James O'Connor returns as Wallabies name team for Bok showdown at Ellis Park

It marks a change in approach from coach Joe Schmidt, who last year signalled a shift away from experienced playmakers like O'Connor, Quade Cooper, and Bernard Foley in favour of Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh, and Ben Donaldson.

But with Lolesio sidelined after neck surgery and Lynagh injured following a dangerous clean-out from Lions hooker Dan Sheehan, Schmidt has been forced to turn back to the 35-year-old.

The inclusion of O'Connor is the only change to the starting XV that defeated the British & Irish Lions in Sydney a fortnight ago.

Notably, the Wallabies coach has also gone with a 6-2 split on the bench, which could prompt a late change in the Bok side after Rassie Erasmus hinted he might make a late adjustment to his bench if Australia took that approach.

As for the starting side, loosehead James Slipper is one of only three players named in the matchday 23 who have faced the Springboks at Ellis Park, alongside his fellow prop Taniela Tupou and starting scrumhalf Nic White.

Billy Pollard completes the run on front row at hooker, with his club teammate Nick Frost and the dangerous Will Skelton starting in the second row for the third consecutive Test.

Tom Hooper returns to South Africa, having made his debut here in 2023 and will start at blindside flanker, combining with Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson in the loose forward trio. Wilson will again lead the side as number eight.

Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii start in the midfield for the seventh straight occasion, the latter playing his first Test in South Africa.

Try scorers in Sydney, Dylan Pietsch and Max Jorgensen are both selected on the wing, with Tom Wright named at fullback to round out the back three.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: "The group has had a good week of preparation, adjusting pretty well to the time zone and the altitude well here in Johannesburg.

"There's not many bigger Tests than playing South Africa on their home turf and we know we're going to need to be at our best on Saturday night."

Wallabies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Dylan Pietsch, 10 James O'Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper

Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Andrew Kellaway

READ MORE: Bok bolter Edwill van der Merwe: "Scoring tries is just a bonus"