Still stinging from being shown up at scrum time last time out, South Africa are banking on their vaunted set piece to restore order with a bounce-back Rugby Championship win over Australia on Saturday night.
The Springboks say they took it personally when the Wallabies scrum piled over them at the end of the first half and second half, ultimately costing the world champions six points – and the match – in the last-gasp 28-26 loss on the Gold Coast on Sunday night.
Returning prop Trevor Nyakane, who is back in the side after suffering an ankle injury against Argentina, insists it won’t happen again in the return battle at Suncorp Stadium.
“Definitely it hurts for us as a pack,” said Nyakane, one of South Africa’s standouts in this year’s series with the British and Irish Lions.
“It doesn’t matter when and how it happens. For us, we always want to be dominant.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“We strive to be dominant and try to get 100 per cent scrums we go in, so it was tough to see that and we as a team knew we’d have to go back, look at those pictures and try to understand what happened.
“We did that and it’s buried in the back of our minds; we know what they’re capable of and know they’ll come much harder than they did last week.
“It will start and end with momentum, same in the set piece so we’ll do all we can to salvage that.”
South Africa will face a new-look Australian front row for the early scrum exchanges.
With Allan Alaalatoa leaving camp for the birth of his first child, destructive prop Taniela Tupou will have his first start of the tournament for the Wallabies. James Slipper also returns to the starting front row, with Angus Bell and Tom Robertson on the bench.
The Boks did have some success at the set piece last outing, with three tries coming from driving mauls at Cbus Super Stadium.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said the Australians had plans to rectify their lineout problems, but just wouldn’t publicly reveal them at Thursday’s team naming.
South Africa will likely have to win their remaining three games in the Rugby Championship to retain the title they won in 2019.
That means winning on Saturday night, then defeating the All Blacks in back-to-back Tests. That’s no easy feat. The Springboks haven’t won in Australia in eight years, while the Wallabies have won their past eight Tests at Suncorp Stadium.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yeh BF, but in truth it's hard to assess during these times, especially with many ' noted ' players not being there, or available, for teams travelling here.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Oh sorry, but keep supporting the Wallabies
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Do you believe he has much say in it all Harry? I tend to think its Rassie's team at present as its getting more and more "Micro managed" and thats a bit of a Rassie trait Im wondering what Nienabar controls and what he doesnt and I dont even think its him that selects the water boys atm.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Yes absolutely Arg are tier 1. Any side in the top 10 is tier 1. Otherwise I could very easily question England being tier 1 based on finishing 5th in the 6N and 5 points below 4th.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Errr, yes. That's why I said it would be hard to believe SA wont win this return fixture. Have another read.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Who are you labelling Tier 1 in that calculation Jacko? Surely not Argentina?
biltong
Guest
Ouch, here in bokland we don't talk about those matches, it has made psychiatrists very wealthy back home. They have even given it a diagnosis. It is called the Coetzee effect.
biltong
Guest
I don't guess at scrums anymore West, I leave those decisions over to the referee.
WEST
Roar Guru
Not at all Biltong, they’re perfectly in titled to raise awareness. Scrums are a difficult thing to decipher. It almost comes down to what side you’re on. That last scrum for example, I believe the SA we’re saying the Wallabies were angling in? Or was it the SA folding from the pressure? Either way the Boks we’re going backwards.. Or was it from the Wallabies wheeling? Good luck to anyone trying to figure that out. Similar goes for dissecting a ruck
Harry Jones
Expert
It’s interesting how many average SA players become club captain or test players in UK/Ire/Fr with decent coaching.
Harry Jones
Expert
Orie has never shown anything at test level. And our 9-10-15 were kak. So, this is really Nienaber’s moment. He can prove he is the man. Or the hyenas will start to gather. Fair. Life of a coach.
biltong
Guest
Yes it is, surely you cannot have an issue if they want clrification through the right channels?
WEST
Roar Guru
Not sure? You tell me. You guys are the experts at it
biltong
Guest
Isn't that the legitimate way to do it?
WEST
Roar Guru
We do. It wasn’t that long ago we demolished the Boks 2017 57-0 then in 2016 57-15 in Durban. The Scores have closed up since then :silly:
WEST
Roar Guru
I’m saying Biltong, by the time SA face the ABs do you think the same 23 will be ok? For one maybe, I’m not sure about two. You have to be realistic.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Westie...Hahah u won't have too take long too convince me about how serious you guys are about that :stoked: i just can't see how the springboks can hammer us the way your Boyz do...I find it strange that the battle between the boklings and my beloved wallabies are always close..yet when it comes to your Boyz it always end up in tears..despair..frustration and a blowout score to top that off..wish you guys can start handing out blowout scores to the boklings and other teams also to give us a break...by the way what happened to cruden...is he still around maybe fozzie can reach out to him as well for more depth at flyhalf
biltong
Guest
West, there was a two week break between Arg and Australia, I don't think it was fatigue last weekend,
WEST
Roar Guru
No, the opposite actually. The key players will be rested and primed for South Africa. The Boks have now played Argentina twice, The Wallabies twice. Then facing the All Blacks twice. Already there’s signs of fatigue, it’s impossible to play the same 23 that consistently and not expect injuries or player weariness. And be in top form against a well prepared All Blacks side that has an opportunity to collect the silverware and a ranking. We’ll have to wait and see.. Won’t we :silly: If the Wallabies win, this will really throw a spanner in the Boks ranks. They will have no chance of claiming the RC and they will be close to dropping down the ranks. Not sure about South Africa.. But, the All Blacks take rankings very seriously.
biltong
Guest
Hahaha, no mate, I don't taunt the rugby gods.