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Wallabies v Springboks - Top 10 Facts
The Wallabies will be looking for just their second win of 2018 against the Springboks at Suncorp Stadium this weekend. Lets take a look at all the key stats to see how they’ll fare.
- Each of the last two Tests between Australia and South Africa have ended in a draw; their solitary draw prior to that was in 2001 – only against New Zealand (7) have Australia drawn more matches.
- Australia have lost just one of their last nine Tests against South Africa in Australia (W7, D1), remaining undefeated against them on home soil since 2013.
- Australia have won their last four games on the bounce at Suncorp Stadium, including two when they had been trailing at half-time; only at the Sydney Cricket Ground (31) and Ballymore Stadium (29) do the Wallabies have more overall Test wins than they do at Suncorp Stadium (23).
- Australia have only one Test triumph to their name so far in 2018 (L4), the last time they won fewer than five Tests in a calendar year was in 1995 (W4, L4).
- South Africa have won only one of their last 10 games played away from home in The Rugby Championship (D1, L8), and have won just two of their last seven away games overall (D1, L4).
- South Africa (193) are just seven shy of their 200th try scored against Australia; they would be the first opposition against whom they’ve crossed for a double-century of tries and just the second team to have done so against Australia (New Zealand 450).
- Australia have won 100% of their scrums in six of their last seven matches, overall winning 41 of 43 scrums in that time.
- South Africa made 22 clean breaks against Argentina in Round 2 of The Rugby Championship 2018, their most in a single Test since they made 23 clean breaks against Australia in September 2017.
- Australia’s David Pocock and South Africa’s Malcolm Marx have each won six turnovers at The Rugby Championship in 2018, more than any other players in the tournament.
- Warren Whiteley has made 21 tackles so far this campaign, the most of any player who is yet to miss a single tackle attempt.
Thanks to Opta for providing the statistics.
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Watch: Will Genia speaks ahead of their match with the Springboks this weekend:
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments