It was just over two months until the start of the cricket World Cup when Australia faced India in a series-deciding clash at a typically raucous Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi.
They entered the five-match one-day series with an awful streak of form, having won just four of their previous 26 completed ODIs.
A Virat Kohli-led India were expected to pound the Aussies at home, further whacking their confidence and further diminishing any fading hopes of defending their World Cup title in England.
The script was stuck to for the first two games before Australia went up a few gears in the following two, including chasing down an incredible 359 to win game four in Mohali.
Still, India were red-hot favourites to claim the series at the famous Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, an intimidating venue for visiting teams. When full of 42,000 Indian fans, the atmosphere generated helped forge a formidable record.
Up until 2016, India hadn’t been beaten in one-dayers at the ground in 11 years and they’ve been undefeated in Test cricket at FSK since 1987.
Australia were still without their two best batsmen, Steve Smith and David Warner.
They couldn’t, could they? They did – a 35-run victory stunning the Delhi crowd. It was the first time Australia had won a five-match bilateral ODI series after being down 2-0, and the first time Australia had won an ODI series in India since 2009.
Most significantly, Australia’s World Cup campaign was back on track.
Australia celebrate (Andy Kearns/Getty Images)
Australia went on to hammer Pakistan 5-0, and with their tails up and with loads of momentum, won seven of their nine World Cup pool matches.
This is worth pondering as the Wallabies look ahead to the World Cup, which similarly is just over two months away.
Like the Australian cricket team, the Wallabies’ recent record has been woeful. They lack wins – victorious in four of their 13 Tests in 2018 – and they lack swagger. Their chances of going deep at the World Cup seem pretty low.
The Wallabies have only five Tests between now and their opening World Cup pool game against Fiji on September 21 in Sapporo.
It’s why their Rugby Championship opener against South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg in a weeks’ time can be viewed as a massive opportunity to build some meaningful momentum.
They’re playing at a ground where they’ve beaten the Springboks just once in ten Tests, way back in 1963. The Wallabies haven’t played at Ellis Park since suffering their worst-ever loss there in 2008, a 58-3 thrashing.
It’s a ground, with a capacity of 62,000, that’s notorious for humiliating visiting teams. It’s loud. It’s hostile. It’s 1700 metres above sea level.
In 40 years only New Zealand, France and a British and Irish Lions side have won. It’s also where Nelson Mandela handed Francois Pienaar the Webb Ellis trophy after the Boks beat the All Blacks in the 1995 World Cup final.
South African President Nelson Mandela (AP Photo / Jan Hamman)
Michael Cheika is aware that the Wallabies’ first match of 2019 has the potential to build the character of his side that will help shape their mindsets for September.
“In those types of atmospheres… that’s where you’ve got to be resilient, in that sort of cauldron,” the Wallabies coach said during the week. “That’s the best preparation for us to be having… before what else is to come this season.”
The Wallabies headed over to South Africa early to spend two weeks in Johannesburg and acclimatise to the altitude. Importantly, they’ve got to match the Boks physically.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Folau Fainga’a, Rory Arnold, Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete are the Wallabies that can set the tone in that department.
They’ve got few excuses to be ready to go. With only the Brumbies in the Super Rugby finals and with a long preparation in South Africa, the Wallabies have a perfect chance to make a statement at Ellis Park.
Victory in Johannesburg can breathe life into their World Cup hopes, just as an authoritative victory in Dehli helped to turn around the fortunes of the Australian cricket team two months out from the World Cup.
Joe
Guest
Don't get too excited about the prospect of a Wallaby win - South Africa is playing their second team - the first team has already left for New Zealand. That, together with the enforced selection of quota players should give Australia their best chance of winning a rare game in South Africa.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
A loss would be more consistent with our last two years.
Rajah
Roar Rookie
More likely to play England in the quarter final (England win their pool and Wallabies come second) and exit there. But they have to get past Fiji first which is not a foregone conclusion.
