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Rugby Championship: Australia vs South Africa Preview

Rugby Championship: New Zealand vs Australia Preview

A stern Test awaits the Springboks in Brisbane as they prepare to take on the Wallabies.  


Date: Saturday, September 8
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 12:00
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

To Win (80 Mins)
Australia 11/20
Draw 25/1
South Africa 15/10

Handicap 
Australia  (-5.5) 9/10
South Africa (+5.5) 9/10

Australia will be out for redemption in the familiar surrounds of Suncorp Stadium where they’ve won nine of their 12 encounters against the Springboks.

The last time the Boks won in Brisbane was in 2013 after losing both Rugby Championship matches in 2015 and 2016. The hosts go in as favourites with a fair (-5) handicap. You can’t really compare Australia’s back to back defeats against New Zealand with South Africa’s 1-1 record against Argentina this season – the All Blacks and Pumas are worlds apart.

South Africa’s experimental phase has seen Rassie Erasmus ring the changes for this clash after his side’s 34 – 21 loss to Argentina. Erasmus has opted for Damian de Allende to make his first start of the year at centre alongside Jesse Kriel, while Cheslin Kolbe could earn his Test debut if he comes on from the bench. Tendai Mtawarira, and Malcolm Marx are also on the bench, while Elton Jantjies will start at 10.

Israel Folau is back for the Australians while the dynamic Kurtley Beale will start at flyhalf. Reece Hodge and Matt Toomua form the centre pairing, and turnover king David Pocock will make another start alongside captain Michael Hooper.

Stats

  • Matches played in Australia – the hosts have won 24 from the 38 played, lost 12 and drawn 2. 
  • Matches played in South Africa – Springboks have won 34 from the 45 played, lost 10 and drawn one.

Teams

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Bernard Foley, 23 Jack Maddocks

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Rudolph Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Cheslin Kolbe

Verdict: Australia (-5.5) 9/10 
The impact of Kurtley Beale at fly half could prove pivotal to Australia’s first 2018 Rugby Championship victory, and in front of a home crowd it’s hard to see the Boks getting a win.  

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Writtern by Lungelo Mdladla for Hollywoodbets

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