Wallabies vice captain James Slipper says the side is hopeful they can end a Cape Town winning drought in their upcoming Test against the Springboks – but admits New Zealand have pretty much got the Rugby Championship in the bag.
The team flew out of Sydney on Monday morning ahead of their two-match tour of South Africa and Argentina.
The Australian squad will line up against the Springboks on Saturday before playing the Pumas on October 4.
Before jetting off, Slipper said the tour was a chance for the Wallabies to regain the momentum they lost after their 50-21 walloping in Auckland last month.
“We’re pretty happy with the way were going but I think ever since that Auckland game we lost a bit of momentum,” he said.
“And (the Championship) probably is New Zealand’s to lose.
“In saying that they have to do this trip as well. It’s one of the tougher trips you can do as a rugby team.”
To stand any chance of ending the Springboks’ dominance at Newlands – undefeated by an Australian side at the ground in over 20 years – the Wallabies would have to improve their physicality and defence, he said.
“I think … we’ve been a bit frantic (in the past),” Slipper said.
“But I think with our game (and) the players that are in our team at the moment, we’re shutting down games.
“Obviously we didn’t do too well on the Gold Coast – but I feel like we’re scoring enough points, we just need to step up our defence.”
But the inclusion of veteran Schalk Burger to replace injured Francois Louw showed the depth of talent in the South African squad, he admitted.
While noting Burger would be a “world-class” opponent, Slipper joked the big name could have a bigger impact off-field.
“I’m sure just another couple of thousand people will turn up just to see Schalk,” he said.
In their last meeting, the Wallabies edged out South Africa 24-23 in a nail-biting showdown in Perth.
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