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While you chew over the Boks’ problems in the back row, why not take a gender at some fine writing:
Our man Angus Fontaine is in bullish spirits as he backs the Wallabies to do the double:
Andy Bull was in Sunderland watching women’s rugby reach stratospheric levels last night:
Sarah Rendell was also up north, reporting on an England rout:
And Aaron Bower was on hand to watch the Wallaroos put Samoa to the sword:
An intersting point shared on X by South African commentator AP Cronje:
“I would honestly rather they just start Andre at 8 and have Kwagga come off the bench. Maybe Marco [van Staden] will play 8 and Kwagga will be 6 - which is marginally better than the other way around. Either way we have problems. Pack severely lacking in momentum givers.”
I worry for the Springboks.
Not often you look at the back row and think they’re short of grunt but with Kwagga Smith (at 8) and Franco Mostert (at 7) playing out of position, you must be worried too if you’re a South African support.
Valetini, Hooper and McReight will be licking their lips at the prospect of yet again commanding their sphere of influence.
We’ve got our first email of the afternoon and it’s from a gem, Darryl Accone, looking for an old school chum:
Hi Daniel,
Back in 1969 the Wallabies lost all four Tests of the series to the Springboks. As a nine year old at the time, from an Eurasian family classified as “non-White” by the apartheid government of the day, my support went to the Australians. Only one other boy in our private school was rooting for the Wallabies: Adrian Robertson, son of the Australian ambassador to South Africa. If Adrian’s out there reading this, I have to say my allegiances have changed, mate, but it was so good to stand with you then.
Ciao.
Late change as Jean-Luc du Preez pulls out with illness
The curse of the Boks No 8 continues.
Jasper Wiese is suspended after being injured for some time. Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hannekom, Juarno Augustus and Siya Kolisi are all on the phsyio’s table.
That means that Andre Esterhuizen, a centre by trade, has been called onto the bench. Don’t be surprised if you see him pack down at flank.
Kwagga Smith starts, making that back row look quite light all of a sudden.
Worrying for the Boks.
Wallabies team news
The return of Rob Valetini adds heft and dynamism to an already accomplished back row.
There’s also a debut for Corey Toole who starts on the wing. The 25-year-old has already had a taste of the big time having played in the Paris Olympics, but this will be a different challenge for the sevens ace.
Skipper Harry Hilson is out with a knee niggle so the breakdown king Fraser McReight captains.
James Slipper also misses out having failed to recover from a head knock and is replaced by Tom Robertson in the front row.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said the side had recovered well after the physical encounter at altitude and had identified their slow start – trailing 22-0 – as an area they needed to improve.
“The squad as a whole has recovered pretty well from what was a very draining and physical Test match on the highveld last week,” he said in a statement.
“We struggled to contain a powerhouse Springbok start last weekend and we know that we have to improve leading into what’s likely to be a bruising encounter in Cape Town.”
Wallabies: Tom Wright; Max Jorgensen, Joseph Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Corey Toole; James O’Connor, Nic White; Tom Robertson, Billy Pollard, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight (c), Rob Valetini.
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Tane Edmed, Tate McDermott, Andrew Kellaway.
Springboks team news
Out with the flash, in with the grit.
It’s not as simple as that, or is it?
Manie Libbok’s razzle-dazzle has been shelved for the more pragmatic Handre Pollard at fly-half.
The Boks have all but telegraphed that they will play a route one game today. Expect runners off short passes, pods of forwards battering the line and big meaty hits around the fringe. If they earn the right to go wide the returning Cheslin Kolbe will be ready to pounce.
One area of concern could be at fullback where the assist-machine that is Willie le Roux might be tasked with fielding high kicks. Will Australia target the veteran with an aerial assault?
There’s a late change: Jean-Luc du Preez was meant to start at no. 8. He’s unwell which means Kwagga Smith slots in at the base of the pack. Andre Esterhuizen is now on the bench.
Springboks: Willie le Roux; Canan Moodie, Jesse Kriel (c), Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe; Handre Pollard, Grant Williams; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, RG Snyman, Ruan Nortje, Marco van Staden, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith.
Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Boan Venter, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
In the immortal words of Woody Harrelson’s Tallahassee, it’s time to nut up or shut up.
For South Africa’s Springboks who must now dispel all talk of a dynasty in decline. Who must prove that their all-conquering champions are still a force to be reckoned with.
For Australia’s Wallabies who must now hammer down on their gains. Who must now prove that their heroes in gold are a team on the rise.
Last week defied expectations. From 22-0 down Australia roared back to claim a 38-22 win. Remarkable. Sensational. Bewildering. Take your pick. None of them will do it justice.
Don’t expect a freewheeling Boks today. Rassie Erasmus has promised to bring the thunder with good old fashioned Saffa rugby. They’ll be direct. They’ll be aggressive. They will do whatever they can to deny the Wallabies loose forwards opportunity to boss the breakdown once again.
Can they do it? Or will wily Joe Schmidt orchestrate another heist? We’ll find out together.
Kick-off at 5:10 pm local time, 4:10 pm in the UK and 0:10 am AEST.
Teams and other bits to come.
