Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to start on left wing for Wallabies against South Africa in Perth

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will start on the left wing for the Wallabies in Sunday’s Test against the Springboks in Perth, coach Les Kiss has announced. Kiss named a reshuffled back three with Tom Wright at fullback and Max Jorgensen on the opposite wing.

Suaalii has been shifted to the wing during Wallabies matches before but has never started there; he will line up on the left with Jorgensen on the right and Wright between them. Len Ikitau moves to outside centre while Hunter Paisami occupies the inside centre berth. Australia remain unbeaten in Kiss’s four matches as coach but have yet to face one of the traditional rugby powers, and the Perth fixture is the final Test before the one-year countdown to the home World Cup begins.

Kiss said "We’ve had a solid preparation window here in Perth ahead of what’s going to be a massive Test against South Africa," he said. Brandon Paenga-Amosa was selected to start in the front row between Allan Alaalatoa and Angus Bell. The remainder of the forwards were unchanged from the draw against Argentina in their last outing. Harry Wilson will captain the side from No 8.

Kiss opted for six forwards on the bench in an effort to match the Springboks’ pack. The dynamic forward trio Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Tom Hooper and Carlo Tizzano are expected to be introduced in the second half alongside reserve front-rowers Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross and Taniela Tupou. Tate McDermott and Harry Potter are the only backline cover among the replacements. The last time the Wallabies used a 6-2 bench was against the British & Irish Lions in the second Test in July last year, a match the tourists won 29-26 thanks to a controversial last-minute try.

South Africa have rotated following their four-match series against New Zealand dubbed Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, with coach Rassie Erasmus making 13 changes to his starting side. Despite the turnovers, the Springboks’ line-up still includes flyhalf Handrè Pollard and lock Eben Etzebeth, the Springboks’ most capped player. The selection retains players who were central to South Africa’s recent successes.

Australia: 1. Angus Bell 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Josh Canham 5. Jeremy Williams 6. Rob Valetini 7. Fraser McReight 8. Harry Wilson (captain) 9. Ryan Lonergan 10. Ben Donaldson 11. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 12. Hunter Paisami 13. Len Ikitau 14. Max Jorgensen 15. Tom Wright. Substitutes: 16. Billy Pollard 17. Aidan Ross 18. Taniela Tupou 19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 20. Tom Hooper 21. Carlo Tizzano 22. Tate McDermott 23. Harry Potter.

The Wallabies have six further Tests scheduled this year as part of their preparation for next year’s home World Cup beginning in October; that programme includes a two-match series against New Zealand next month followed by four Nations Championship matches in Europe in November.