Wallabies chasing hoodoo-breaking win over Springboks at Ellis Park in Rugby Championship
Australia open the Rugby Championship on Sunday at 1:10am AEST at Johannesburg's Ellis Park, a ground where have not won since 1963.
Their most recent victory over South Africa at altitude was at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, where Australia pulled off a last-gasp two-point win in 2010.
But with just 10 victories from 48 Tests in South Africa since 1933, the successes of the Wallabies have been few and far between.
While they did not get the series win over the British and Irish Lions, a confidence-boosting victory in the third Test in Sydney left the Wallabies heading to South Africa with their tails up.
Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa said they were mindful not to get caught up in the aura of the Springboks, back-to-back world champions after winning the 2023 title in France.
They handily beat Australia 33-7 and 33-12 in their two Tests last year, with the Wallabies' last victory coming in Adelaide in 2022.
"It's really easy to look at what South Africa have done in the past and obviously they're a world-class team and for us it's just taking them for face value," Paenga-Amosa said from Johannesburg.
"We respect what they've done, we respect them as a team, winning World Cups, but we're just going to take them at face value — what we see in front of our faces in Ellis Park is how we're going to see them.
"I definitely think we're at a better place now than we were 12 months ago.
"Off the back of a really good win against the Lions, we just want to continue to build that momentum going into the [The Rugby Championship] against South Africa, Argentina and then the All Blacks.
"First stop though here at Ellis Park, so we're looking at definitely continuing that momentum."
Paenga-Amosa said there were no injury concerns in the Wallabies camp, with prop Taniela Tupou overcoming a toe injury to be available for selection.
He said they were excited for the "cauldron" atmosphere of Ellis Park, where James Slipper, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nic White were part of the 2019 outfit who lost 35-17, as well as Tupou, who earned a yellow card for a no-arms cleanout.
"We know the biggest thing about Ellis Park is the altitude and that plays a bit of a part in how the game will be played," the Western Force hooker said.
"We're here now, so we get to acclimatise to that altitude.
"We're trying not to think too much about the altitude, though, because in the end, if we nail our plays, nail our own individual roles, it'll go a long way for us."
Paenga-Amosa's younger sister Katalina is part of the Wallaroos squad now in England ahead of their World Cup opener later this month.
The 29-year-old said his family was proud of his sister, also a hooker.
"It's been awesome for my sister, I'm really proud of her and excited to watch her ripping at the World Cup … most of the household has been buzzing.
"It's been exciting the past month for myself personally and if I do get that opportunity in Jo'burg to play against the Springboks, it'll be a huge honour for myself."
AAP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Dewald Brevis breaks record in second Australia vs. South Africa T20
Australia's hopes of going 2-0 up in the five-match white-ball series against South Africa (7/218) hangs in the balance after a world class knock and first international ton from Dewald Brevis (125 n/o). The hosts elected to bowl after winning the toss and quickly piled on the pressure with the visitors wading water at 3/57 in the seventh over. However, the efforts of 22-year-old Brevis shocked the crowd with a blistering maiden century in which he made 12 fours and cleared the rope eight times, surpassing Faf du Plessis with the highest T20 score for South Africa. His punishing knock included 40 runs from 10 balls punishing Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood in particular in the 12th and 13th over. Australia were dealt a further blow when their best bat from the first T20 Tim David suffered what appeared to be a right shoulder injury after making a diving effort to prevent a boundary. David came back onto the field an over or so later but departed as quickly as he returned, sitting out the entire second half of the innings. Brevis' innings was intertwined with luck when dropped by substitute fielder Matthew Kuhnemann at deep wicket on 56, but steered by power hitting which captivated the Top End crowd. With David now in question for the runchase, and first-drop Josh Inglis replaced by Alex Carey – his first T20I in four years – the Australian's will have to be near perfect if they are to chase down the visitors total. And after the heavy metal, 'all guns blazing' approach that narrowly got them over the line 48 hours prior, the hosts record breaking winning streak may be put to bed.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Follow him into battle': The Wallabies enforcer inspiring teammates to fight their corner
