they’re back-to-back champs.
“The challenge for us is to come in and put in a much better performance than last week.
“Their game plan hasn’t changed over the past eight years. The challenge is how do you stop that, and can you stop that?”
The Wallabies have lost Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams to concussion, while winger Filipo Daugunu is out indefinitely with a broken leg.
Taniela Tupou flew to Tonga for his father’s funeral and is unlikely to face the Springboks.
The Wallabies posted two wins over Wales and a victory over Georgia to start Joe Schmidt’s reign as coach.
But the disappointing result against South Africa in Brisbane brought the squad back to earth, with the players keen to make amends.
“As players, we weren’t good enough,” Salakaia-Loto said.
“There were definitely some lessons learned. It’s been a tough week for us.
“We’re looking to do more of our game plan this week and put in a performance our fans can be proud of.
“We’ve just got to do our jobs better, individually and collectively.
“The responsibility is on us as players. We’ve got the right framework and game plan to take it to these guys.”
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Today’s Springboks news as major World Cup changes announced after controversy
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World Cup shake-up confirmed
World Rugby has announced a re-imagination of the qualification process for the men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia. The draw for the tournament will also now take place much later after anger surrounding the 2023 competition.
The global showpiece, which takes place in 2027, will feature 24 nations for the first time ever. Twelve teams – Ireland, France, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, England, Argentina and Japan – have qualified directly by finishing top three in their pool at France 2023 but there will now be 12 spots available from regional competitions which will take place in 2025.
The World Cup tournament will also feature a last 16 round after the group stages for the first time.
World Rugby have cited the reason for change as a reflection of their global growth mission. Also for the first time ever, World Rugby Regional Associations have one minimum direct qualifying spot, and every single team will have qualified by the time the draw takes place.
All six regions have one qualifying spot, but the new process blends existing regional competitions, a new pathway through the Pacific Nations Cup, a cross-continental play-off and one qualification tournament. Teams will qualify as displayed below.
- Europe (4) – Rugby Europe Championship 2025 top four teams
- Africa (1) – Rugby Africa Cup 2025 champions
- Asia (1) – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 champions
- South America (1) – Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 champions
- Pacific (3) – Pacific Nations Cup 2025 top three teams (minus Fiji and Japan already qualified)
- South America / Pacific Play-off (1) – Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 runners up against Pacific Nations Cup’s bottom team (excluding qualified teams)
- Final Qualification Tournament (1)
The final qualification tournament will feature one group of four teams, with the winner on competition points after playing all other teams qualifying for Australia 2027. All qualification will be concluded by the end of 2025.
The draw for 2027 will take place ahead of the men’s Six Nations in 2026. This is later in the cycle than previous draws, which have caused controversy. The 2023 World Cup draw was made three years in advance based on rankings at the time and resulted in the best sides in the world all being loaded on one side.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “This qualification process is on the side of growth and sustainability for the game as a whole. We are fully committed to respecting the fundamental principle of expanded opportunity, and the blend of existing regional competitions, new cross-region competitions and a final qualification process reflects that ambition as well as the desire to deliver teams on merit.
“Providing certainty to the unions in pursuit of the Australian dream will help teams fine tune their preparations and provide fans with an exciting road to Rugby World Cup 2027 next year where all places will be up for grabs.”
“It is our desire for the process to qualify teams into the first iteration of the Nations Championship Division 2, which begins in 2026. This has the major advantage of ensuring that all teams will have strong, high-level competition and preparation ahead of Rugby World Cup 2027, raising standards globally.”
Club statement after rape accusation
La Rochelle have made a statement following one of their players being accused of rape in Argentina with another player.
Oscar Jegou and and Pau’s Hugo Auradou have been under house arrest in Mendoza since July 17, and had to wear electronic tags due to accusations of aggravated rape after a night out with the France national team whilst on tour.
The pair are now free from house arrest and their tags have been removed. However, they are still unable to leave the country and their passports have not been returned. The trial is not expected to take place until 2025.
La Rochelle’s statement read: “The La Rochelle statement read: “We are delighted with the release of our player, Oscar Jegou. This is an important step towards proving his innocence. We, the entire Stade Rochelais community, reaffirm our support for Oscar and his family.
“We hope that the investigation can continue to take place in calm conditions and with respect for the presumption of innocence. We affirm our confidence, as we have done since the beginning of the procedure, in the Argentine justice system. We hope that Oscar will be able to return to France soon.”
Auradou’s club Pau have not made a statement. Their last comment on the ordeal was July 9, which read: “Pau learned this morning through the media of the arrest and serious accusations made against our second row Hugo Auradou, currently on tour in Argentina with the national team.
“The club is awaiting more specific information from the French Rugby Federation and the initial conclusions of the ongoing investigation, which is essential at this stage. In the meantime, Pau will not make any comments.”
Ex-Welsh rugby player starts new business
Ex-Ospreys player Harri Morgan has started a new business venture.
Morgan quit the game at the age of 23 after attempting to take his own life in February 2023 after injuries left him with “no purpose”. He announced he was stepping away from the game in April 2023.
In an Instagram announcement featring a collaboration post between himself and ‘Peak Programming’, the first post reads: “Functional Fitness Programming For The Everyday Athlete. Bespoke + Group Coaching Available. Coming Soon.” The post has been shared by former team-mate Owen Watkin.
Morgan is in incredible physical condition and often posted workout videos to his main Instagram account, but he’s now decided to utilise his understanding of training to help others.
All change at Dragons RFC
Dragons RFC have confirmed their expansion of their backroom team to the club’s academy system, including two former Wales internationals.
Ahead of the 2024/2025 season, there will be a new-look structure that will be led by James Chapron, who has been named the Head of Player Development. Lewis Roberts has been confirmed as Academy Manager. Former Wales international Cerys Hale will continue her work as the Pathway Co-ordinator.
Jack Condy will be the Senior Academy Coach alongside Tom Hancock, with the latter joining having previously worked for the Scarlets academy. After three years with RGC, former Wales interntional Ceri Jones has returned to take on the Academy Coach role alongside Adam Thomas.
Isobel Fisher comes in as Head of Academy Medical Services, and will link up with Lily Jones as Academy Physiotherapist. Ellis Brindley, Matthew Pole and Morgan Akrill will continue in their respective roles.
Head coach Dai Flanagan commented: ““We want to produce the very best homegrown players through our pathway system, so the investment and expansion of our Academy set-up is an important milestone for the club.
“Having a Head of Player Development in place, alongside an Academy Manager and Pathway Co-ordinator, plus the very best coaches, strength and conditioning staff and medics, ensures we have the best team in place for every young Dragon in our system.”
La Rochelle sign France international
Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle have signed France international Nolann le Garrec.
The scrum-half/fly-half will join the club from rivals Racing 92 on a two-year contract after the 2024/2025 season. The 22-year-old made his debut for Les Bleus during the Six Nations last year and even picked up the player of the match award against Wales this year. You may remember him throwing a stunning reverse pass at the Principality Stadium in this match.
Le Garrec first broke through at Racing during the 2020/2021 season and has been a regular for the team since. He will replace the outgoing Tawera Kerr-Barlow, with the All Black’s contract expiring in 2025.
A club statement from La Rochelle read: “Nolann Le Garrec, who arrived at the Racing training centre in 2017 from RC Vannes, has just announced to us that he will join Stade Rochelais from the 2025/26 season. The whole club and Nolann will have at the heart of closing of this adventure with the always strong ambition of Racing 92 to win titles.”
