Ex-All Black ramps up the pressure on Springboks ahead of Eden Park clash after the Wallabies ‘gassed’ Rassie Erasmus’ side

Former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald insists that this weekend is “do-or-die” for the Springboks as excitement continues to build for the Eden Park clash.

South Africa were left stunned last Saturday after the Wallabies claimed a shock 38-22 triumph at altitude in Johannesburg.

Rassie Erasmus’ side are hoping to gain revenge in the rematch in Cape Town and he has made 10 changes for the clash.

Springboks title defence hanging by a thread

However, another defeat would leave their Rugby Championship title defence teetering on the brink ahead of their doubler header with the All Blacks in New Zealand.

“I’ve seen bits and pieces where people are saying that Rassie had team two named in his head before the first Test. Well, I’m not sure about that,” Donald said on the The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.

“He obviously wouldn’t have realised the injuries he was going to pick up but, when you look at this squad, the importance of this Test match all of a sudden goes through the roof.

“This now has do-or-die stakes for the South Africans, they can’t afford to go 0-2 from two of their home games in the Rugby Championship.

“What do you do when you’re under pressure? You go back to what you know and what you trust, and what you know individuals will do for you. [Handre] Pollard, you know exactly what you’re going to get from him.”

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Few expected the Wallabies to claim victory at Ellis Park but the challenge will be backing it up, especially against a Springboks side that will more than likely revert to type.

Return of the Bomb Squad

Erasmus has openly stated that he wants Saturday’s encounter to be a “grind” having gone back to the 6-2 split, which includes gargantuan forwards such as Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager.

“It’s brilliant because you’ve got the South Africans who have signposted what they’re going to do. They’re going to come out and try and bash the Aussies to smithereens,” Donald said. “They’re going to have their kicking game back in, Pollard’s going to knock over three – he’s ice cool, he knows how to govern these big Test matches.

“On the flip side of that, the Aussies have made changes that they had to make but they’ve got the blueprint. They know that they made the South Africans tire and really gassed them, even before half-time. You saw mistakes that were getting made, which were fatigue mistakes.

“Joe Schmidt and his crew will be going full noise at keeping the ball on the park, playing the game at tempo and just trying to run this monster South African pack off their feet.

“Conversely, the South Africans are going to try the opposite: play at their pace, squeeze the Australians, squeeze their set-piece.

“It’s fascinating, the ramifications of this are huge. If the Wallabies dare to dream and return from the Republic 2-0, wow!”

Donald was then asked for his prediction and the former All Blacks fly-half put his neck on the line by going with the Wallabies again.

“Everything tells you it’s Boks… but can you imagine what it would do to the Rugby Championship if they got up? It would throw the cat among the pigeons,” he said.

“I’m going to go for it, the Wallabies 12 and under.”

READ MORE: Joe Schmidt responds to Rassie Erasmus’ claim that Wallabies play like 2019 Springboks