Springboks vs Wallabies: Rugby Championship live scores, blog

The Wallabies travel to Port Elizabeth in sunny South Africa, when they tackle the high-flying Springboks. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1:05am AEST.

They say a week in sport is a long time.

For the Springboks and the Wallabies, this age-old adage rings true.

I implore readers to cast their minds back to the first week in September, when a gritty Wallabies outfit held firm to defeat a sloppy Springboks outfit at Suncorp Stadium.

On that night, the Springboks slipped to their second straight loss, after being toppled by Argentina the week previous.

Seven days later, or two weeks ago now, the Springboks defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand, whilst across the ditch in the Gold Coast, the Wallabies were being shown a tactical masterclass by a composed and clinical Argentinian outfit – their first loss to the Pumas on Australian soil since 1983.

That makes for an intriguing matchup tomorrow morning. Two inconsistent sides clashing at altitude in South Africa, and both with plenty to prove.

First thoughts
I do believe either side could win this fixture. A quick glance at their recent fixtures proves this. Of their last eight clashes, the Wallabies have won four, the Springboks two, with two draws.

Bar an 18-point win to South Africa in 2014, none of these fixtures have been decided by more than seven points.

While the Springboks start deserved favourites with the bookies, I think their win against the All Blacks last start was their performance of the season, and will be difficult to replicate. The Wallabies will be up against it, however.

Team news
First, the visitors. For the Wallabies, the big news is the first start handed to Taniela Tupou. The ‘tongan thor’ has been outstanding in his half hour cameos off the bench, both in loose play, and at scrum time.

Part of his power has come with his ability to overpower tired and slow bodies in the last 20 minutes of games.

The question therefore remains, will he have the same impact playing 80 minutes against 15 fresh bodies? If he does, the Wallabies will no doubt turn to his influence in the last 20 minutes.

Izaac Rodda returns in the second row, alongside Adam Coleman, whilst Ned Hanigan replaces Lukhan Tui at openside. Michael Hooper also returns as captain, forcing David Pocock into a shift back to No.8.

The backline that went down to the Pumas last start is unchanged, with the 10-12-13 combination of Kurtley Beale, Matt Toomua and Reece Hodge continuing to gel and grow.

Israel Folau starts on the right wing, with Dane Haylett-Petty keeping an eye on proceedings from fullback.

On the bench, there is a 5-3 split, with Sekope Kepu, Folau Fa’ainga and Alan Alaalatoa the front row reinforcements. Rob Simmons and Rory Arnold round out the piggies, while Jack Maddocks, Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley should all add valuable minutes in the backs.

For South Africa, In the forwards, Sikhumbuzo Notshe starts, replacing the inspirational Warren Whiteley. “The Beast” Tendai Mtawarira packs down at loosehead prop, next to the electric Malcolm Marx.

Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth will bring considerable grunt and go-forward from the second row.
In their backline, Handre Pollard starts at flyhalf, with André Esterhuizen and Jesse Kriel playing at inside and outside centre respectively.

Match-ups
Taniela Tupou vs Tendai Mtawarira: This will be a belter. The battle at scrum time will go a long way to determining which backline gets the best go forward, and the most attacking opportunities across the 80 minutes.

Both are powerful, heavy customers who will not give an inch at set piece time. Whoever holds strongest either side of half time could dictate who wins this fixture.

Reece Hodge vs Jesse Kriel: Hodge is a no-nonsense, defence oriented outside centre of days gone by. His match up with the exciting Kriel will be an intriguing one.

If Hodge can shut down Kriel’s attacking flair, the Springboks could struggle to make significant attacking inroads in and around that middle of the field channel.

Prediction
I think the Wallabies have missed a trick with the naming of their bench. There’s no clear back-row reserve, which is flirting with danger against one of the better forward packs in world rugby. The 5-3 split on the bench is also a huge call as such.

The Springboks will be flying after their last match, and Port Elizabeth is a happy hunting ground for them.

A Springboks win, but not by streets.

South Africa by 8

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1:05am AEST.

Where: Port Elizabeth
When: Sunday 30th September – 1am AEST
Betting: Australia $3.10, South Africa $1.35

South Africa
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

Australia
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