That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
Les Kiss, the coach of Australia’s national rugby team the Wallabies, has decided to move Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from outside centre to wing for the upcoming Test match against South Africa in Perth on Sunday. This change is driven by Suaalii's aerial skills and the Springboks' tendency to use contested kicking as a key tactic. Meanwhile, Hunter Paisami will start at inside center and Len Ikitau returns to his preferred position of outside centre. The article highlights the strategic decisions being made ahead of what promises to be an intense matchup between the two teams.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-23,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Sunday, September 27, Australia will host South Africa at Perth Stadium in a one-off rugby test. The Wallabies enter this match unbeaten in their last five Test matches with four wins and one draw but face a formidable opponent in the reigning world champions. Coach Les Kiss has made significant changes to the lineup by shifting star player Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii from his usual position to play on the left wing, allowing Len Ikitau to return to outside center for the first time since November 2024.
Meanwhile, South Africa's team features numerous alterations following their dominant series win over New Zealand. Only two players—lock Eben Etzebeth and winger Ethan Hooker—are retaining their starting positions from that series finale in Baltimore. The Springboks’ bench is packed with world-class talent capable of turning the tide of the match, including Jasper Wiese and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Despite these changes, South Africa's depth remains a significant advantage, particularly given the potential impact of their powerful reserve players who can disrupt fatigued opponents. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two strong teams with contrasting strategies and player dynamics. Perth, known for its large expatriate South African community, is expected to see another enthusiastic turnout at the stadium.
Written for “Rugby Test Between Australia And Sout…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.
Wallabies coach Les Kiss has pulled the trigger on a positional change for highly paid star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and shifted him to the wing to meet the Springboks in Perth on Sunday.
asserted
Kiss → pull → Sunday
For the first time since Suaalii switched to rugby in late 2024, the 23-year-old will start a Test in a spot other than outside centre; the role he has played in 22 of his 24 Tests.
asserted
he → switch → Tests
Suaalii’s only time on the wing for the Wallabies came mid-game against Japan in Osaka last month, and he has only played centre or fullback for the Waratahs.
asserted
he → come → Waratahs
The move will see Hunter Paisami start at No.12 and Len Ikitau return to No.13, the position he played before Suaalii’s arrival.
asserted
he → see → arrival
Ikitau proved outstanding as an inside centre and won the John Eales medal in 2025, awarded to the top player of the Australian season.
asserted
Ikitau → prove → season
But debate has still raged about Suaalii’s best position.
asserted
debate → rag → position
The aerial athleticism of Suaalii is a big factor in Kiss’ decision, given the Springboks use contested kicking heavily as a tactic to win possession and establish a foothold in their rivals’ territory.
asserted
Springboks → give → territory
The Boks’ wingers are strong in the air, but Suaalii’s capacity to win high kick contests will be a strong counter.
asserted
capacity → win → contests
Paisami’s excellent form against Japan and Argentina, while Ikitau was injured, has impressed Kiss and played a big part in the decision to try a new combination.
asserted
Ikitau → injure → combination
Ben Donaldson is set to retain his spot at No.10, with Carter Gordon out with a broken leg.
asserted
Gordon → set → leg
The Wallabies are set to go with a 6-2 bench to counter the Springboks’ bomb squad among their reserves, which Boks coach Rassie Erasmus named on Tuesday night.
asserted
Erasmus → set → night
Tom Hooper is set to return on the bench.
asserted
Hooper → set → bench
Erasmus has named a heavily rotated team to face the Wallabies, with only winger Ethan Hooker and second-rower Eben Etzebeth retained as starters from the team that defeated New Zealand in Baltimore in the final Test of the four-match series.
asserted
that → name → series
South Africa have also named an experienced bench, including hooker Malcolm Marx and loosehead prop Ox Nche, to offset an inexperienced Test front row of Zachary Porthen, Johan Grobbelaar and Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
asserted
Africa → name → Porthen
Captain Siya Kolisi drops out of the squad.
asserted
Kolisi → drop → squad
“Sometimes you have to roll the dice,” Erasmus said.
asserted
Erasmus → have → dice
“We rolled the dice a little bit against the All Blacks with playing consistently [with] the same team and obviously getting some momentum as it goes on longer, but if we keep on doing that, how would we know when we get to the Nations Championship at the end of the year or at the World Cup next year, what can the next guy do?
asserted
guy → roll → what
“I can tell you that they’re really hungry [the starters], they really want to play, and they’ve been idling for a hell of a long time.
asserted
they → tell → time
We know they’ll be up for this match [the Wallabies], licking their lips and trying to sink their teeth into us and finding a good foothold here.”
asserted
they → know → foothold
The Wallabies name their team on Friday.
asserted
Wallabies → name → Friday
The Aporia
