Springbok 'benchmark' has Wallabies warming up shoulders

Wary of what’s coming, the Wallabies know they must match the Springboks’ physicality to avoid crashing back to earth in Cape Town.

A week after notching a first win over the Boks at their Ellis Park fortress in Johannesburg in 62 years, the Wallabies face the back-to-back world champions at sea level on Saturday.

Joe Schmidt’s side can shoot to the head of the Rugby Championship table with another bonus-point victory.

But they know that will be far easier said than done.

A colossus at lineout time last Saturday, lock Nick Frost could only offer a wry smile when asked what the secret was to the Wallabies winning the collisions in the hoodoo-busting weekend triumph.

“I’d also say probably in that opening 20-odd minutes we didn’t win too many collisions,” Frost said, pointing out Australia trailed 22-0 early following a ferocious start from the Springboks.

“So we know how the Springboks play. They come out hard and fast, and obviously, they did come out hard and fast, and we kind of struggled a bit there.

“It’s another area that we’re definitely going to look at for this week because we know that they started pretty bloody well.”

Points Flow Chart

Australia win +16

Time in lead

62

Mins in lead

18

78%

% Of Game In Lead

23%

36%

Possession Last 10 min

64%

0

Points Last 10 min

5

Winger Andrew Kellaway, who is likely to replace Dylan Pietsch (broken jaw) in the starting line-up, insists the Wallabies have parked last week’s heroic comeback victory.

“The preparation is different every week for every opposition,” Kellaway said on Tuesday.

“So what we do know this week is that the Boks are going to respond, so we need to prepare ourselves physically for that.

“They’re the benchmark globally for that type of game.

“So we’ll get that right, and then we’re very blessed with a fantastic coaching staff, strategy and tactics-wise.

“And guys like James O’Connor and Nic White can also add a bit of IP there.

“So we’ll leave the strategy and that sort of stuff to those guys, and the rest of us will get ready for a big Test match.”

Skipper Harry Wilson suffered a possible ACL injury scoring the try that put the Wallabies in front at Ellis Park.

But Kellaway believes the inspirational No.8 could yet turn out after Rugby Australia said initial scans revealed no structural damage to Wilson’s knee.

“As far as we’re aware, everyone’s available for selection at the moment,” he said.

“‘Wil’ certainly looked good when we got into Cape Town, but I’m not a doctor. I can’t answer that question.”

Schmidt will name his team on Thursday night (AEST).

With Rob Valetini available after overcoming a calf strain, the coach could be tempted to rest Wilson and restore the two-time John Eales Medallist to the back row.

If Wilson is out, flanker Fraser McReight, fresh off his man-of-the-match display in Johannesburg, would seem the favourite to take over the captaincy.