Scrum coach Neal Hatley has urged the Wallabies to be the aggressors in the ultimate litmus test, taking on South Africa at Loftus Versfeld.
The Australians wrapped up preparations for the opening Rugby Championship clash in Pretoria, with co-captain James Slipper, who suffered a knee injury through the week, cleared to play.
Part of England’s World Cup campaign, Hatley joined his former coach Eddie Jones in the Wallabies camp in May and said the team were ready for the challenge at Loftus, where they have never won in 60 years.
Hatley said the forwards needed to stand up to the world champions on their home turf.
“There’s not many places harder in world rugby to come than the Springboks at Loftus, so it will give us a good benchmark of where we are,” Hatley said.
“You have to be aggressive, you have to be competitive at scrum, and at the line-out and in the drive.
“If you come over here and you roll over, you’ll get murdered so we’ve got to make sure that we are aggressive in all those aspects.”
Playing 24 Tests over nine years, towering lock Will Skelton has been named for a rare start and has spoken of his desire to translate his trophy-winning form with French club La Rochelle to the Wallabies.
Hatley said he’d been impressed by the 31-year-old, who had lost weight from his 140kg frame.
“He has been immense in all aspects; his physicality, his size, so it’s brilliant to have him,” said Hatley, a former prop who played 193 matches in the English Premiership.
“It’s been great to have him, he’s trimmed down a bit … and he’s come in a had a huge impact on the group because he’s been winning over the last two or so years.”
The Springboks will be without some of their first-pick forwards including hooker Malcolm Marx and lock Eben Etzebeth after splitting the squad with one group already travelling to New Zealand to prepare for the All Blacks Test.
Captain Siya Kolisi was among them although won’t play as he recovers from a knee injury, with veteran back-rower Duane Vermeulen leading the team in Pretoria before flying out.
Hatley said it was a luxury South Africa could afford given their depth, particularly in the forwards, with the Springboks bench labelled the “bomb squad”.
Australia have named debutant Tom Hooper at blindside flanker while 21-year-old prop Zane Nonggorr and lock Richie Arnold could play their first Tests from the bench.
“The Springboks have some real problems haven’t they – no Malcolm Marx, but they have Mbongeni Mbonambi,” Hatley joked.
“Look, they’ve got incredible depth – we know from a tight five point of view, their bomb squad and we respect the South African pack immensely.
“That’s why for us it’s an exciting challenge to start with – to play this team, this pack of forwards, at this ground.
“For some of the guys making their debut, to experience Test rugby at altitude in Pretoria against the Springboks is a hell of way to start.”
FunBus
Roar Rookie
'Also past achievements and glories count for nothing.' Except when it comes to England's 20% record against the ABs, you mean?
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I'd also fancy Saracens against a couple of the Kiwi teams, and I think they'd beat all of the Oz franchises, but think they would lose to the Crusaders. It would be a good game, though. The Saracens pack last year, for example, was 1. M. Vunipola 2. Jamie George 3. Vincent Koch 4. Itoje 5. Tizard 6. Theo McFarland (watch this kid for Samoa in France) 7. Earl 8. Billy Vunipola. If you don't think that can compete at 'Super Rugby Level' you're coming in on one engine. What's the significance of the record of England against the ABs over the last 120 years? It's like those clowns who believe there's no way Ireland can do anything in France because they've never got to the SF before. Such thinking is why you never see a poor bookmaker. Since the 2015 RWC England have played NZ 3 times. A one point defeat at Twickenham when the ref disallowed what would have been the winning try on a very marginal call; a comfortable England win in a RWC SF; and a draw at Twickenham when England were playing so badly the coach lost his job soon after. The days of AB 'dominance' are over. Doesn't mean they can't, or won't, win the RWC, but I'd currently have them 4th in the world.
