The Wallabies and Springboks have played out just their second draw in history with the sides holding on for a breathtaking 23-all tie in Perth.
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Final score
Wallabies 23
Springboks 23
The Wallabies are looking to ride the momentum of their instant classic against the All Blacks two weeks ago when they play host to the undefeated Springboks in Perth. Catch all the live scores, highlights and action on The Roar from 8pm (AEST).
Australia’s near-miss in Dunedin wasn’t enough to break the Bledisloe drought but it has sprung renewed life into the Wallabies and Australian rugby in what has been a very trying 2017.
A heartbreaking Beauden Barrett try in the dying moments handed Australia a 35-29 defeat and their third loss from their last four games, coming off a shaky June International window.
They sit third in The Rugby Championship without a win to their name and the one bonus point.
On the other side of the coin, the Springboks are coming into the game fresh off two breezy wins over Argentina and remain undefeated this year.
It’s been a big leap for South Africa after a tumultuous year in 2016, suffering one of the worst periods in the nation’s rugby history.
After sweeping France in June with a 3-0 series victory, the Boks ran through Argentina twice to get their Championship campaign off to the perfect start.
They built off their 37-15 win in Port Elizabeth with a 23-41 run in Salta on the road to leave them sitting on top of the Championship standings, a tournament they have never won since progressing from the Tri-Nations.
The Springboks hold the wood over Australia in recent times, winning five of their last eight games against each other, including the last meeting between these two, an 18-10 win in Pretoria last year.
Historically the Boks come out on top again, winning 46 to the Wallabies 36 in the all-time head to head.
Team News
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made a few changes for their third Test of the tournament, with Dane Haylett-Petty being the key alteration.
The South African-born back has been ruled out for the rest of the year with a bicep injury, opening the door for Reece Hodge to start out on the wing in his place.
Veteran hooker Stephen Moore will also miss out but with more pleasant reasoning as he awaits the birth of his child.
Tatafu Polota-Nau will pack into the scrum with the No.2 jersey in his stead, with Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese comes onto the bench and will make his international debut.
Allan Alaalatoa and Sekope Kepu have switched places from the All Blacks Test with the later getting the starting spot in the front row.
Adam Coleman is the final change to the scrum, returning from injury to take lock and push Rob Simmons back to the bench.
South Africa have just made the two changes, including the return of Ross Cronje from injury after missing the second Argentina Test.
The sharp halfback will come straight back into the No. 9 role, joining Handre Pollard as the two additions to the side.
Pollard will come off the bench, replacing second-rower Franco Mostert who has been rested, meaning Pieter-Steph du Toit will take the starting spot at lock.
Prediction
Both sides are coming into the game with vastly different fortunes this year and, while the Wallabies played their hearts out in Dunedin, are still without key results.
They’ve pieced together some very good halves of rugby, but they aren’t playing the whole game and that is costing them dearly at the moment and even back in June.
South African rugby has been reborn from the ashes of 2016 and it wouldn’t surprise me to see them continue their role in Perth.
It will be a very tight affair and a hard one to pick, but I think the Wallabies ability to let up for long periods of time will come to hurt them again.
South Africa to win by 5
ForceFan
Guest
I reckon a >80% capacity crowd a week after the local professional team was axed is a very good result. There was no shortage of passion at the ground. Unfortunately, there was little or no promotion of the event, the Wallabies didn't have an open training day for fans (even Penrith had that) and the ARU didn't offer 50% discount on the tickets as they did for the recent Bled Test in Sydney. Despite the discounted tickets there was only 55,000 at ANZ Stadium. A long way short of the 83,400 who attended the same fixture in 2004. That discrepancy in itself is enough to explain why the ARU, and the way it runs the great game of rugby in Australia, needs a shake-up. Seriously, the solution shouldn't include returning to an East Coast only focus. Looking forward to the excitement that will be created by the Indo-Pacific competition.