'As much as we had a really good fan base back home on home soil, we know out here it's going to be heavily a green fan base and we've got to make sure that the 23 blokes in that circle are looking after each other and we can't take a backwards step,' Hooper said from Johannesburg. After initially planning to return to France, Skelton stayed with the Wallabies for his first Rugby Championship games – outside a World Cup year – since 2017. 'Anyone who's picked in the jersey alongside him will follow him into battle, that's for sure,' Hooper said. 'He's an enforcer. That's what he's been doing for a long time now in the beautiful sport of rugby. For want of a better word, he loves being that grub. He loves taking it to teams physically. Making the gentlemen's game a little bit more exciting. We love playing with him. He's just a physical presence.' Hooper was man of the match in the third Lions Test playing blindside flanker but would likely relinquish his position if Rob Valetini is fit and returns to the side. But it's also not out of the question that Schmidt keeps Hooper in the pack and rotates Harry Wilson onto the bench, with the skipper having played every minute in the Lions series. Loading Having debuted in Pretoria in 2023, Hooper played at the World Cup that year but failed to win many Test caps under Schmidt last year. It helped Hooper make the call to sign for Exeter in the English Premiership, but he also won a recall to the Wallabies based on a career-best season for the Brumbies. 'I love the gold jersey and I love playing in it,' Hooper said. 'My decisions to go overseas were definitely to improve myself as a rugby player. I don't have a crystal ball, unfortunately. 'I don't know what's going to happen in my future, but I'll just keep making decisions based on being a good rugby player and hopefully playing in that goal jersey because I absolutely love it.' Springboks roll out alpha move on Wallabies by naming team three days early He doesn't quite know all their names but Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is wary of the Wallabies' threats ahead of the Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg on Sunday morning. Erasmus talked up the Wallabies' scrum and aerial potency after unveiling a strong team for the Ellis Park showdown, and in an unprecedented sign of confidence, named his side on Monday – three days ahead of the deadline. Most coaches jealously guard their team until forced to name it 48 hours before the Test, to minimise the preparation time for rivals. But in a sizeable flex, Erasmus is not stressed about the Wallabies knowing what's coming. There is no Cheslin Kolbe, as he returns from injury, and no bomb squad on the bench – yet – but that's about the extent of the good news for Australia, with Erasmus rolling out 18 World Cup winners in his 23-man match day squad. Manie Libbok has been named at flyhalf and captain Siya Kolisi at number eight for the first time. Scrumhalf Grant Williams is alongside Libbok, with battering ram Andre Esterhuizen at inside centre and Jesse Kriel in the number 13 jersey, with Damian De Allende unavailable with injury. The back three includes fullback Aphelele Fassi, with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe on the wing. With Jasper Wiese suspended, Kolisi switches to number eight having played much of the recent United Rugby Championship season there for the Sharks, with Marco van Staden and Pieter-Steph du Toit the two flankers. Veterans Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager are the lock pairing, while hooker Malcolm Marx has props Ox Nche and Wilco Louw either side of him. 'We actually changed our mind there,' Erasmus said about Kolisi's move. 'The more we practised we realised that the only position the guy plays at eight is at scrums, which happens maybe 13 or 14 times a game. 'General play is probably what happens most and having guys like Pieter, Marco and Siya on the field we really feel Australia is a threat at the breakdown. They really fight hard at the breakdown, and those guys clean out well at the breakdown, and we feel we are going to need that. 'It's just at scrumming where he is eight. I know I said a couple of weeks ago that Siya is a six and not an eight, but we came to the conclusion that we actually need him there and have Kwagga [Smith] on the bench.' The world champion Springboks are seeking a fifth successive win against the Wallabies. Eramus lauded the Wallabies form in the Lions series, and said there were threats from Australia across the field and said the high altitude conditions in Johannesburg could prove beneficial to the visitors. 