'Pressure is coming': Wallabies ready for Boks backlash
While delighted with his side's resilience and growing belief shown in Saturday's colossal comeback win over the back-to-back world champions in Johannesburg, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt isn't getting carried away.
He believes the Springboks took their foot off the pedal after motoring to a 22-0 lead inside 18 minutes before succumbing to the Wallabies at Ellis Park for the first time since 1963.
"I've coached enough teams because I'm really old," the 60-year-old Kiwi said.
"I've had teams who got a very, very rapid start. It can sometimes just cause a bit of a lapse in effort and concentration. I think they just gave us a little bit of belief.
"As well as (man of the match) Fraser (McReight) did and the other players did, we were probably a little bit lucky because Pieter-Steph (du Toit) at one stage just went to pick and go and he just knocked it on."
Schmidt said it was unlikely the Springboks would repeat such mistakes next weekend.
"There were a couple of uncharacteristic errors from the Springboks where, I think next week, if they pick and go there, he (du Toit) is such a powerful, athletic man, he will be a handful," he said.
"It was probably a mix of us and a little bit of inaccuracy from the Springboks because when they were accurate, you saw that first 20 minutes.
"I saw wave after wave and even that very first drive was impressive.
"We probably got a little bit lucky, even when Andre (Esterhuizen) went down the left-hand touch a couple of times.
"One of the times, (Wallaby) Tom Wright went 70 metres and scored at the other end."
Schmidt says the Wallabies can't expect a repeat of the Springboks' second-half lapse when the two teams meet again next Sunday morning (AEST) at DHL Stadium.
"We know that pressure is coming," he said.
"I've coached against the Boks with a few other international teams and come out second.
"I know whether they're favourites or not, they're a heck of a team."
Lock Will Skelton and veteran flyhalf James O'Connor revealed the Wallabies quietly celebrated while also reviewing the epic 38-22 triumph on laptops, knowing full well the Boks will likely respond in ruthless fashion.
"A lot of the boys are already onto next week. The boys are reviewing, everyone's clipping stuff," Skelton said.
"We know what's going to come. They're going to try and punch you in the face this week.
"So we're going to have to have a good week of preparation again, and really fight until the end."
After playing a lead role in his first Test since 2022, 35-year-old O'Connor said the Wallabies "enjoyed each other's company" but were not getting carried away.
"That's the thing about rugby - you're already on to next week. I know my mind went there," he said.
"I thought straight away: 'What are they going to be coming with - 6-2 bench, back to basics, bomb squad, aerial contest?
"They're going to meet us in the trenches there, so I'm already thinking about what's coming and then just focusing on recovery."
With winger Dylan Pietsch (broken jaw), utility back Ben Donaldson (abductor muscle) and prop James Slipper (concussion) all returning home, Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart and Rhys van Nek will fly to South Africa to join the Wallabies.
Under no illusions, Australia are bracing for some fierce backlash from South Africa in the two sides' return Rugby Championship stoush in Cape Town.
While delighted with his side's resilience and growing belief shown in Saturday's colossal comeback win over the back-to-back world champions in Johannesburg, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt isn't getting carried away.
He believes the Springboks took their foot off the pedal after motoring to a 22-0 lead inside 18 minutes before succumbing to the Wallabies at Ellis Park for the first time since 1963.
"I've coached enough teams because I'm really old," the 60-year-old Kiwi said.
"I've had teams who got a very, very rapid start. It can sometimes just cause a bit of a lapse in effort and concentration. I think they just gave us a little bit of belief.
"As well as (man of the match) Fraser (McReight) did and the other players did, we were probably a little bit lucky because Pieter-Steph (du Toit) at one stage just went to pick and go and he just knocked it on."
Schmidt said it was unlikely the Springboks would repeat such mistakes next weekend.
"There were a couple of uncharacteristic errors from the Springboks where, I think next week, if they pick and go there, he (du Toit) is such a powerful, athletic man, he will be a handful," he said.
"It was probably a mix of us and a little bit of inaccuracy from the Springboks because when they were accurate, you saw that first 20 minutes.
"I saw wave after wave and even that very first drive was impressive.
"We probably got a little bit lucky, even when Andre (Esterhuizen) went down the left-hand touch a couple of times.
"One of the times, (Wallaby) Tom Wright went 70 metres and scored at the other end."
Schmidt says the Wallabies can't expect a repeat of the Springboks' second-half lapse when the two teams meet again next Sunday morning (AEST) at DHL Stadium.
"We know that pressure is coming," he said.
"I've coached against the Boks with a few other international teams and come out second.
"I know whether they're favourites or not, they're a heck of a team."
Lock Will Skelton and veteran flyhalf James O'Connor revealed the Wallabies quietly celebrated while also reviewing the epic 38-22 triumph on laptops, knowing full well the Boks will likely respond in ruthless fashion.
