Rassie Erasmus has named a powerful and dynamic Springbok outfit to tackle the Wallabies in the opening game of the 2024 Rugby Championship at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.
2024 Rugby Championship – Round 1
Australia v South Africa
Saturday 10 August 2024 – 06:30
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
The Springboks come into the 2024 Rugby Championship as outright favourites and will want to get their tournament off the a flyer against the Wallabies. To do so, they must win at a ground on which they’ve lost their last four encounters. Shaun Goosen previews.
To Win Match
Australia 11/4 | Draw 25/1 | South Africa 2/7
Handicap
Australia (+9.5) 9/10 | South Africa (-9.5) 2/7
Since 1965, the Boks have triumphed just once over the Aussies at the ground in 12 times of trying, with that famous win coming under Heyneke Meyer 11 years ago. Considering where the two teams are these days though, it would be a massive surprise if the double world champions don’t ease to a comfortable win on Saturday.
The squad Erasmus has assembled includes two first-time starters: Elrigh Louw at No 8 and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at pivot. While we can expect a characteristically industrious and abrasive performance from the Bulls man, the inclusion of the latter is the real talking point.
In just four outings to date, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has made a big impact at Test level, particularly against Ireland in Durban last month. Although Handre Pollard has been named in the 6-2 bench split as an insurance policy, there is every reason to believe that a strong enough showing from the 22-year-old Stormer could see him hold on to the flyhalf berth for the remainder of the tournament. If he can replicate his 85.7% franchise goal-kicking success rate in green and gold, Pollard’s reign at No 10 could be over for good.
It’s difficult seeing the Wallabies getting anything in the way of prolonged periods of dominance against such an established pack of Bok matchday forwards. Joe Schmidt’s men got their 2024 season up and running with consecutive wins over Wales (twice) and Georgia, but the Boks’ level of physicality is a whole different ball game, which, having already honed themselves against world No 2-ranked Ireland, will be even more battle-hardened.
Although the tourists will employ their classic donder, skop en jag tactics this weekend, we can expect some degree of novelty in mercurial attack coach Tony Brown’s strategy, which is sure to supplement the natural flair of players like Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Willie le Roux superbly.
Verdict: South Africa (-9.5) 9/10
Get on the Springboks to get their campaign underway with a full house of log points in Brisbane. The Wallabies simply don’t have the cattle to affect an upset.
