Packing a punch in Perth

SPRINGBOKS: WALLABIES A STERN TEST FOR HIGH-FLYING SOUTH AFRICANS Sound defence and team culture hold key for Coetzee’s charges who’ll be chasing their first win Down Under in four years.

Passionate defence driven by a sound team culture has been highlighted as a vital ingredient if the Springboks want to record their first success in four years on Aussie soil today in the Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies in Perth.

The Boks have been on a roll this year and the confidence is high after five straight wins. But Bok coach Allister Coetzee said Wallaby game-breakers like fullback Israel Folau and centre Kurtley Beale would ask big questions.

“Their playmakers and strike runners complement each other very well and we will have to be very sharp on defence,” said Coetzee. “They are a well-coached side, with great deception on attack.”

The Boks last win in Australia was a resounding 38-12 victory. But that was in Brisbane and not Perth, where the Boks have won just three from eight.

South Africa’s first Test match in Perth against Australia was played in 1998 when Gary Teichmann’s team won 14-13, and the last time that South Africa were victorious in Perth was in August 2009, when the side led by John Smit won 32-25.

The Boks have scored 21 tries in five Tests this year and conceded just eight, compared to nine Wallaby tries scored and 13 conceded in the two All Black Tests, albeit against much stronger opposition.

“If you look at their performances against New Zealand, you will see how well they have functioned in scoring nine tries and 63 points in two matches,” said Coetzee.

Today’s Test match will be the Springboks’ first match at the Nib Stadium, which was built in 1910 and renovated in 2004 and 2012. It has been the home of the Western Force since 2010 and the seating capacity is just 20 251.

There is a conception that the Bok tight five will have to be firing to put the heat on the Aussies, while the high tackle-rate of flankers Siya Kolisi and Jaco Kriel is seen as a vital component to slow down Aussie ball.

The Boks have a very inexperienced backline with centres Jan Serfontein (31 caps) and Jesse Kriel (21 caps) the most experienced while flyhalf Elton Jantjies, seen as one of the leaders in the side, has played only 16 Tests. Kick-off: 12.05pm. Also see Page 44