The Wallabies have finally got themselves back into the winners circle, recording a tough six-point victory over the Springboks.
It wasn’t clinical, but they were the better team and executed on their set plays much better than in previous games.
After an early scare as they went down by two tries, the Wallabies worked themselves back into the game and eventually were good enough to take victory.
Final score:
Wallabies 23
Springboks 17
So far this year both the Wallabies and Springboks have disappointed their own fans and failed to flatter – but tonight at Suncorp Stadium, one side at least will come away with their season kick-started, and much-needed spring in their step. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the game from 8:05pm (AEST).
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika is in the unusual position of being under fire from many quarters for presiding over six successive losses, yet there being no credible prospect of him coming under pressure to retain his position.
Accordingly, there is no sense of panic in and around the Wallabies camp, they genuinely believe they are close to righting their ship and returning to the winner’s circle. The selected side thus retains the Michael Hooper and David Pocock combination at Nos.7 and 8, and Israel Folau at fullback, and also the inside back combination of Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley, as used in Wellington.
Changes mostly occur at the fringe – Dean Mumm at 6, ostensibly to beef up the lineout, and Reece Hodge to start for the first time, on the wing. What it does mean however is that there are five starting players effectively playing out of their usual position.
An obvious area of concern this season has been lineout, but if the Wallabies were expecting any relief in that area, it will be short lived – the Springboks boast the world’s best line-out exponent, Eben Etzebeth, and a forest of other tall timber options in the middle row and loose forwards.
The Wallabies need to get lineout success early – otherwise their confidence will take a massive hit and they could be in for a long night.
They also need to get their attack rolling early – get plenty of touches into Cooper and get Folau running at the Springboks, which will build confidence and bring the crowd into the game.
South Africa, for their part, has yet to achieve the fluidity and cohesion to their play this season that coach Allister Coetzee is seeking. He has a number of players from the successful Lions Super Rugby side in his line-up, yet hasn’t been able to provide them with the licence to play their natural game.
They have players with high skill and finishing ability all over the park – at 33 years old, Bryan Habana remains one of the best in the business – but have yet to settle on a clear, discernible style under the new coach.
Expect them to sternly test the Wallabies up front – the versatility of Francois Hougaard starting on the wing but covering halfback as well, allows them the luxury of a 6/2 bench split – but also look for plenty of tricks from the hot and cold Elton Jantjies.
Both sides will have benefitted from having the week off and will be fully charged to hit back from their respective disappointments. And even if the Wallabies dial back slightly the overt aggression they showed in Wellington, I expect them to again come out with plenty of physical intent.
Australia has won six of their last seven home tests against South Africa. The overall record at this ground is 8-1.
I don’t think South Africa is going well enough right now to overcome those statistics. Wallabies by 10.
Join The Roar this evening from 8:05pm (AEST) for pre-match discussion, live scores and updates, and debates.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He ran aimlessly sideways once
Hokonui27
Guest
Onya Oz.....commiserations Boks. Bit like a slug fest there tonight, with damp conditions taking a metre of pace out of the game. Both 15's battled hard, and it was only in one area the game was won in my opinion....goal kicking. Both teams tries cancelled each other, and it was only the boot of Foley that got the wobs ahead. Ups to Cheika for backing HIS team, not the one being pushed by all the experts in the press. Kia kaha.......
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah that's a good point. No more of the old school left. Going to be tough next week then. ABs will prepare like its the old foe only to find there might be nothing in front of them. Ardie will start. Wonder if Akira might get a call up. He's playing 7 at the moment, albeit under the new rules. Still think he's the quickest loosie around though. Record score?
ebop
Guest
Didn't say they didn't Read it again But carefully this time
Simoc
Guest
Yes that is all so true. I enjoyed the game as well. Like you I think most commenters have no understanding of the game. However it is identical on the BBC website. The problem there is that they seemed to take some notice of media criticism from explayers where as here they don't. Which is good.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Well I have to agree about Cooper. If Wallaby fans were happy with that style of game then good luck to them. I thought he was the most frustrating player on the field, running aimlessly sideways at almost every occasion, cramping his own players. The Boks were giving him acres more space than the ABs were and he just didn't do enough with it. Sure he mixed play up but it never felt his options were dead on, each play never quite enough to create points. One time he should have run but passed to no avail. He's certainly not Foley in terms of taking the ball up, no way would Cooper have scored the try Foley got, as he can't hit the line with any impact, just kind of drifts up into it expecting things to happen. Oz fans seem settled on Cooper and if so I think they're in for an even more frustrating year from him. Obviously won't get agreement here because any positives seem to be placating fans at the moment, and understandably so. But play Cooper again at Eden park and he's going to be benign, again.
