{"id":364117,"date":"2025-08-22T07:53:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T07:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/364117\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T07:53:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T07:53:11","slug":"rassie-erasmus-side-to-hit-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/364117\/","title":{"rendered":"Rassie Erasmus’ side to hit back"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Springboks head to Cape Town a wounded beast following last weekend\u2019s dramatic 38-22 defeat to the Wallabies, but should come out all guns blazing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last weekend\u2019s clash at Ellis Park was the ultimate game of two halves. Rassie Erasmus\u2019 charges came out of the traps extremely quickly, scoring three tries in 18 minutes, but after that flurry of scores, it was all Wallabies.<\/p>\n

Led by the returning James O\u2019Connor, Australia<\/a> not only clawed their way back into the game, but went on to claim their first victory at the historic ground for 62 years, thanks to a run of 38 unanswered points.<\/p>\n

The manner of the defeat left Erasmus<\/a> in a less-than-happy mood at the full-time whistle, and even left him changing his already selected team for Test Two.<\/p>\n

But, nothing should be taken away from the Wallabies, who were fully deserving of the win come full-time. The lineout fired to near perfection throughout the game, picking off the Boks with ease, and they bossed most of the exchanges around the loose too.<\/p>\n

The result, and the expected backlash, put this game on a really interesting knife-edge ahead of this weekend\u2019s clash in Cape Town.<\/p>\n

Where the game will be won<\/p>\n

There are obviously a lot of key areas and battles within this game, as with any Test match, but you\u2019d expect the lineout will be the defining area of the game.<\/p>\n

The Wallabies\u2019 lineout defence, led by Nick Frost, has fired them to successive wins over the British and Irish Lions and the Springboks<\/a>, and if they get this area right they could very easily make it three wins in a row.<\/p>\n

South Africa\u2019s game, even with its new intent to fling the ball out wide and play fast, flowing rugby, is still built on a good set-piece, and the lineout is key to that. As we\u2019ve seen over the past year, the Boks use the lineout to just give them consistent, clean ball to then allow their midfield to punch through holes. That will also be their plan this weekend, given Damian de Allende is back in the mix at 12, so if the Wallabies can just disrupt that transfer or even pinch the ball back, it should work wonders.<\/p>\n

A big part of Australia\u2019s dominance in defensive situations tends to come from their speed of drill. Frost tends to jump that split second faster than his opposition, which in itself is crazy considering both the speed of the modern-day lineout, but also the fact he has to react quickly to do it, but he also tends to jump forwards and up to win the space and get in the way of his opposition. The Boks will need to hold their ground on that front.<\/p>\n

The change of replacement hooker from Bongi Mbonambi to Marnus van der Merwe could also be a sign that they want to really nail the lineout. Upon his introduction, experienced hooker Mbonambi struggled to hit his darts, while Scarlets man Van der Merwe was pretty accurate during the summer.<\/p>\n

