Rassie Erasmus has made 13 changes to the starting XV for the match against Australia, entrusting the captaincy to André Esterhuizen. Only Eben Etzebeth and Ethan Hooker retain their positions from the team that defeated the All Blacks 43-28 in Baltimore. Esterhuizen will become the 68th captain in the history of the Springboks. In the halfbacks, Herschel Jantjies reteams with Handré Pollard, while Canan Moodie accompanies Esterhuizen in the center. Up front, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, and Zachary Porthen will form a largely reworked front row. Etzebeth, already the holder of the South African selection record, will be paired with Franco Mostert. Paul de Villiers, Elrigh Louw, and Marco van Staden complete the pack. However, the "team B" label may not be accurate, as Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Wilco Louw, Lood de Jager, or Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are waiting on the bench. The eight substitutes have accumulated more than 330 selections, more than some full teams. Esterhuizen's selection as captain is notable, especially in view of the World Cup in Australia. The 32-year-old player is now regularly used as a flanker by the Springboks. Erasmus has been pushing for versatility, even blurring the boundaries between forwards and backs. Marco van Staden can cover at the flank, Jan-Hendrik Wessels as well, while Malcolm Marx has been tested in training as a flanker. The coach could still move pieces during the match. He explained that the entry of Ox Nche could allow Wessels to become a flanker, while mentioning the trials conducted with Marx in the flanker position. Each player must be able to change roles without breaking the system. This rotation comes after a series won 3-1 against New Zealand. Erasmus can therefore open his squad without completely sacrificing experience. Jasper Wiese, a substitute on Sunday, must notably play his 50th selection. Behind, Pollard provides an anchor point for a line where Aphelele Fassi and Edwill van der Merwe get a new opportunity to show themselves. Perth will mainly serve to measure the ability of this team to maintain South African standards with 13 new starters. Erasmus believes that Australia presents a different challenge from the All Blacks, particularly in the way they occupy the field and retain the ball in an organized structure. With one year to the 2027 World Cup, every association tested today can become a solution when injuries and suspensions begin to weigh on a tournament of seven weeks. Erasmus is already preparing for future challenges. Perth will allow testing an unprecedented captain, a revived halfback pair, several versatile players, and a nearly new front row, while keeping a large squad on the bench. Among the Springboks, even the experiments are now done with a parachute.