Rugby Championship preview: Springboks’ forwards to power them to victory over Wallabies

This year’s Rugby Championship gets underway at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday when South Africa and Australia face off in what promises to be an exciting encounter in front of a capacity crowd.

With it being a World Cup year, this season’s series amongst the southern hemisphere’s four leading nations – along with New Zealand and Argentina – is a truncated affair, which means the sides will only play against each other once and not on a home and away basis.

South Africa come into this encounter with plenty at stake as they are yet to lose a Test against Australia at Loftus Versfeld, which has hosted all the internationals between these sides in Pretoria.

Springbok head coach Jacques Nienaber has opted to rest several of his first-choice players but despite that, he has still selected a competitive side under the captaincy of veteran number eight Duane Vermeulen.

This weekend’s clash is a momentous occasion for Australia’s head coach Eddie Jones as it will be his first match in charge of the Wallabies in his second stint with the team.

An astute and experienced coach, Jones has hinted that he has a plan up his sleeve to end the Wallabies’ woeful record against the Boks in Pretoria, where they have lost all seven of their previous matches since 1963, with their best result being a narrow 20-15 defeat in a Tri-Nations Test in 2001.

In the build-up to this clash, Jones has spoken of returning to the Wallabies’ traditional strengths by playing in the “Australian way” again.

That means they should adopt a fast-paced and attacking style of play which will be an interesting approach against the Boks, who have seldom deviated from their pragmatic game-plan where they rely heavily on their dominant forwards to lay a solid platform for their backs.

Where the game will be won

It’s one of the game’s cliches but the forward battle will be huge in this fixture and whoever dominates there should give their backline an excellent platform from which to launch attacks. South Africa usually overpower the Wallabies up front but the opposite is true in the backline where their opponents regularly get the better of the Boks. With this Test being played at altitude, we feel the battle amongst the forwards will have extra significance and the home side’s decision to go with a six/two, forwards/backs split on their replacements bench could be crucial in the bigger scheme of things.

Last time they met

 What they said

Springbok coach Nienaber is up against Wallaby counterpart Jones for the first time and is expecting a tough challenge.

“They are a top-class team and have a great tactician in head coach Eddie Jones,” he said. “This will be the first time we see them play under his leadership in a while, so our focus is mainly on our game and what we would like to do in the match.

“This game is very important to set the tone for us this season, and we know that regardless of what style of play Australia dishes up it’s going to a physical and hard match.”

While South Arica have sent a number of their big names to New Zealand to prepare for the upcoming clash with the All Blacks in Auckland on July 15, Wallabies boss Jones said whomever they fielded in Pretoria would present a massive challenge.

“We’re really only worried about ourselves, we’re focused very much on ourselves,” he said. “We’re a new team, we want to play our style of rugby, and we know whatever team that runs out at Pretoria on Saturday is going to play with the pride of South Africa behind them and we need to meet that challenge.”

Players to watch

For the home side, most of the focus will be on their fly-half Manie Libbok, who is set to make his first appearance in the Springboks’ starting line-up. The 25-year-old has won three Test caps for the Boks but all off those were off the replacements bench – against France, Italy and England – during last year’s Autumn Nations Series.

An outstanding playmaker, who guided the Stormers to a United Rugby Championship (URC) title and a runners-up spot in that same tournament over the last two seasons, Libbok will be hoping to replicate his club form in the green and gold on Saturday. Blessed with a vast array of skills and an astute rugby brain, he will be expected to give the Boks attacking momentum while also keeping the scoreboard ticking with accurate goal-kicking.

Another player of whom much is expected is powerful inside centre Andre Esterhuizen, of whom, if truth be told, the jury is still out on his performances at Test level. There is no doubt that his game has come on in leaps and bounds since he joined Premiership outfit Harlequins in 2020 but he is yet to hit his straps for South Africa. A beast of a man, who is 1.92m tall and weighs 110kg, one of Esterhuizen’s strengths is his superb physicality but he also possesses some deft touches and will be hoping to unlock the Wallabies defence with ball in hand.

🇿🇦André Esterhuizen.pic.twitter.com/KqXDfHWyJl

— Periodismo Rugby (@Perrugby) March 27, 2023

Also keep an eye on experienced second-row Jean Kleyn, who is set to make his debut for the Springboks in this encounter after last playing at international level in 2019 for Ireland, who he represented in five Tests that year. The 29-year-old was at the forefront of Munster’s charge to the URC title this season and earned a call-up to South Africa’s Rugby Championship squad after being cleared to play for the Boks following an application filed by SA Rugby regarding his eligibility in terms of World Rugby’s Regulation 8 and based on birth right. A fine lineout exponent and solid in the execution of his other core duties, Kleyn will be keen to get stuck into the Wallabies to show the Bok management that it was the right decision to hand him a Test cap.