Jacko
Guest
i wish Hansen would run out a 3rd choice ABs team against the Boks and say to them ...Learn from that....What if NZ puts out their best and wins by 20? Does SA change everything then?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Thanks Gloria. A few people found humour in my response to Harry, and it seem to have proved a little too much for Rhys, who found need to indulge in a bit of off-the-ball elbow. His introduction of Quade, underarm bowling, the Catchpole/Meads incident and a general derision of me into the conversation speaks of a person with a few axes to grind but nowhere or how to grind them. Unnecessarily nasty for mine. Nevertheless he got a few claps that included a couple of people who I have respect for. Thanks for the support but I will save my grief for criticisms made maturely.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
So crafty it is said even he doesn't know what he is doing.
Old Bugger
Guest
If the game is at Eden Park and the Bokkes win, then I'd agree about the ABs and fans confidence, going into Japan. Except, its at the cake tin where the Bokke have already won. Hansen has already put his stance out there - he's concentrating on the Bled and not the RC because recent history has already shown, in RWC year, the ABs have been unsuccessful with winning, the RC. I don't care about the RC in RWC year - its the Bled and Wiremu, for me.....
Gloria
Roar Rookie
Bosley, what an embarrassing response to a perfectly witty and funny comment. Hang your head in shame and try to think up some more excuses for 14th out of 15 Brad.
Rugby wizard
Guest
No-Dyanti,Le Roux,Kolbe,Kriel,De Allende,Faf De Klerk,Kolisi,Du Toit,Vermeulen,Kwagga Smith,Etzebeth,De Jager,R.Botha,Serfontein,Bismark,Whiteley,Kitsoff,Beast,Pollard and Marx. That's 22 top players and without them the boks can still put 15 together who can easily beat A wallabies 1.Koch 2.Britz 3.D Toit 4.Mostert 5.Snyman 6.Elstadt 7.Marcel 8.Louw 9.Reinach 10.Jantijies 11.Nkosi 12.Steyn 13.Am 14.Leyds 15.Galant The overseas players bring so much value. The Bok squad is the best I have ever seen.
Harry Jones
Expert
It's the reverse. Rassie wants a full strength Bok XV at the Cake Tin. His thought is to take a chunk out of Kiwi confidence going into Yokohama in September, and if we lose, well, we were supposed to, and we still get a nice scout.
Kiwikrs
Roar Rookie
SA are sending their best players to NZ next week to start preparing for the ABs so it will be a Boks B team / experimental team
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
I think the numbering of 1 for Bledisloe and 2 for RWC was more the order they come in. I’m sure if he was asked if he’d give up the Bledisloe and guarantee the REC he’d take it in an instant
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I am grateful for your comment, Diehard. It is a joy to be understood. And I think you have. And yes, indignation is the enemy of expansion methinks. Thank you for your kind encouragement.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I hope he is putting out a lesser strength team against NZ. lol. Seriously I think that the boks have so many combinations to work through with the returning European players we will see bits and pieces for the next few games till the big dance comes round.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Just need to say I have always enjoyed your contributions Ken. Fair and passionate but not ever nasty or vengeful. I actually love the twisted dichotomy within your moniker. It belongs to the old school boys that lived in those days it seems. There is so much recent indignation at some of the sins of the past from our newer cohorts it seems. Why this is so from the entirely unaffected is a question too far for me.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
In all my years as an Aussie I am forever imbued with the optimism that we can we will and we do. All ever in the most unlikely circumstances. Its being Aussie! The ones to fear are the dead sets. The certainties. The sure things. These are the ones to be wary of. As a very ex kiwi the kiwi bit remaining says fear them ALWAYS. Especially when you think they're down. I would not be surprised at any result this week. Except a blowout. I don't think either team has it in them for that. Really looking forward to the team announcement for the first time in ages. Almost looking forward to the game as much as the ABs which actually really describe my feelings. Who are those deadpans that declare Australian rugby dead?
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
Yes true .... and the poisoning of the entire ABs squad in an SA hotel helped to slow down Jonah lot's also :)
Machpants
Roar Guru
In bare feet, 110% effort
Machpants
Roar Guru
No it's not, it just emphasises fitness. ABs look better than the boks in the closing of altitude matches for years. It is an advantage to the fitter team.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well BLACKTOWN, I think it was more to the credit of Joost, that continually, or mostly, stopped Jonah, as even though James, did get him a couple of times, he was beaten hands down, most of the time by Jonah.