AndyS
Guest
Well said Iain. Not a perfect game,'cos very few are. But a good game between well matched opponents. That'll do for me...IMO, criticising anything less than perfection every single time as failure is the sporting equivalent of an eating disorder.
Tgibbs
Guest
Cheika should watch the Argentina vs New Zealand team to get some tips on how to coach.The Pumas did what the Wallabies couldn't, cant and wont until they change their coach. I am an All Blacks Fan and love the rivalry between Australia and NZ but this so called coach is killing the wallabies.Surely there are other talented coaches still In OZ?
Rev
Guest
As much as i love the All Blacks. I actually don't think we are that much in front of the pack. Sure we have recently had some dominant wins, but they have all been at home (besides Sydney). I feel that when we will actually have to play against the likes of South Africa or Northern Hemisphere teams, at there home ground (When things usually don't go our way), we could in fact be caught in a tight match that isn't as open. when that happens, i'm not sure if the current ABs have the same mental strength as last years team to grind out matches (Especially when our kickers aren't so good at the moment). .
hopalong
Guest
Atrocious grammar. That,s " my eye,Boks play." A Bok with a dispassionate eye was Martin Pelser. And,I think,Klippies Kritzinger.
Thabokruger
Guest
Don't you guys see? They won't lift against the all blacks because this is no longer the springboks of old. This is a completely different team with new management, new politics and a new way of thinking. They're an average outfit. Accept it.
hopalong
Guest
My first real test of watching the Boks with a dispassionate eye. Surprisingly easy.
Harry Jones
Expert
Maybe it's one of those tournaments where all teams win at home. Except NZ
Antoni
Guest
Oh, whatever, bounce of the ball or opportunistic, the Wallabies as a team did not play badly to let that try in, Foley made an error, correct. After the second Bok try the Bok did not really look like scoring and the Wallabies pretty well dominated to go from 14/3 down to 23/14 up. But of course, you just want to put everything in as negative light as possible to match your theme that the Wallabies are an atrocious rugby team.
Xiedazhou
Guest
Hahaha, well done Jokerman. Your standard comedy gold with regards to Cooper, who broke the defensive line on several occasions. But please don't let facts get in the way of your comedic narrative.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Say what you want about "Pooper", they are Australia's biggest threat by far. Flip they're quick to the gain line and cause problems hey. I need to pay more attention to what the All Blacks specifically do to try and nullify them. The Wallabies may not have an out & out Number 8, but Hooper & Pocock are the best players in that team and you have to play both of them.
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
That was an honest game where both sides played their best in the spirit of the game.
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
Some posters are demanding perfect rugby every time.There was lot to like about this performance, keeping it in perspective. Copper is now the incumbent 10 - no question. Genia is now the incumbent 9 with a solid game, and smart decisions. He demands alot of his colleagues, and rightly so. Hodge has promise but is not yet the Messiah - softly,softly.... Folau gets no opportunity at Fb to attack..ffs..it's as obvious as Trump is a megalomaniac (TWAS may disagree). DHP needs work, and is no AAC. Foley scored the try that won the match.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Wow...okay... So that felt like a competition of who can be more clueless. Some serious coaching deficiencies in both teams. Well done Wallabies, the better of the out-of-form teams tonight. A good day out with some family at the rugby though :-)
Iain
Guest
Whit in the name of the wee man is wrong with you Australian people? Nothing but negativity from the likes of Misha, Dingo, JB, Swifty, Ray, et al.... sorry I keep having to go back to see what other third team expert has to say about the game. It's perfectly obvious that none of you charmers have ever played first grade rugby. Why? You all seem to know so much more about rugby and have a much better idea of how to beat the other teams than the poor buggers who actually managed to get into the firsts.That's surely the definition of a third grade rugby player! .... A player who couldn't get into the firsts but ended up as a selector! I wouldn't mind so much if there was a bit of humility about it but there isn't is there.... you just go onanonanon about how Quade is rubbish, Genia is too old, Pocock and Michael Hooper are rubbish together, etc etc et ruddy cetera. I arrived in Brisbane way back in 1982 and was fortunate that I had played alongside a couple of the Scottish players. Made myself known and was given a couple of tickets to the Ballymore match in July I think. It is 34 years later and I am still shocked that half of the Queensland Australian Ballymore crowd were booing Australia because Maclean and Gould were dropped. What is wrong with you idiots? The Australia v South African game tonight was a thoroughly enjoyable game to watch. Quade Cooper was wonderful to behold with his out of the box passes, Genia was terrific, Foley had a great kicking game, Folau?.... did none of you see his fabulous catches? Stephen Moore? He probably worked it out for himself but what a great game he had.... did he throw in squint? Noope. Oh aye! the Argentina v All Black game? Terrific... .that's another game which is why I love rugby.