In the build-up to this Test, the Boks lost the services of loosehead prop Ox Nche due to a pectoral injury but his absence has been offset by his replacement, Steven Kitshoff, who comes straight into the run-on side after initially being named amongst a group of 14 players to fly out to New Zealand to prepare for the Boks’ second Test, against the All Blacks. Kitshoff is very much the Boks’ first-choice loosehead so his call-up will strengthen the side. A strong scrummager, who also does well at the breakdown, he will be hoping to make a positive impact in those departments and his other core duties.

While the South Africans are renowned for their physicality, one man who will relish the physical battle against the world champions is behemoth second-row Will Skelton, who is expected to give his side an advantage in the tight exchanges. The 31-year-old is an industrious player whose tireless work up front has helped his club La Rochelle to back-to-back Champions Cup triumphs in recent seasons. Skelton will have to hit the ground running in Pretoria with his dominance at close quarters holding the key to how his team fares in this Test. His powerful ball carrying is sure to test the home side’s defence but he is also a powerful scrummaging lock and despite his size, he has been used effectively in the lineouts at club level – something which the Wallabies will also be hoping to do in this Test.

Another player who will be vital to the Wallabies cause is veteran openside flanker Michael Hooper, who is back on leadership duty for his country after being named as co-captain – along with James Slipper – by Jones last month. That was a significant step for Hooper after he withdrew from the Wallabies’ 2022 Rugby Championship opener against Argentina 24 hours before kick-off, citing mental health issues. He subsequently took a three-month break from rugby but has since come back to the sport and completed a full season with the Waratahs. Apart from his leadership skills, Hooper’s energetic approach to the game should filter through to his team-mates while he is sure to play a big role at the breakdowns where his pilfering skills are amongst the best in the business.

Back in the @Wallabies fold 🇦🇺

Michael Hooper 💥 pic.twitter.com/X2uhaf5cnf

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) October 27, 2022

If the Wallabies want to win this match, then their backline have to receive good front-foot ball, particularly star fly-half Quade Cooper, who is making his return to the Test arena after spending most of the past year on the sidelines due to an Achilles injury sustained in last year’s Rugby Championship opener against Los Pumas in Mendoza. Although he is 35, Cooper is still an excellent playmaker who can unlock the tightest defences and this is exactly what will be expected from him against the Boks in this Test. Cooper will have to be at his best in Pretoria with his goal-kicking, game management and distribution skills holding the key to his team’s fortunes in this encounter.

And although he is not in Australia’s starting line-up, expect star centre Samu Kerevi to make an impact off the replacements bench at some stage of this encounter. The 29-year-old has seen little action since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury while playing for Australia’s Sevens team at the Commonwealth Games last August. Kerevi returned to action in Japanese club rugby about two months ago and was in action for the Barbarians against a World XV at Twickenham at the end of May but suffered a hamstring strain in that match. He has recovered from that injury and will be expected to make a big impact when he comes on against the Boks.

Main head-to-head

There are several exciting individual battles lined up ahead of this Test but the one that stands out is between the two number eights in the Springboks’ Duane Vermeulen and Rob Valetini of the Wallabies. They are similar in their approach as both thrive in the physical nature of the game with their ball carrying and defensive work of a very high standard, so don’t be surprised if there are plenty of barnstorming runs and big hits flying in from the duo.

At the age of 37, Vermeulen is in the twilight of his career but he is still highly rated by the Boks’ management who have made him the team’s captain for this important fixture. He faces a tough adversary in Valetini, who is at the peak of his powers and equally at home on the blindside flank and at number eight. Apart from their prowess as ball carriers and excellent defenders, Vermeulen and Valetini are also competitive at the breakdown and they should be in the thick of the action in that facet of play as well.

Prediction

It’s the start of a new era for the Wallabies under Jones and they should offer a stern test to the Boks, who despite being without several key players, have plenty of depth in their ranks. Although Australia will be competitive for long periods, the home side will prove too strong in the end. South Africa to win by seven points.

Previous results

2022: South Africa won 24-8 in Sydney
2022: Australia won 25-17 in Adelaide
2021: Australia won 30-17 in Brisbane
2021: Australia won 28-26 on the Gold Coast
2019: South Africa won 35-17 in Johannesburg
2018: South Africa won 23-12 in Gqeberha
2018: Australia won 23-18 in Brisbane
2017: The teams drew 27-27 in Bloemfontein

The teams

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am (c), 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (cc), 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper (cc)
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Samu Kerevi, 23 Carter Gordon

Date: Saturday, July 8
Venue: Loftus Versveld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17:05 local (16:05 BST, 15:05 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

READ MORE: A combined Springboks and Wallabies XV ahead of the Rugby Championship opener at Loftus Versfeld