The match against the Springboks this weekend will be a challenge for the Wallabies, who were beaten 38-12 in Brisbane earlier in the competition and dominated 31-8 last year in Pretoria.
The Wallabies have promised that they are a much improved team from the last time they played each other while the Springboks must win to remain in touch with the All Blacks at the top of the table.
Australia have made a number of changes this week: James Horwill returns to the side as captain, taking over from Ben Mowen. The suspension of James O’Connor has forced Adam Ashley-Cooper to the wing with Tevita Kuridrani to make his run-on debut at outside centre. Joe Tomane also comes onto the wing in replace of injured Nick Cummins.
Nic White retains his spot in the starting team meaning Will Genia will keep riding the pine. Benn Robinson returns to the bench after being dropped from the squad by McKenzie. Young gun Chris Feauai-Sautia was also named on the bench and could make his international debut.
The Springboks have made two changes for this week’s match. They’ve have dropped Bismark du Plessis who was a stand-out against New Zealand despite being red-carded; the highly competent Adriaan Strauss will replace him in the starting line-up. Veteran halfback Fourie du Preez returns to the starting team for the first time in two years after being unavailable for the Australasian tour. Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer suggested that the two changes were based on giving players a rest rather than being dropped due to form.
‘We were always going to rotate players where possible and planned to start this Test with Adriaan and Fourie’
The match will be a special occasion for Morne Steyn and Jannie du Plessis who will both earn their 50th Test caps.
The press in South Africa are expecting the match to be closer than it was in Brisbane, although they are still predicting a Boks victory. Cape Town is a far less hostile environment than Pretoria or Johannesburg and the Wallabies won’t have the challenge of playing at altitude as Newlands is at sea level.
Australian supporters are preparing for the worst after losses to the All Blacks and Springboks earlier in the competition and an unconvincing win against the Pumas in Perth.
[one_half last=”no”]
Springboks
15. Zane Kirchner
14. Willie le Roux
13. JJ Engelbrecht
12. Jean de Villiers (c)
11. Bryan Habana
10. Morne Steyn
9. Fourie du Preez
8. Duane Vermeulen
7. Willem Alberts
6. Francois Louw
5. Flip van der Merwe
4. Eben Etzebeth
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. Adriaan Strauss
1. Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves:
16. Bismark du Plessis
17. Gurthro Steenkamp
18. Coenie Oosthuizen
19. Juandre Kruger
20. Siya Kolisi
21. Ruan Pienaar
22. Pat Lambie
23. Jan Serfontein.[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Wallabies
15. Israel Folau
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
13. Tevita Kuridrani
12. Christian Lealiifano
11. Joe Tomane
10. Quade Cooper
9. Nic White
8. Ben Mowen
7. Michael Hooper
6. Scott Fardy
5. James Horwill (c)
4. Rob Simmons
3. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore
1. James Slipper.
Reserves:
16. Saia Fainga’a
17. Benn Robinson
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Sitaleki Timani
20. Ben McCalman
21. Will Genia
22. Matt Toomua
23. Chris Feauai-Sautia[/one_half]