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
So in a 12 team comp you pick one of the bottom teams who has been pounded by many… I don’t think they would go so well against Auckland, Canterbury, Chiefs, Hurricanes. And I think the top NPC teams would go ok against the Western Force too… have a look at the Taranaki and Wellington squads for example… I don’t think the teams you mention would be putting a cricket score against them, even though some think it is laughable to compare.. I know in England, English teams are the best, but it is just when they come together as an international side they struggle, which is why their record against the AB’s is around 20%. But I also appreciate the 10 English sides are professional and stacked with overseas internationals. Anyway this was never meant to be a pi55ing comp… I was merely responding to a poster deriding the achievements of TKB which was in comparison to White…
FunBus
Roar Rookie
So you don’t think that Saracens, Sale, Leicester, for example, could handle, say, the Western Force?
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
Also past achievements and glories count for nothing. White will do just fine imho and he bleeds Aussie.. which is what matters :happy:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Spot on Canberrafella, in a Test points are essential even if from penalties. The last time the two teams played there, there were only 8 points separating them! 18-10 Boks, Like all teams the Boks can give away penalties when under pressure, the Wallabies can draw the Boks into creating infringements. General kicking in open play will be pivotal also to turn the opposition around and to contest possession, White needs to not over do the box kick and use his vision to time when it is necessary.
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
So English club rugby is stronger than NZ.. fair enough,but its hardly next level, if it were they would dominate the AB’s. As it is they don’t and rarely have. It certainly isn’t SR level. And no you cant suggest TKB and White’s achievements are compatable. TKB’s achievements are far more impressive than Nick White’s. Thinking what White has achieved equates to a RWC and 4 RC’s is even more laughable than comparing English club rugby to NZ NPC. And 2 championship cups and 2 SR titles trump what Nick White has achieved below international level (where he has not been involved in a single title) With respect to playing in U20’s for Australia and playing and winning the IRB junior world cup. That is different right. And it was you who was wanting to compare achievements… now it seems making a wallaby side counts the same as making the worlds best rugby team (which it was when TKB was playing for them). But in truth none of that matters. TKB is playing in the NH and is travelling quite well if his teams results count for anything, which you seem to believe when it comes to White but seem to want to overlook when it comes to TKB. The fact is White is playing for the Wallabies. Why is TKB even being discussed in the lead up. Nick White is a very good player and is important to the Wallabies and will be important in tonights clash. My feeling is White will do the job required of him and his kicking which is regularly commented on in the negative may very well play a major role in tonights game. I wish him and the Wallabies all the very best.. and let’s not talk about players who aren’t even a prospect of making the squad :happy:
Chronicle
Roar Rookie
Both player’s achievements are very impressive, White by the way played 2 years in Aus U20 and thinking the Gallagher equates to the NPC is laughable.
Canberrafella
Roar Rookie
Cannot emphasise enough your point - we must take points when possible. I’m a Brumbies supporter and I love a good rolling maul but tonight I hope if we get a penalty in the Boks half we just point to the sticks!
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
An IRB junior world cup, four Rugby Championships, a RWC and two SR titles with the Chiefs.. all before he went overseas.. since being overseas two champions cups… I am not an advocate of a guy who has played NZ U20’s, AB’s and Maori AB’s suddenly playing for the Wallabies, but I wouldn’t be knocking his achievements.. why don’t you talk up Whites achievements outside his one championship and challenge cup respectively,.. and a Gallagher premiership (thats like NPC level right?). Personally I think TKB stacks up far better in terms of achievements than Nick White..
Chronicle
Roar Rookie
The current starting Australian halfback has won a Champions Cup with Exeter a Challenge Cup with Montpellier and a Gallagher Premiership with Exeter and a Super Rugby Au title with the Brumbies. How many titles did the third string All Black Kerr Barlow win while playing in NZ maybe his teammates at La Rochelle should all be picked.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
The correct decision to start Skelton and not using him off the bench, definitely the forwards battle is the key area for both teams so no quarter will be given. The Wallabies need to be more physical than they have been in the past, there will also be bombs in the air from the Boks. Discipline and goal kicking will be crucial for the Wallabies, take all points when possible and mount the pressure. The bench will need to provide intensity and momentum for the team with good communication, there is a real opportunity here but the players need to stick and trust the game plan particularly when under pressure.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
>had a huge impact on the group because he’s been winning over the last two or so years. Ah. The winning mentality. So important. Has anyone heard from Mr Kerr-Barlow?