"A lot of the boys are already onto next week. The boys are reviewing, everyone's clipping stuff," Skelton said.
"We know what's going to come. They're going to try and punch you in the face this week.
"So we're going to have to have a good week of preparation again, and really fight until the end."
After playing a lead role in his first Test since 2022, 35-year-old O'Connor said the Wallabies "enjoyed each other's company" but were not getting carried away.
"That's the thing about rugby - you're already on to next week. I know my mind went there," he said.
"I thought straight away: 'What are they going to be coming with - 6-2 bench, back to basics, bomb squad, aerial contest?
"They're going to meet us in the trenches there, so I'm already thinking about what's coming and then just focusing on recovery."
With winger Dylan Pietsch (broken jaw), utility back Ben Donaldson (abductor muscle) and prop James Slipper (concussion) all returning home, Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart and Rhys van Nek will fly to South Africa to join the Wallabies.
Under no illusions, Australia are bracing for some fierce backlash from South Africa in the two sides' return Rugby Championship stoush in Cape Town.
While delighted with his side's resilience and growing belief shown in Saturday's colossal comeback win over the back-to-back world champions in Johannesburg, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt isn't getting carried away.
He believes the Springboks took their foot off the pedal after motoring to a 22-0 lead inside 18 minutes before succumbing to the Wallabies at Ellis Park for the first time since 1963.
"I've coached enough teams because I'm really old," the 60-year-old Kiwi said.
"I've had teams who got a very, very rapid start. It can sometimes just cause a bit of a lapse in effort and concentration. I think they just gave us a little bit of belief.
"As well as (man of the match) Fraser (McReight) did and the other players did, we were probably a little bit lucky because Pieter-Steph (du Toit) at one stage just went to pick and go and he just knocked it on."
Schmidt said it was unlikely the Springboks would repeat such mistakes next weekend.
"There were a couple of uncharacteristic errors from the Springboks where, I think next week, if they pick and go there, he (du Toit) is such a powerful, athletic man, he will be a handful," he said.
"It was probably a mix of us and a little bit of inaccuracy from the Springboks because when they were accurate, you saw that first 20 minutes.
"I saw wave after wave and even that very first drive was impressive.
"We probably got a little bit lucky, even when Andre (Esterhuizen) went down the left-hand touch a couple of times.
"One of the times, (Wallaby) Tom Wright went 70 metres and scored at the other end."
Schmidt says the Wallabies can't expect a repeat of the Springboks' second-half lapse when the two teams meet again next Sunday morning (AEST) at DHL Stadium.
"We know that pressure is coming," he said.
"I've coached against the Boks with a few other international teams and come out second.
"I know whether they're favourites or not, they're a heck of a team."
Lock Will Skelton and veteran flyhalf James O'Connor revealed the Wallabies quietly celebrated while also reviewing the epic 38-22 triumph on laptops, knowing full well the Boks will likely respond in ruthless fashion.
"A lot of the boys are already onto next week. The boys are reviewing, everyone's clipping stuff," Skelton said.
"We know what's going to come. They're going to try and punch you in the face this week.
"So we're going to have to have a good week of preparation again, and really fight until the end."
After playing a lead role in his first Test since 2022, 35-year-old O'Connor said the Wallabies "enjoyed each other's company" but were not getting carried away.
"That's the thing about rugby - you're already on to next week. I know my mind went there," he said.
"I thought straight away: 'What are they going to be coming with - 6-2 bench, back to basics, bomb squad, aerial contest?
"They're going to meet us in the trenches there, so I'm already thinking about what's coming and then just focusing on recovery."
