Round 5 of the 2014 Rugby Championship sees South Africa hosting the Wallabies in beautiful Cape Town. Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 1:00am (AEST).
A pivotal match between these two sides with both currently sitting on ten competition points.
With only one round remaining, a win is a must for either side if they wish to maintain hope of winning the Rugby Championship.
Some big talking points ahead of this match are in the bench selections.
Coach Ewen McKenzie has moved away from the 6-2 bench employed in recent times to a more traditional 4-3 split, with Matt Hodgson dropping out of the 23 and Scott Higginbotham providing the only loose forward cover from the bench. Rob Horne takes another place on the bench, being pushed out of the starting XV by the returning Joe Tomane.
Horne can count himself unlucky, being one of the Wallabies’ more consistent performers this season and while Tomane perhaps offers more in attack, if the Wallabies’ forwards are going backwards it could be a long day chasing Springbok speedster Cornal Hendricks, especially considering match fitness may be an issue after a long layoff.
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has named a powerful line-up and imposing bench with Bismarck du Plessis, Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger ready and waiting to be introduced into the match.
Plenty of interest will also surround the performance of Francois Hougaard and Handre Pollard in the halves, and how much time the exciting Cobus Reinach gets from the bench.
For the Wallabies, McKenzie has kept faith with his under-fire lock pair of Rob Simmons and Sam Carter and out-of-form blindside Scott Fardy. These three players in particular have come under much scrutiny from fans and media alike, and need a big game.
The Wallabies’ forwards cannot afford another off day like in their last away match. If they wish to unleash the potent attacking ability in their back division the forwards must gain parity against a very powerful Springbok team who will be out to avenge the Perth loss with a solid performance in front of the Cape Town faithful.
Pop the coffee on, settle in and don’t forget to log in and have a say as we cover all the action live.
Tip: Springboks by 8.
Harry Jones
Expert
And it's Newlands We are a big drain From the mountain To the Sandy Cape flats
etienne marais
Guest
Hey Fred. Yes I went apopleptic. A tight scoreline 36 minutes in. The psychology of going into the break with a lead (remember Ellispark last year?). No doubt there is a place for the line-kick-and-maul, but it was not then. But I'll take the result. We played mostly well, and it was vitall to get a result. Although the scoreline flatters to deceive, again, we needed this little boost before Elllispark II. I do not often say good things about the Aussies, but this game elevated them significantly in my estimation.
fredstone
Guest
Willie kept on inserting himself at first receiver and not out wide, even off first phase ball. Watch the Welsh tests, there's a bit of a difference, maybe it was game plan in trying to take some pressure off Pollard, maybe we'll see something different next week if Lambie plays. I thought they were trying to on first phase make everybody watch Willie and forget to pick up the runners off him.
fredstone
Guest
He has a frantic fit of joy whenever one of his players score.
fredstone
Guest
I was really surprised with Fainga'a, thought he really grafted hard. Only one bloke surprised me more on the day.
fredstone
Guest
Pulling your hair out much with those kicks to the corner their Etienne? Found myself screaming go for the touch line after that first try and screaming blue murder at their slopiness in butchering the one opportunity and thinking shoulda gone for posts.
Harry Jones
Expert
Good points all BB I will accept Lambie's and Pollard's errors Lambie is looking to make space Pollard is a kid Just glad Morne Era = over (maybe)
Pollard worries me, to continuously keep making se same mistake is brainless. Willie is good when he is recieving ball with a little space, it allows him to put doubt in the opposition or to draw defenders, then he can put players in space. If he is relied upon to play close to the defensive line it doesn't allow him freedom as the dynamics of the defence is more one on one. When Lambie came on that happened and Willie looked better. Yes Lambie missed a few kicks, but they weren't all easy and he must have felt nervous taking that first kick. Even Pollard missed a kick. I would like to see Lambie and Reinach get 80 minutes together.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Harry, medium term, as an avid AB supporter Pollard worries me... big, strong and talented. He can kick (a few errors but he will learn from them), he can pass, he takes it to the line and he can tackle. Even when his kick was charged down, to see the desperation in his attempt to recover the pill showed his focus... A couple of years in S15 and a few more tests, if he continues to be selected, I reckon he will be the complete package ... that's scary!
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes. Both sides have injury losses SA: without first pick 6, 8, 9, maybe 11, 13. NZ: 1, 2, 4, 10 But depth aplenty Burger might have to start at 8 Whiteley might be good aerobic sub at altitude
Harry Jones
Expert
He looked great w ball; but jeez that missed kick.... Makes me nervous Meyer LOVED that try Lambie elusive and great finish Let's be fair to 20 year old Pollard; he took on the line, ran in heavy traffic Took huge hits The problem in 1H was Willie again! Jeez
I hope so Harry, the bok backline gains much needed space with him, it was evident in the last 15 minutes yesterday.
Harry Jones
Expert
There a few ways in which we are better than last year, even though OZ and ARG have improved more: 1. Fitness over 80 2. Depth (we had no Louw, lost Thor, missing JF at 13, and 3rd/4th string 9s had to call the shots) 3. Being able to play 15+ phase ball 4. Discipline (no cards; very few penalties)
Harry Jones
Expert
And yet When we played NZ in NZ We were not miles behind
Harry Jones
Expert
Hear, hear. Pollard took on the line. Takes it flatter. Scoring only 5 points in 1H was not Pollards fault A lot of dropped ball out wide or in that maul... Probably should have scored 13-17
Harry Jones
Expert
BB, yes, but when I watched the replay just now I see that when Lambie scored that brilliant try, it absolutely made Meyer come out if his skin Good sign for your boy!
Harry Jones
Expert
Schalk has always been skilled like that It wasn't encouraged by Jake or Coach Smit/Vic Schalk is great cricketer too And can kick better than most backs
Harry Jones
Expert
Fardy was a man So was Slipper OZ misses Moore
Harry Jones
Expert
Hear, hear! Brave OZ.
Harry Jones
Expert
Haha! Not sure about that, RT... The scoreboard was level but the last 10-12 minutes was going to be played by WB defenders who were almost out on their feet. 200+ tackles (and a lot if them were tackles of very large guys) At the stadium, I can tell you, those impacts had G forces