Bok
Guest
Very disappointing even with an affirmative hand behind the back
AJ
Guest
Stu B I think you better go have a lay down and get your facts right.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Are we the only team that accommodates the opposition, so they have fans there? I notice the other countries have fortresses, and we actively accommodate the oppositions fans... South Africa in Perth?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Agreed. Number 12. The sad thing is that Mick Byrne's skill developments are starting ti bear fruit. There is some great distribution and trust in attack developing across the whole team. But sadly, while our front rowers and second rowers are building better passing games our 10, and one of our 9's are not. What I wouldnt give for an ARU imposition of a selector into the coaching team. Wish Mick Byrne could develop Cheika's skills of imagination.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Second time he has tried to throw a long pass, and it went about 3 metres forwards, and both times, not called forward.... strangest thing. I was interested after his kick off to see people's juxtaposition on that vs Cooper's kick off in 2011 WC. Thanks for that... "cost nothing".
Taylorman
Guest
Aside from the first kick off, which cost nothing how was Foley 'terrible'. He kicked 100% and five penalties in a draw for goodness sake. He passed well all night, hardly made a mistake yet, once again, is seen as terrible. Some just dont understand this game.
Harry Jones
Expert
Of course I wanted Elton to make his kicks and win, but to be honest, getting points in OZ has been extremely rare. ABs look unusually frail, defensively (still otherworldly on attack), so an even rarer win in NZ is not out of the question.
Charlie Turner
Guest
No it doesn't but I'd say the Boks would have cantered home if Jackson was switched on.
PeterK
Roar Guru
almost 18k so close to 90% capacity not 75%
MH01
Guest
I actually watched him the whole game. It's like he was playing under 10s rugby and just following the ball around the park. Completely useless in contact , though funny seeing him thrown around by the opposition . When etsebeth jsut threw him away with no effort was hilarious.
Number 12
Guest
For God's sake MC admit your mistakes and select Fardy (too late probably), Higgers and Quade. Put Israel on the wing, Beale to fullback. BTW you don't need a second playmaker if you have a genuine 10! Please consider a centre pairing of Kerevi and Hodge outside Quade - you've tried 4000 combinations so far (with average success) - why not this one? Perhaps the cattle aren't the problem!!
Harry
Guest
Hanigan gave away the last penalty ... first time I noticed him the whole night.
Rhino, it was luck mate. Watch the All Blacks rip us a new one next week
Stu B
Guest
Australian rugby just can't get worse surely,a 20,000 capacity stadium 3/4 full,1/2 that Safa fans the remainder giveaway tickets and I would doubt Banker Cline paid for a ticket.I watched 2 NPC games this weekend with higher skills and more determination.I was offered two tickets for $50 bucks then heard the club had freebies and was tempted now happy to be sitting in the recliner with a few dead stubbies beside me and thinking hope our new WA gov'nt didn't waste funds on that crap.Predict the Pumas to have their first championship win soon.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Exactly.. it wasn't ideal, but we dominated the breakdown and set piece and had a few breaks they didn't convert into points. So imagine how much further ahead we could've been had those errors not had been made and passes had stuck (as in the previous 5 games this year) and despite some poor decision making?
Jackson officiated the scrums poorly, but that doesn't take away from the poor performance of the Springboks
Rhino, our play was error ridden, we made so many mistakes we barely had 40% possession, our decision making was woeful, coenie just before halftime rolls onto the ball giving away the stupidest penalty you can imagine. Serfontein decides not to pass to Skosan he screams for the ball and would have been a certain try. I predicted the scrums will be a mess because the Aussies would not want to scrum us, it came to fruition where most scrums couldn't be dominated due to the Aussie front row going as low as possible with scrums collapsing left right and centra and not once do Etzetbeth go to Jackson to ask him to keep the bind higher. The aerial battle was poor, we lost that six love, and next week we are in deep trouble as the All Blacks will exploit that. Our defensive organisation is weak, there were a number of wide moves by Australia that was it not for heroic tackles by players such as jaco Kriel we would have conceded more tries. Our out of hand kicking was weak, how many times did the Aussies run at us from deep? We do that against AB's we are going to die. No mate, it was a very poor performance.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Not according to Charging Rhino above who I tend to agree with. Jackson burnt them a bit at crucial times.
Machooka
Roar Guru
I'm just really disappointed as I thought we were all in for a cracking game... fast, chaotic, and open. What we got was a game riddled with mistakes... sadly! Agree Rhino... the Wallaby were lucky (?) to get the draw. Pretty much dominated the breakdown... how good is Kriel eh!?!