With winger Dylan Pietsch (broken jaw), utility back Ben Donaldson (abductor muscle) and prop James Slipper (concussion) all returning home, Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart and Rhys van Nek will fly to South Africa to join the Wallabies.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘You've won nothing': How World Cup-winning Wallabies silenced South Africa in 1992
The last time the Wallabies won at Cape Town, in 1992, captain Nick Farr-Jones and his World Cup-winning squad played in a country filled with tension. The Springboks had been officially isolated from Test rugby for eight years due to the nation's apartheid regime, and the arrival of teams from New Zealand and Australia for two Tests was a tentative gesture of support for a country grappling with the transition to democracy. One year before Farr-Jones had lifted the World Cup in front of Queen Elizabeth, but according to many Afrikaners, it was a phoney prize. 'We went up to Pretoria [for a tour match],' Farr-Jones said. 'You've got a lot of Afrikaners up there and, of course, they [South Africa] weren't part of the 1991 World Cup, and my long-lasting memory is the Afrikaners coming up to me, recognising me, knowing who I was and basically to summarise, they would say, 'Congratulations on winning what you perceive to be the World Cup, and until you've beaten us, you've won nothing'.' In 1992, South Africa was stumbling on its first tentative steps to democracy as it attempted to transition from the institutionalised racial segregation of apartheid. Nelson Mandela had been released from prison two years earlier after 27 years behind bars, and talks between his party, the African National Congress, and the government were difficult. The invitation to New Zealand and Australia to play the Springboks in South Africa only came with the express blessing of the ANC. 'When I was a young fella, in the mid-80s, I always thought that sport and politics shouldn't cross over,' Farr-Jones said. 'But when I saw the pressure that isolation [in sport] brought on South Africa to change, I turned 180 degrees. 'I believe that that isolation was very important in getting rid of apartheid, that abhorrent culture, and so I went from someone who [believed] sport and politics shouldn't interfere, to someone that felt this was the right thing to do in isolating South Africa, economically and sport.' In the lead up to the game, Farr-Jones had the opportunity to spent time with Mandela, a man who he bonded with as a fellow lawyer and admired greatly for his courageous stance against apartheid. The Wallabies almost did not take to the field in Newlands, as the ANC and its supporters were unhappy after their requests for the apartheid-era national anthem and flag not to be used before the game against New Zealand were ignored.
The Age
8 hours ago
- The Age
‘You've won nothing': How World Cup-winning Wallabies silenced South Africa in 1992
The last time the Wallabies won at Cape Town, in 1992, captain Nick Farr-Jones and his World Cup-winning squad played in a country filled with tension. The Springboks had been officially isolated from Test rugby for eight years due to the nation's apartheid regime, and the arrival of teams from New Zealand and Australia for two Tests was a tentative gesture of support for a country grappling with the transition to democracy. One year before Farr-Jones had lifted the World Cup in front of Queen Elizabeth, but according to many Afrikaners, it was a phoney prize. 'We went up to Pretoria [for a tour match],' Farr-Jones said. 'You've got a lot of Afrikaners up there and, of course, they [South Africa] weren't part of the 1991 World Cup, and my long-lasting memory is the Afrikaners coming up to me, recognising me, knowing who I was and basically to summarise, they would say, 'Congratulations on winning what you perceive to be the World Cup, and until you've beaten us, you've won nothing'.' In 1992, South Africa was stumbling on its first tentative steps to democracy as it attempted to transition from the institutionalised racial segregation of apartheid. Nelson Mandela had been released from prison two years earlier after 27 years behind bars, and talks between his party, the African National Congress, and the government were difficult. The invitation to New Zealand and Australia to play the Springboks in South Africa only came with the express blessing of the ANC. 'When I was a young fella, in the mid-80s, I always thought that sport and politics shouldn't cross over,' Farr-Jones said. 'But when I saw the pressure that isolation [in sport] brought on South Africa to change, I turned 180 degrees. 'I believe that that isolation was very important in getting rid of apartheid, that abhorrent culture, and so I went from someone who [believed] sport and politics shouldn't interfere, to someone that felt this was the right thing to do in isolating South Africa, economically and sport.' In the lead up to the game, Farr-Jones had the opportunity to spent time with Mandela, a man who he bonded with as a fellow lawyer and admired greatly for his courageous stance against apartheid. The Wallabies almost did not take to the field in Newlands, as the ANC and its supporters were unhappy after their requests for the apartheid-era national anthem and flag not to be used before the game against New Zealand were ignored.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
Pumas take positives into second All Blacks clash
Argentina were comfortably beaten by New Zealand in last weekend's Rugby Championship clash in Cordoba, but winger Rodrigo Isgro says the loss should not overshadow the positive aspects of the Pumas' performance. The countries meet again in Buenos Aires on Saturday in their second game of the Southern Hemisphere competition after the All Blacks won 41-24 last weekend. "Obviously, it's the All Blacks. They knew how to take advantage of our mistakes," Isgro told reporters at training. "But we also cancelled a lot of what they had planned, but they changed their game and started to make it simpler, and we couldn't dominate them there. "Even so, I think we were in the contest throughout the entire match. We came within a try in the second half of tying them. There were a lot of things that we worked on during the week before that we utilised well in the match, which for me is super important." The 26-year-old, who plays his club rugby at Harlequins in London, was one of the three try scorers for Argentina in Cordoba. "It was my first game against the All Blacks. There's something different about playing them," he said. "The day before the Test, I remembered when I used to do the haka at home. There were sentimental aspects to playing the All Blacks, which made me really emotional. "But once I was out there, I knew the attention the game required, and you must try to manage any emotions. "Personally, I felt good. I'm quite self-critical. I know I must keep improving and there are things I can do much better." Looking ahead to Saturday's game at Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Isgro said: "This weekend is going to be tougher and they're going to come with other things. "We have to focus on ourselves. We made a lot of unforced errors in the match, and we have to work on that, on the details."
