Rain, injuries, and a ‘must-win’: Springboks brace for Wallabies clash in Cape Town

Wet weather, a reshuffled lineup, and the weight of expectation – the Springboks head into their Rugby Championship clash with Australia in Cape Town this Saturday with practically everything on the line. Kick-off at DHL Stadium is set for 5.10 pm.

With rain forecast for the Cape this weekend, this raises the likelihood of a bruising, tight encounter, something the Springboks would embrace. However, the wet conditions also make the late withdrawal of veteran fullback Willie le Roux all the more significant.

Le Roux, fresh off his 100th cap, has been ruled out with a niggle. His experience under the high ball would have been invaluable in the expected conditions. In the veteran’s absence, Aphelele Fassi, who started the first Test, steps back into the No.15 jersey.

Erasmus returns to Bok ‘DNA’

Head coach Rassie Erasmus has made 10 changes to the starting XV in response to last week’s demoralising 38-22 loss at Ellis Park.

That defeat – where the Boks failed to score in the second half and struggled with turnovers – left the hosts under pressure. The fact is that South Africa has not lost back-to-back home Tests to Australia since 1963, but the loss in Johannesburg may have shaken their confidence.

Erasmus was blunt about the approach for Cape Town: “We want all our matches to be a grind, because then we do well,” he said.

The Boks have been hard at work on the practice field this week, having intensively drilled their breakdown defence after admitting that the Wallabies’ turnover attack “cut them up a little” in Johannesburg. 

The focus this week has been on winning collisions early and nullifying Wallaby fetchers such as Fraser McReight.

Du Preez back in green and gold

One of the most notable changes to the team sees Jean-Luc du Preez return to the starting lineup at No.8, which will be his first Test start in seven years. He replaces injured skipper Siya Kolisi, and he joins Marco van Staden and Franco Mostert in the loose trio.

“It’s thrilling, but there is pressure as well,” du Preez admitted this week. “I’m focusing on preparation and making my contribution to the team.”

A fight on home soil

But should the Boks be intimidated? After all, Cape Town has been a stronghold for the Boks against the Wallabies, with South Africa winning seven of their last eight meetings in the city since 1992. 

But, as mentioned earlier, after last week’s defeat – the first at Ellis Park to Australia since 1963 – the hosts know history counts for little.

With a heavy forward pack, the return of stars like Cheslin Kolbe and Damian de Allende, and a game plan tailored for the trenches, Erasmus is betting on a return to traditional Bok DNA, that is, their power rugby.