Boks will need Madiba Magic in Friendly City

There is something seldom about the Wallabies visiting the coastal city of Port Elizabeth for a rugby Test. In the last few years we have seen New Zealand, England, Ireland and Argentina paying a visit to the Friendly City, but for Australia it’s been a rare occasion.

The Wallabies last unpacked their suitcases in the Friendly City all of 55 years ago when they lost 22-6 to the Boks back in 1963, which was before most of us were even born.

It also happened in the Boet Erasmus Stadium which has now been demolished and in the seven years since this part of our rugby landscape have taken ownership of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as the new base of rugby in the area.

Tomorrow the high-flying Boks welcome the Wallabies for the first time in this beautiful stadium, initially built for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

In five Tests there the Boks have beaten the All Blacks, Scotland and Argentina and drew 1414 with England in 2012, while the 19-13 win over Ireland in the decisive third Test in 2016 gave the Boks a 2-1 series win.

But ever since my first visit to the stadium in 2011 when I saw Richard Kahui scoring the All Blacks’ only points of the game and also the only try of the Test against Morne Steyn’s 18 points off the boot, the stadium had a certain magic about it. Maybe it’s all in the name – call it that Madiba magic.

Ever since the Wallabies arrived in Port Elizabeth they have referred to the Boks as the favourites for this game because of their passionate win over the All Blacks in Wellington, which is fair enough.

But we know very similar to the way the Boks played for their coach Rassie Erasmus against the Kiwis, the Aussies will be playing for their coach Michael Cheika, who have lost three of his last four Tests with the only win the 23-18 victory over the Boks in Brisbane three weeks ago.

The Wallabies are also very well aware that they haven’t won in South Africa for seven long years since their 2011 win in Durban.

Now it’s up to the Boks to keep it that way. Scenes of Wellington will fade quickly if they don’t.