Last time they met<\/p>\n

\ufeff<\/p>\n

What they said<\/p>\n

Speaking ahead of the game, Erasmus described the feeling from last weekend as \u2018not lekker\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a while since we lost,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a while since a game just ran away from us in seven minutes. It\u2019s not a lekker feeling when that happens.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut by the first session on Monday, the answers started coming, and then we did attack today [Tuesday], and the answers started coming.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were 22 points up, and we thought \u2018this is easy and then you get a shock\u2019 and you get two or three concussions and it\u2019s not excuses but we did lose Siya [Kolisi], Marco [van Staden], Kurt-Lee [Arendse] and Edwill [van der Merwe] so everything almost got compounded and then all of a sudden we were 14 points down and they were just putting down the hammer.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we are going through the training sessions, we\u2019re finding the solutions. And one thing was, maybe it came too easily in the beginning, and then it got bad. We couldn\u2019t handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also detailed the manner of the defeat made him rethink his selection.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the result of us losing momentum, four guys miss out, Krappies [Morne van den Berg], Ethan [Hooker], and Vincent [Koch],\u201d Erasmus explained, with the fourth player likely being Cobus Wiese, whose name escaped the head coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are four guys who would have played this weekend. Hopefully, we can get back on the horse and win again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen obviously a guy like Kurt-Lee [Arendse] might have backed up, and Canan [Moodie] might have played at centre if we had won \u2013 those guys missed out there, and there are also injuries in other positions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wallabies team: Winners and losers as Joe Schmidt backs Ellis Park heroes but \u2018bafflingly\u2019 overlooks forward<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Springboks team: Winners and losers as star forward \u2018lucky\u2019 after set-piece shambles while picture could become \u2018clearer\u2019 for Rassie Erasmus<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The big narrative coming out of the Wallabies\u2019 camp was their ability to come back into the game after being 22-0 down, and head coach Joe Schmidt is hoping that could build further belief within his charges.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou hope that it does build belief. You hope that it gives confidence to players so they don\u2019t hesitate, they seize the moment in front of them and play as best they can. That would certainly be what we\u2019re hoping for,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are trying to build some more cohesion. We try to keep some combinations together so that cohesion can continue to build because we had a camp for two days in January and then didn\u2019t really assemble the team until the lead into the Fiji Test that we had.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen had another four days where the players could regenerate, and then had a week\u2019s lead into the first Lions Test just because Super Rugby went right to the end of June.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith that, we were really hopeful that one of the teams would get into the final this year. Unfortunately, that didn\u2019t happen, but that\u2019s what we\u2019d planned around one of them getting into the final.<\/p>\n

\u201cFantastic if two of them did, but we know the strength and depth of the Kiwi Super Rugby teams, and they had three out of the four semi-finalists and obviously the two finalists.\u201d<\/p>\n

A big part of their win last weekend was the performance of half-back duo James O\u2019Connor and Nic White, and Schmidt<\/a> was full of praise for the pair.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe accumulated experience of those two players does help [with on-field decision-making],\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJames was just trying to find his feet, particularly in that first 20 minutes; he got caught drifting across the field and got turned over. He was a little bit hesitant, but as the game went on, I felt like he got a bit of rhythm.<\/p>\n

\u201cNic\u2019s kicking game was really important for us. His organisational game was good for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Players to watch<\/p>\n

For the Springboks, the return of Cheslin Kolbe\u00a0<\/strong>is going to be pivotal. The wily winger is arguably one of the best players to ever wear the Green and Gold, and will just add another layer of threat to this already delicious-looking backline.<\/p>\n

Damian de Allende\u00a0<\/strong>has also been a key man in this Boks dynasty, and as touched on earlier, the sort of punch and power he brings to their attack will only take their game up a notch. He also has a telepathic connection with fellow centre Jesse Kriel<\/strong> after years of playing alongside each other, which should stop the Wallabies getting as much change through midfield as they got at Ellis Park.<\/p>\n

Ox Nche\u00a0<\/strong>will also likely have a huge say on the Test. His desire to attack the scrum and grind out penalties is second-to-none, and that has quickly taken the Boks\u2019 scrum up another level.<\/p>\n

For the Wallabies,\u00a0Tom Wright\u00a0<\/strong>will likely be their go-to man in attack. The Brumbies ace led the attacking stats for his side in the win at Ellis Park, notching 107 metres ball-in-hand, while notching two linebreaks and beating five defenders along the way.<\/p>\n

Max Jorgensen\u00a0<\/strong>is also quietly becoming a real menace on the wing for the Wallabies, and his attacking exploits will certainly make even Kolbe stand to attention. His quick feet at the point of contact, mixed with his pace and desire to go on the outside, make him a real handful for defenders to deal with, and it seems the Wallabies are starting to work their attack around him.<\/p>\n