'If you go through, [Taniela] Tupou, [Rob] Valetini and [Will] Skelton, and those three loose forwards, are pretty impressive. They scrummed really well in the second half against the Lions as well but I think there will be an aerial battle,' Erasmus said. 'At altitude the ball flies a mile so distance kicking will be a thing. Also they've got great guys in the air; you know [Joseph-Aukuso] Suaalii, the young boy [Max] Jorgensen, the other winger [Dylan Pietsch] is a really fiery winger who is really competitive, the inside centre [Len Ikitau] is really competitive. 'I don't think it's going to be a kicking competition but I think the aerial battle will be a vital one.' The Springboks have earned headlines for rolling on as many as seven forwards from their bench – which is known as the 'Bomb Squad' – but Erasmus opted for a traditional a 5-3 split between forwards and backs. Loading The coach did say he would add another forward if the Wallabies go with a 6-2 split when they name their side on Thursday. 'They [Australia] are a physical and well-coached team, and we'll certainly not underestimate how much those performances [against the British & Irish Lions], combined with their motivation to bounce back strongly against us after the last few results between the teams, and win their first match ever at Ellis Park, will inspire them,' Erasmus said. South Africa team: 15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Edwill van der Merwe, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Siya Kolisi, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6. Marco van Staden, 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Ox Nche
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
Kolisi switch, bomb squad cut; Boks team for Wallabies
Captain Siya Kolisi will play at No.8 for the first time and the bomb squad has been reduced by a 5-3 bench split with South Africa selecting a side likely to play with ball in hand in the Rugby Championship opener against Australia at Ellis Park. The world champion Springboks are seeking a fifth successive win against the Wallabies as they also seek to retain their southern hemisphere crown won last year. Scrumhalf Grant Williams is alongside flyhalf Manie Libbok, with battering ram Andre Esterhuizen at inside centre and Jesse Kriel in the number 13 jersey. The back three comprises fullback Aphelele Fassi, with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe on the wing. Kolisi switches to No.8 having played much of the recent United Rugby Championship season there for the Sharks, with Marco van Staden and Pieter-Steph du Toit the two flankers. Coach Rassie Erasmus said it was a backrow selected with a ferocious breakdown battle in mind as the Wallabies contest hard in that area. Veterans Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager are the lock pairing, while hooker Malcolm Marx has props Ox Nche and Wilco Louw either side of him. "We've been experimenting with player combinations during the (July internationals) and at our conditioning camp in the last two weeks, and we believe this team will allow us to play the type of rugby we want to play against Australia," Erasmus said. "All of the starters except for Edwill have faced them before, and we are confident that he is ready for this challenge." Centre Damian De Allende is sidelined through injury and wing Cheslin Kolbe was not selected as a precaution despite returning to training last week. Erasmus, who switched his team announcement to Monday, opted for a 5-3 bench split between forwards and backs rather than 6-2, in a sign the Springboks intend to run the ball. Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach, wing/centre Canan Moodie and utility back Damian Willemse are the three backline options. "They (Australia) are a physical and well-coached team, and we'll certainly not underestimate how much those performances (against the British & Irish Lions), combined with their motivation to bounce back strongly against us after the last few results between the teams, and win their first match ever at Ellis Park, will inspire them," Erasmus said. South Africa team: 15–Aphelele Fassi, 14–Edwill van der Merwe, 13–Jesse Kriel, 12–Andre Esterhuizen, 11–Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10–Manie Libbok, 9–Grant Williams, 8–Siya Kolisi, 7–Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6–Marco van Staden, 5–Lood de Jager, 4–Eben Etzebeth, 3–Wilco Louw, 2–Malcolm Marx, 1–Ox Nche Replacements: 16–Bongi Mbonambi, 17–Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18–Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19–Franco Mostert, 20–Kwagga Smith, 21–Cobus Reinach, 22–Canan Moodie, 23–Damian Willemse.
