Quade Cooper is back from suspension and returns to his rightful five eighth position for this weekend’s Springbok challenge at Loftus Versfeld.
The QC/Will Genia coupling needs to be revitalised if the Wallabies are any chance of overturning 47 years of history on the highfeld.
A return to Queensland Reds scintillating form by these two would be a start and maybe have the team ‘moving forward’, not crabbing east/west like the Wallabies did in the last test.
Sanchez hasn’t looked 100% fit recently so it’s hoped that the break has given his dodgy knee some respite and aerobically he’s improved.
QC himself may be a little underdone but his quick-witted and unpredictable play, and accurate passing game has been sorely missed.
The Springbok loosies will be throwing the kitchen sink at them to close them down but I guess the key to it all is whether the Wallaby forward’s physicality and accuracy can deliver them quick ball at the breakdown.
Another point of difference will be the loose forward mix. The Springboks don’t have a traditional ‘fetcher’ in their run-on side nor on the bench now that Francois Louw has been dropped from the squad.
Sure, he wasn’t quite the real thing but the closest to it, although I thought Dewald Potgieter might get a call-up.
This means that Bam Pocock will be like gold for the Wallabies. At their last meeting Pocock dominated the match in defence, attack and at the breakdown.
Remember the certain Springbok try late in the first half when he cut down Bryan Habana in the left hand corner and soon after forced a crucial breakdown penalty on the Australian goal line.
Anthony Faingaa is the casualty for Cooper but is retained in the reserves.
Rob Simmons is dropped from the bench with Ben McCalman and Scott Higginbotham, in his much anticipated debut, promoted. Hopefully Higgo won’t get a guernsey at centre as some have suggested!
The hard and fast track at Loftus, the fine weather forecast and a 5.00pm start is tailor made for some expansive rugby, at least from our side. Let’s run the sluggish Barney and co off their feet?
There’s some sort of hoodoo, voodoo thing going on with this altitude business. I reckon it’s just another excuse to psych themselves out. Maybe they need to visit a Sangoma (witch-doctor) in Temba to throw the bones for them?
I haven’t quite worked out why they’re staying at sea level in Capetown and then Durbs when the two tests are played at altitude in Pretoria and Bloem over a two week period (notwithstanding this 10 day acclimatisation nonsense).
The Super 14 teams do it all the time and it doesn’t seem to detract too much from their performance, not forgetting that the All Blacks stayed in Jo’Burg all last week and finished the Bokke match the stronger.
In Brisbane, we learnt from the All Blacks and played a ball in hand style of game which seemed to suit us. I’d expect that to continue this week.
As for South Africa, they’ve replaced Gio Aplon with Francois Steyn who returns from Racing Metro for these two tests. You can bet your bottom dollar that his thundering kicking game will return with him.
Jacque Fourie is back from his four week suspension to team up with Jean de Villiers in the centres. Fourie and JdV are a world class pairing and will provide a stern test for the Wallabies duo.
There was some doubt about Juan Smith but he looks OK now – Ryan Kankowski is the new loose forward on the bench for Louw.
This week it will be Victor Matfield’s turn to play 100 test matches for the Springboks. He might have had a quiet season to date but wouldn’t you just love to have him in your team?
The Wallabies looked the part in Brisbane but I haven’t really been convinced since. This is a desperate Bokke side playing in the boere heartland and it’s the best team they’ve put together all season.
History is not on our side. South Africa by 7.
Wallabies: Kurtley Beale; James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Richard Brown, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (c), Nathan Sharpe, Dean Mumm, Salesi Ma’afu, Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Stephen Moore, James Slipper, Ben McCalman, Scott Higginbotham, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Anthony Faingaa.
Springboks: Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Flip van der Merwe, Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (c), Gurthro Steenkamp.
Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ van der Linde, Danie Rossouw, Ryan Kankowski, Ricky Januarie, Butch James, Juan de Jongh.
