The Wallabies won’t be compromising their style or approach to break a decades-long hoodoo in Pretoria – Michael Cheika wants them to do it the “Australian way”.
One of the biggest challenges of Cheika’s coaching coaching career awaits at Loftus Versfeld in Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against a backs-to-the-wall South Africa (Sunday morning AEST).
In six attempts stretching back to 1963, the Wallabies have never won at the intimidating, 51,762-seat cauldron in South Africa’s Highveld region.
It’s the perfect setting for the Springboks to respond after three losses on the bounce, a selection shake-up from coach Alister Coetzee and lingering questions over whether they’ve lost their aura.
But Cheika says they won’t look to play conservative rugby or change their course just to get the job done.
“We don’t just want to go and try to win in Pretoria,” he said.
“Maybe we think too much about what’s going to happen at altitude or what’s going to be the kicking game from them, instead of just saying, ‘let’s play our game, go here and play to the best of our ability and see what happens’.
“We want to go there and play like Australian teams should play rugby and that’s something that we’ve been working really hard on.
“We don’t think we’ve fulfilled that as much as we wanted to this season.”
‘Clarity’ has been the buzzword around Wallabies training in Johannesburg this week – fitting, because it will take a clear, focused mind to beat a Springboks side that seems to grow an extra leg on home turf.
To that end, Cheika has gone with a largely settled line-up, making only one change to his starting team, with Sean McMahon replacing the injured David Pocock (broken hand) at No.8.
The bench, however, is packed with players with the potential to make a decisive late impact, from lock Kane Douglas – who fought his way back into the side after he was dropped for the win over Argentina two weeks ago – to pace machine Sefa Naivalu, who only became eligible to represent Australia on Monday.
The Fijian-born winger is likely to survive Friday’s bench cull and will make his Test debut, with Scott Fardy tipped to be the unlucky man left out.
Cheika believes the Wallabies have ticked every box in preparation.
“We’ve trained pretty hard because we understand there’s going to be a lot of action in the game, there’s going to be a lot of running, a lot of chasing,” he said.
“If you even want to have the hope of being successful down here you’ve got to be prepared to put everything on the line physically.”
AUSTRALIA vs SOUTH AFRICA – AT A GLANCE
When: Saturday, October 1, 5.05pm local (1.05am Sunday AEST)
Where: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistants: John Lacey (Ireland), George Clancy (Ireland)
TMO: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Australia: Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Reece Hodge, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Michael Hooper, Sean McMahon, Dean Mumm, Adam Coleman, Rob Simmons, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio. Bench: James Hanson, James Slipper, Tom Robertson, Kane Douglas, Scott Fardy, Lopeti Timani, Nick Phipps, Tevita Kuridrani, Sefa Naivalu (one to be omitted).
South Africa: Patrick Lambie, Bryan Habana, Jesse Kriel, Juan de Jongh, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn, Rudy Paige, Warren Whiteley, Oupa Mohoje, Francois Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Adriaan Strauss (capt), Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Julian Redelinghuys, Lood de Jager, Willem Alberts, Jaco Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Willie le Roux.
Head-to-head record: Australia 36, South Africa 48, draws 1
In Pretoria: Australia 0, South Africa 6
Last five meetings:
Australia 23-17 South Africa (Brisbane, Sept 2016)
Australia 24-20 South Africa (Brisbane, Jul 2015)
South Africa 28-10 Australia (Cape Town, Sept 2014)
Australia 24-23 South Africa (Perth, Sept 2014)
South Africa 28-8 Australia (Cape Town, Sept 2013)
Machooka
Roar Guru
Dang piru... you look very fetching in your avatar for a rookie. I think it's that 'red and black' thingy. :)
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Hey Chook!! Mate, surely, you realise, that the AB's are on another planet.?............. UNfortunately, as is, some of our supporters.,,,,,,,,, Wel, er,..... that's up for debate. Lol.
piru
Roar Rookie
There's sticking to your guns and there's being unnecessarily obstinate. Though I do agree with him in this instance, Wallabies won't win trying to play Springbok rugby
Machooka
Roar Guru
Kirky... I think your last line should read ' (Un)fortunately none so far has got it right!' :))
Bakkies
Guest
Unfortunately Carel du Plessis' team inflicted a 61-22 flogging to Greg Smith's Wallabies at Loftus. Pretty sure that was the last test he coached
Bakkies
Guest
His so called style isn't working in the big games. The best coaches adapt their tactics to the situation
Bakkies
Guest
Exactly Neil the 2012 match the Wallabies had an excellent first half running the ball but only scored 3 points in the second half
Muzzo
Guest
Interesting Kirky, ehoa,as the way I see it, apart from the AB way, this will be a very good encounter, for the Wallabies. Having never won, at Loftus, is certainly something to take into consideration. It's so much a shame,that the Bokke, are not allowed to pick some of the best available. Even the captain Strauss, in my opinion, is not the best selection, as I was so impressed, with Marks, in that position, in their last outing. On watching, some Currie Cup games, there is definitely, better talent out there, waiting to happen, such as, Werner Kok, Qwakka Smith, etc. Yeh I know. another Smith, mate, but from another country. He is very good though, even if he did come from the Seven's environment. Cheika, himself, will be looking to create history, in gaining a win here.
