Confident Springboks put Wallabies to the test

PERTH: Australia’s Wallabies face an acid test against the rejuvenated Springboks in the Rugby Championship tomorrow to gauge whether they are on the rise after taking the All Blacks to the limit.

The world champion New Zealanders had to pull out all the stops to overcome Australia 35-29 with a try two minutes from time in Dunedin a fortnight ago.

The Wallabies have already lost the trans-Tasman Bledisloe Cup series, but take on the regenerated Springboks in Perth, with the South Africans yet to lose in 2017.

Fly- half Bernard Foley said every member of the Wallabies’ squad knew the importance of not undoing all their good work from Dunedin against the South Africans.

“I think that’s probably been a hurdle of Wallaby teams in the past, is not being able to be consistent,” Foley said.

“We’ve definitely spoken (about) that and challenged every player to go up a level from where he was in Dunedin.”

While the Springboks have vanquished Argentina and France over five internationals this year they have not beaten the Wallabies in Australia since their 38-12 romp in Brisbane in 2013.

It has been a torrid year for Australia, winning only two of their five internationals and coming off a miserable Super Rugby season climaxed by the contentious axing of Perth-based Western Force from next year’s competition.

There have been reports that the Perth rugby public may boycott the Test tomorrow as a way of protesting against the Australian Rugby Union’s vexed decision to cull the Force, or wear their blue Western Force jerseys instead of the Wallabies’ gold.

“Playing in your home town in front of your club team fans and Wallaby fans, it’s a very special occasion,” Wallabies and Force lock Adam Coleman said.

“The fans in Western Australia are amazing.

“I’m sure they’ll turn out in numbers.” — AFP