Wallabies lose sleep over duo’s fitness
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has received a significant boost after it has emerged on Wednesday that the Australians are sweating over the fitness of influential open side flanker David Pocock and fullback Israel Folau.
Australia coach Michael Cheika will rely on advice from his medical team as to whether the two players will be available for the Rugby Championship clash against the South Africans at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
Both teams announce their respective squads on Thursday morning and the chances of Pocock and Folau facing the visitors are rated 50/50.
Cheika’s problems this week did not end with Pocock and Folau as back-up halfback Nick Phipps is also in doubt with a rib injury.
The Australians are also keeping their fingers crossed that prop Taniela Tupou responds to treatment on his hamstring.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding several of their key players, scrumhalf Will Genia urged his teammates to raise their game against the Boks after conceding 12 tries against bitter rivals New Zealand in two disheartening defeats recently.
“We need to show some resilience and hit back,” Genia said here as they continued their preparations ahead of Saturday’s showdown against the Boks.
‘‘One of the disappointing things is that sometimes during games we have not done our jobs individually.”
Unlike the Wallabies who are sweating on the fitness of some of their key players, the Springboks, who were rested from training and doing media engagements on Wednesday, have no such issues and have focused on getting back to winning ways.
There is expectation that Erasmus could ring the changes and send a strong message to his players after their embarrassing defeat to Argentina in Mendoza last week.
Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies is likely to be chosen ahead of Handrè Pollard, who has been struggling with the boot recently, at this Brisbane venue that has a reputation for attacking rugby.
There is also the possibility of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel being thrown into the starting lineup in midfield with Andre Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am dropping out and Cheslin Kolbe making the bench.
Boks have no such issues and have focused on getting back to winning ways