Boks aiming for first back-to-back win in Australia in 53 years against ‘desperate’ Wallabies in Perth

Max Jorgensen of the Waratahs kicks during the round six Super Rugby Pacific match between NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels at Allianz Stadium, on March 29, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

By Craig Ray

16 Aug 2024

The word “desperate” has filled the discourse in the build-up to the Wallabies vs Springboks Rugby Championship clash in Perth.

The subplots are many and the stakes are high as a “desperate” Wallabies aim to produce a miracle turnaround against a vastly changed Springbok team in their Rugby Championship encounter in Perth.

The Springboks haven’t won back-to-back Tests in Australia in the same year since 1971, so there is some history to play for in addition to continuing an assault on winning the 2024 Rugby Championship.

The Boks have won their last two Tests in Australia – but the first of those was in Sydney in 2022 before last week’s triumph in Brisbane.

The world champions have a chance to do something no Bok team in the professional era has managed, by claiming consecutive wins in successive weekends over the Wallabies in Australia.

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has selected a new-look Bok team to face the Wallabies in Perth. (Photo: Gerhard Duraan /BackpagePix)

Last week the Boks, stacked with what might be called their ‘first team’, injuries permitting, thumped Australia 33-7 in Brisbane. The winning margin could have, and should have, been wider. The Boks blew a few good chances while the Wallabies floundered.

A new-look Bok team, with 10 changes from last week, must back it up at the Perth Stadium.

“They’ll (Australia) be desperate to rectify things from last week, and they have a forward pack that has a lot of pride in their scrum and set pieces,” Bok skipper Salmaan Moerat said.

Read more: Rassie the great tinkerer has created a Bok system where the team is everything

Struggling Wallabies

We’ve known for several years that Australian rugby is struggling. But they have always been able to cobble together a match-day 23 that can cause even the best teams problems on a good day. In 2021, the Wallabies beat the Boks in consecutive weekends in Australia.

In 2022, Australia managed one win over the Boks, which came in Adelaide, but in 2023 the wheels came off Wallaby rugby. Their season started with a 43-12 hiding against the Boks at Loftus and descended into farce from there as Eddie Jones’ hapless unit were dumped out of Rugby World Cup 2023 at the pool stage.

Australia coach Joe Schmidt has been employed to resurrect the Wallabies. (Photo: Jason McCawley / Getty Images)

Joe Schmidt, the respected head coach, who is widely acknowledged as the man who set Ireland on the path to their status as one of the two best sides in the world, has been employed to resurrect Wallaby rugby by Rugby Australia.

After a promising start that included two Test wins over a weak Wales and another victory over Georgia, reality hit hard in Brisbane last week against the world champions. The Wallabies were smashed physically and on the scoreboard.

Australian rugby is in a dire state, and only the most myopic and optimistic Wallaby supporter will be putting any money on them turning it around in Perth this weekend.

Core players

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus might have made 10 changes to last week’s squad, and selected a backline with more new combinations than the padlock section at a hardware store, but the Boks still look to have too much power.

Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, outside centre Jesse Kriel and wing Cheslin Kolbe are the only three backline survivors from Brisbane. Yet they are the three core playmakers from last week.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu ran the show behind a dominant pack, Kriel was sensational in marshalling a brutal defensive effort while also unleashing his growing attacking flair, and Kolbe was essentially left to roam free, causing havoc.

Kolbe might wear the No 14 jersey, which indicates he’s a wing, but in reality he is seven positions in one. He operates on both wings, he plays scrumhalf at times, slips into centre and pops up at first receiver or fullback. He is central to the Boks’ game because he offers so much variety, all done with high quality.

So, while Erasmus has tinkered, three of the most important pieces of his backline remain intact for the return match where a Wallaby backlash is inevitable.

Schmidt has recalled the abrasive wing Marika Koroibete, who has caused the Boks severe problems in the past, both on defence and attack.

Koroibete and Makazole Mapimpi, who is selected to start on the left wing this weekend, have had some special duels in the past and their little battle could be worth the entrance fee alone.

Experience

Schmidt has also turned to the experienced scrumhalf Nic White, he of the theatrical dive when Faf de Klerk clipped his colonial moustache a few years back, to offer better direction.

On the bench a Test debut awaits for 19-year-old flyhalf Max Jorgensen, a player about whom the Aussies are really excited as someone they can build a team around in the coming years.

Max is the son of former Wallaby Peter Jorgensen, who played two Tests in 1992 before a serious knee injury set his career back. At some stage in Perth, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Jorgensen should be on the field together in what will surely be a glimpse of the future.

Despite the backline changes though, Schmidt knows that it will be no more than shuffling deck chairs on sinking ship if the forwards don’t stand up after they were mauled – literally and figuratively – in Brisbane last week.

The language out of Australian rugby for the better part of a decade has been about “scoring tries” and “moving the ball”. It has become a self-fulfilling disaster mantra because they’ve lost sight of the fact that to play expansive, running rugby requires a foundation.

Max Jorgensen is likely to make his Test debut in Perth. (Photo: Matt King / Getty Images)

For all the law changes and tweaks in the game that are aimed at speeding it up, the fundamentals of rugby refuse to crumble. If you don’t have a pack of forwards that can at least offer you a fighting chance, it doesn’t matter who occupies positions 9-15.

Schmidt has changed two-thirds of his front row in order to shore up the scrum, and with 40mm of rain expected during the game, the forward battle is likely to be elevated.

Loosehead Angus Bell is back from injury and hooker Josh Nasser, the son of former Wallabies flank Brendan, will start at hooker.

“For us in terms of the front rowers, it’s just technique,” Wallaby captain and tighthead Allan Alaalatoa said.

“We want to transfer the weight from behind, and to do that you’ve got to be in the best shape possible. It was a tough learning curve for us in the set piece but we're looking forward to that challenge (in Perth).”

Making the right noises

The Springboks have used the word “desperate” multiple times in different contexts this week. It’s as much to gee themselves up and avoid complacency as it is respect for Australia.

It doesn’t take much for a game to go wrong, as the Boks have discovered in Australia many times before, but if the forwards set the table as they did last week, there shouldn’t be too many problems.

Complacency is the Boks’ biggest enemy, so by reshuffling the team Erasmus has probably pulled off another masterstroke. He’s saying to the players picked this week that it’s up to them to maintain the standards set by the Brisbane crew.

“I thought the team was exceptional last week,” said Moerat, who was called up as a late injury replacement in Brisbane after RG Snyman and Ruan Nortje were ruled out of the clash due to niggles.

“Everyone bought into the plan, and they were desperate, and we are determined to back it up this weekend.

“Australia will be desperate to turn things around, and we are well aware of that, so our challenge will be to be equally desperate, if not more desperate.

“One thing that’s for certain is that everyone in this team is desperate for this chance, and they want to cement their places in the squad with an eye on the New Zealand Tests.”

Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick backed up his captain’s comments, saying: “It’s important for us to keep improving, and if we can win two out of two here in Australia, it will be special.

“That said, if we don’t pitch up with a desperate mindset it could be a long day for us. This is a big occasion for both teams, and the side that arrives mentally and physically ready will probably take it on the day.”

It’s fair to say that everyone is desperate this week. As it should be with history on the line. DM

Teams:

Australia

15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Angus Bell.

Reserves: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Tom Hooper, 20 Seru Uru, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen.

Springboks

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.

Reserves: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Handre Pollard.

Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth

Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)

Kick-off: 11.45am (Supersport)

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South Africa

Struggling Wallabies

Core players

Experience

Making the right noises

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