JenEl
Roar Rookie
Aussies should win this. Why? You have a coach with half a brain as compared to what can only be described as a headless chicken pushing all the panic buttons simultaneously. Do what you did when you beat us (SA) in the past: Through clever enterprising backline play. We have the worst backline I've probably seen in a 'bok jumper with players out of position all over the park, so we're making it easy for you. DON'T get involved in a trench warfare because (at home) we'll probably have more grunt up front than you, but if your forwards can secure just 45% of the go forward ball, your superior backline skills (yes I know it's not up to your usual standards but not nearly as atrocious as ours) should see you through. Aussies by five will hopefully lead to the demise of the worst mentoring team since Harry Viljoen, or was that Straeuli ... hmmm ... Carel du Plessis? (great player though) ... Eisshhh this is bad, really bad. ;-)
splinter
Guest
There has been no headline THE SPRINGBOKS ARE HURTING AND OZ EXPECTS A BACKLASH.Am i thankful for that.The backlash talked about against the AB reminded me of the Kings playing against the Golden Lions good for twenty minutes and then the floodgates open.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
You got it Chook old son! Any way will do as long as they get it done, ~ What is this ''Aussie way"?, ~ I've heard that 'saying many times but I've never yet been able to work it out!, as if there is an "Aussie way" whatever that 'way' is, ~ it's never ever worked yet, the Aussies would be far better off doing what everyone else does, ~ play it "the Kiwi way" as that method wins games! There is no such thing as an Aussie way! and the quicker they realise that the better because every International rugby playing Country on the Planet use the New Zealand method as the principle yardstick as the method they'd like to emulate! Unfortunately none so far has got it right!
Ian
Guest
This is why Wallabies will never rise to the heights of the All Blacks. Instead of adapting the style to suit the conditions and team he's playing, Cheika only has one way. It simply highlights his limitations and will come back to bite in the long run. The All Blacks show remarkable versatility and are prepared to change style depending on any number of factors. But, Cheika only knows the fabled, "Australian way..."
Doubles
Guest
If he wants to play the Aussie way why does he continue to pick the low workrate and no skill Dean Mumm ? " and to make a decisive late impact, from lock Kane Douglas off the bench " Whatha?? This bloke wouldn`t bruise a grape..
Brizvegas
Guest
Good take on it Peter K
PeterK
Roar Guru
I have noted this before as a weakness in Cheika. It is fine that he has clarity towards the game plan he wants to play and selects that way, and wanting to force his style on the game, but only up to a point. However he swings too far that way and creates weaknesses (i.e lineout) and ignores the strengths of the other team and what they want to do. Case in point. Springboks will kick more at altitude with many chasers. Who do the Wallabies have to be able to kick back that distance? DHP and Hodge. Hodge however is stuck defending in the frontline for Foley. Foley instead will be back with a popgun kick. At least QC can kick it further. Also they will make hard yards with big forwards up the middle. Wallabies have not selected any forwards who can drive the boks back over the gainline so the boks will easy metres time and again. McMahon and Hooper are too small to drive them back front on. Mumm is lucky to be able to drive a toddler on skates back let alone a big springbok forward. Obvious Timani is needed to be there to drive them back.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Yep Hoy me too... a win the Aussie way, or the un-Aussie way, or anyway we Wallaby can way. Just win way!
Machooka
Roar Guru
Easy... 'cause it's so anti-Aussie ?? :)
Hoy
Roar Guru
I'd take the win any way possible.
taylorman
Guest
simple matter of winning at home, losing away perhaps? Everyones won at home bar Oz vs NZ so far.
taylorman
Guest
aah, now thats something I didnt know. I like that he sticks to his guns. With fans advocationg changes all over the show he's sticking to some general fundamentals, one being he wont compromise the style he wants his team to play, the other being he wont play Folau at Centre. Its hard playing the ozzie way when he doesnt really have the players to do that yet but he's getting there. I do think this side will get better rather than worse in the next few weeks, provided they avoid key injuries, something I think will realy hurt them.