The Wallabies simply must find a way to win when they tackle the Springboks in South Africa overnight. Australia’s fifth Rugby Championship will kick-off at 1:05am (AEST) on Sunday, September 30 at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Australia’s Rugby Championship campaign started disastrously, with back-to-back heavy losses against New Zealand, before they earned a brief respite with a narrow win over South Africa.
But the demons returned in a big way on the Gold Coast two weeks ago, with a hugely disappointing loss to Argentina – their first on home soil since 1983 – seeing the Wallabies crash to a record-low seventh in the world rankings.
South Africa were in the same boat for much of the Rugby Championship, splitting their two matches with the Pumas and going down to the Wallabies in Brisbane, but they turned their fortunes around with a monumental upset over the All Blacks in Wellington last fortnight.
Date: Sunday, September 30 (AEST)
Kick-off: 1:05am (AEST)
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabath
TV: Live, Fox Sports 503 and Channel Ten
Online: Live, Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, TenPlay
Betting: Springboks $1.34, Wallabies $3.30
Springboks
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Damian Willemse.
Wallabies
15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Israel Folau, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Adam Coleman, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Folau Faingaa, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rory Arnold, 20 Rob Simmons, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Bernard Foley, 23 Jack Maddocks.
The Roar will be providing comprehensive coverage of this match. Check out our website a for live scores and a blog of Saturday’s Test matc.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Poor selections, key players out of form, too many players out of position, an attacking game plan that isn't working, confusion of defence, undersized loosies, key skills lacking, poor throwing to a lineout with school boy tactics, not game management from fly half, fitness and enthusiasm and focus not lasting 80, a childish angry coach. It will be like watching a train wreck.