Towering locks\u00a0Will Skelton\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Nick Frost\u00a0<\/strong>will also be key to getting their side over the line, with La Rochelle enforcer Skelton likely to set the tone physically, while Frost will likely be the main man at the lineout.<\/p>\n

Main head-to-head<\/p>\n

There will, of course, be plenty of mouthwatering head-to-heads across the game, but the clash between old horses Handre Pollard <\/strong>and James O\u2019Connor<\/strong> is absolutely scintillating to the neutral viewer. The pair are both proper quality operators within their own right, and will also come into the Test in good spirits. Pollard comes back into the mix following a strong end to the season with Leicester Tigers and has carried that over into the Green and Gold, too.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Connor, who will take Pollard\u2019s spot as Leicester\u2019s number 10 from next season, was in the Test wilderness for three years prior to last weekend\u2019s win at Ellis Park, but to be honest, it didn\u2019t look like he\u2019d been away at all as he steered his side to a famous win.<\/p>\n

While the battle up-front will be massive, given the comments coming out of both camps, the way both fly-halves get their backlines playing could be a major factor in the outcome of the match. Both men are capable of playing fast, expansive rugby, which suits the way their teams want to play, so whoever can do that better than the other should see their team over the line.<\/p>\n

Prediction<\/p>\n

This has all the hallmarks of a genuine Test match classic. The build-up has had that little bit of edge, with a genuine feeling of hurt and anger coming out of the Boks camp, which should fuel a fire and brimstone contest. Both teams will be confident heading into it as well, with the Boks fuelled by that built-up hatred while the Wallabies will be on cloud nine after last weekend\u2019s win, so it promises to be close. Our money is on the hosts, though, but only just. Springboks by 5<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Previous results<\/p>\n

2025: <\/b>Australia won 38-22 in Johannesburg\u00a0
2024:<\/b>\u00a0South Africa won 30-12 in Perth
2024:<\/b>\u00a0South Africa won 33-7 in Brisbane
2023:<\/b>\u00a0South Africa won 43-12 in Pretoria
2022:<\/b>\u00a0South Africa won 24-8 in Sydney
2022:<\/b>\u00a0Australia won 25-17 in Adelaide
2021:<\/b>\u00a0Australia won 30-17 in Brisbane
2021:<\/b>\u00a0Australia won 28-26 on the Gold Coast
2019:<\/b>\u00a0South Africa won 35-17 in Johannesburg
2018:<\/b>\u00a0South Africa won 23-12 in Gqeberha
2018:<\/b>\u00a0Australia won 23-18 in Brisbane<\/p>\n

The teams<\/p>\n

Springboks:<\/b> 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements:<\/b>\u00a016 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Lood de Jager, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu<\/p>\n

Wallabies:<\/b>\u00a015 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 James O\u2019Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements:<\/b>\u00a016 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway<\/p>\n

Date:<\/b>\u00a0Saturday, August 23
Venue:<\/b>\u00a0DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off:<\/b>\u00a017:10 local time (01:10 AEST Sunday, 16:10 BST, 15:10 GMT)
Referee:<\/b>\u00a0James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant referees:<\/b>\u00a0Ben O\u2019Keeffe (NZR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO:<\/b>\u00a0Richard Kelly (RA)
FPRO:<\/b>\u00a0Tual Trainini (FFR)<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong>Rassie Erasmus: \u2018Australia are playing like we did in 2019, we don\u2019t believe that\u2019s the way to win the next World Cup\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Springboks head to Cape Town a wounded beast following last weekend\u2019s dramatic 38-22 defeat to the Wallabies,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":364118,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4102],"tags":[186,126,225,90462,12,4151,33131,2196,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-364117","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-rugby","8":"tag-australia","9":"tag-features","10":"tag-home-page","11":"tag-internationals","12":"tag-news","13":"tag-rugby","14":"tag-rugby-championship","15":"tag-south-africa","16":"tag-sports","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115071340179559180","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=364117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/364117\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/364118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=364117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=364117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=364117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}