The Springboks have a great shot at securing a first win over the Wallabies in Australia since 2013 when the sides collide at Adelaide Oval in the third round of the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
Australia v South Africa
Saturday 27 August
07:30
Adelaide Oval
To Win Match
Australia 15/10 | Draw 20/1 | South Africa 11/20
Handicap
Australia (+4.5) 9/10 | South Africa (-4.5) 9/10
The Boks’ record against Australia in Oz makes for difficult reading: they’ve won just 12 of the 41 Tests they’ve played there since 1937. Since Heyneke Meyer’s side won in Brisbane nine years ago, the men in green and gold have drawn one and lost six of the seven matches they’ve contested Down Under.
Having triumphed 26-10 over the All Blacks in the first round, Siya Kolisi’s men head into this one off the back of a morale-sapping 23-35 defeat in the Johannesburg rematch and now sit in a precarious position if they are to go on and win the competition this season.
With a trip to Buenos Aires to follow the two-game tour of Australia, the Boks need at least two wins to have a realistic shot at the championship going into their final game against Argentina at Kings Park on 24 September.
For all the talk of New Zealand’s poor recent results, they have a fantastic opportunity to defend the title they won in 2021 with three of their remaining four matches at home.
The #RugbyChampionship is back this week!!
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) August 22, 2022
Time to take on the Wallabies 👊👊 pic.twitter.com/PndMXcp6gi
The Wallabies’ running game gave the Boks all kinds of headaches last year and powered them to back-to-back victories over the world champions, but a mounting injury list this season will be cause for concern for Dave Rennie.
Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi were instrumental in Australia’s wins over the Boks last year, but both are out with long-term injuries. Legendary skipper Michael Hooper is on a mental health break. To make matters worse, Rennie’s charges just copped their worst ever loss to Argentina, a 48-17 result in San Juan in round two.
The influence of recently recalled duo Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley may have given the squad a boost, but the fact remains that the Wallabies are vulnerable right now.
If the Bok heavies can keep it tight and dominate the set piece in the same manner they did in the first All Blacks Test in Mbombela, they will suffocate the hosts.
Verdict: South Africa 5/10
Get on the Springboks to deliver the goods here and banish the memories of last year’s back-to-back defeats Down Under.
Teams
Australia
Reece Hodge, Tom Wright, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Jed Holloway, Matt Philip, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper (c).
Reserves: Dave Porecki, Scott Sio, Taniela Tupou, Darcy Swain, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Andrew Kellaway.
Springboks
Damian Willemse, Warrick Gelant, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (c), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Joseph Dweba, Ox Nche
Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Elton Jantjies, Frans Steyn
