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Wallabies vs Springboks: Rugby Championship preview

Roar Guru
16th July, 2015
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Come on Cornal, Julian Savea isn't that big. Oh wait, yes he is. Continue on. (AFP PHOTO / Juan Mabromata).
Roar Guru
16th July, 2015
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7693 Reads

This coming Saturday will provide us the first insight into what might transpire later this year during the Rugby World Cup.

South Africa will take on Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, a ground where success has been hard to come by for the Springboks.

Recent results
7 September 2013 South Africa wins 38-12
24 July 2010 Ausralia wins 30-13
5 September 2009 Australia wins 21-6

Michael Cheika has pretty much selected a familiar matchday 22, with perhaps a surprise that David Pocock was named on the bench with Michael Hooper starting at seven

For most Springbok supporters the sight of a prone David Pocock given Carte Blanche by Bryce Lawrence will be forever imprinted in their minds, and hence a surprise that the bogeyman of breakdown play is not starting.

Be that as it may, Michael Cheika has decided he needs a back row more capable of running with ball in hand and linking with his outside backs. The theory, of course, is to run the Springbok forwards around and tire them sufficiently to open up the game in the latter stages and hoping defensive lapses will generate enough holes to punch through.

Considering that Meyer has selected a well balanced back row of Burger, Louw and Coetzee you have a combination that might have the edge on the Wallabies’ Fardy, Hooper and Higginbotham.

You first have to win the breakdown in order to unleash the ball wide, and with Fardy, who is very capable at the breakdown, but up against a loose trio who can all competently play towards the ball plus Bismarck du Plessis who is as capable at the breakdown as anyone, Fardy might be set up for a hefty challenge.

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Burger has reinvented his game, distribution, looking for support runners and getting the ball into space. He is a far cry from the young 23-year-old who used to be little more than a crash test dummy with no regard for his own safety.

For that we have Marcell Coetzee, easily as capable as the younger version of Schalk Burger.

Hooper and Higginbotham are both very intelligent and competent players, but whether they will run Burger, Louw and Coetzee into the ground is a questionable matter.

I am rather excited to see whether Matt Giteau can replicate his form in Europe on the international arena, it has been some time since we saw what he is really capable of. Regardless of that, he will show his wares and his experience will come in handy for the Wallabies.

I have always been in favour of Matt Toomua as he never really let Australia down, but perhaps Giteau’s playmaking ability is what Cheika is hoping will shine through.

For South Africa, even though we are unlikely to see much of the Pollard, de Allende and Jesse Kriel show for much of this season, it will be good to see how this very young and realistically very inexperienced group of youngsters stack up against an experienced trio of Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau and Tevita Kuridrani.

Giteau has all the skills to put Kuridrani into the half spaces and Pollard, de Allende and Kriel will have to mark their opponents and ensure they do not break the line to create any mismatches in the backline defence.

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On the other hand, De Allende’s ability to stay up in the tackle, find his support runner and Kriel’s ability to step and accelerate could be a mighty challenge for the Aussies.

Willie le Roux has not had much game time since his injury lay off, but expect him to come out with at least a few pearlers, and of course the obligatory unforced error or two.

I don’t expect the scrums to be dominated by either pack, however the Springboks might have a slight edge in the lineouts.

I am still not convinced Will Skelton is fit enough to impact a game for 80 minutes, and Cheika will most likely hope that Skelton can make an impact for at least the first 40 minutes. His bulk will most definitely be a factor, however is he really an advantage in the line outs?

Pollard’s boot can be erratic at times, and it will be vital for him to kick his goals, and his tactical nous is still wanting. There was not much control taken by him for the Bulls during the Super Rugby season.

Concerns for the Bok pack might be the lack of physicality by Matfield, and Jannie du Plessis’ work rate in defence. Other than that it is an experienced pack and well balanced.

Ruan Pienaar, is, well, Ruan Pienaar. He’s used to controlling things from behind the ruck. He is solid and reliable, but not the most exciting halfback in the world.

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I expect Australia to want to keep ball in hand, try to build phases and get Kuridrani and Folau into space. Perhaps that’s too predictable?

South Africa will most likely continue playing their defensive game, only really using counter attack from deep if the play is on, otherwise they will kick possession away out of their half, build phases inside the Aussie half, with hopefully enough patience to gain front foot ball.

Who will win?

I suppose the fence is the safest option, so I will be making myself very comfortable there.

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