Wallabies plan to annoy Springboks with their 'Great Dane' and 'Jack Russell'
Image: Backpagepix
After being outgunned by the Springboks in their last four Tests, the Wallabies know what to expect at Ellis Park on Saturday — but they believe they now have heavy artillery of their own.
Giant lock Will Skelton and powerful flanker Tom Hooper both returned to the Wallabies set-up for the recent series against the British and Irish Lions, Skelton from overseas and Hooper from a long-term shoulder injury. Both made a marked difference, and Australia did not go backwards in the second and third Tests.
Skelton missed the first Test through injury, but his 2.3m, 145kg frame had a telling impact thereafter. Hooper, an explosive flanker at 1.99m and 118kg, was named Player of the Match in the third Test victory in Sydney.
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Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Hooper said the Wallabies would go toe-to-toe with the Springboks.
'Will (Skelton) will definitely be up for that challenge, and anyone picked in the jersey alongside him will follow him into battle,' he said. 'Will is an enforcer, and that is what he has been doing for a long time in the beautiful sport of rugby.
'For lack of a better word, he loves being that grub; he loves taking it to teams physically and making the gentleman's game a little more exciting. We love playing alongside him, and he is just a huge physical presence.
'I've never felt so small,' Hooper joked. 'At the end of the game, I give him a big hug. I feel like a little kid again, so it's always good.'
🗣️ BPA is ready for the challenge ahead
NEXT MATCH
🆚 Springboks
🗓️ Sunday August 17 | 1:10am AEST
🏟️ Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
📺 @stansportau#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/SJajCc71Fk — Wallabies (@wallabies) August 12, 2025
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