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This evening’s clash took on a whole different complexion around this time last weekend, when the Springboks were celebrating their one-sided victory in Brisbane. South Africa were awesome, demonstrating a new-found love for taking risks and broken field play. The Wallabies, meanwhile, were awful. Bullied at set pieces and disjointed in possession, Joe Schmidt’s first defeat was a serious wake-up call.
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Irrespective of the outcome of today’s clash, Schmidt must get more out of his key performers. A two-thirds changed front-row should help, but the No 10 jersey remains problematic. Everyone needs to take responsibility for the myriad skill errors and breakdown penalties.
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Theoretically, a stronger-looking Wallabies should close the gap on a weaker-looking Springboks with South Africa naming an experimental matchday 23. If they don’t, the already difficult task facing Schmidt will become monumental as he prepares Australia for next year’s Lions tour and the 2027 World Cup.
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If you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.
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Key events
Today’s expected walkover for the Springboks had to be revised during the week when Rassie Erasmus announced a virtual ‘B’ team would sing the South African national anthem.
Angus Fontaine reflects on last week’s shellacking at Suncorp.
They strutted in but staggered out. With an unbeaten record under new coach Joe Schmidt and a formidable history at Fortress Suncorp, Australia was quietly confident of flexing its newfound muscle in a clash with the world champion South Africans. But the near-complete 33-7 annihilation by the Springboks will leave serious scars for the Wallabies.
Impotent in attack, dismantled in defence and embarrassed at set-piece, the Wallabies got a painful lesson in rugby basics from Rassie Erasmus’s Springboks and looked every inch the No 9-ranked contender against rugby’s heavyweight champs. Worst of all, the scoreline flattered neither side, with South Africa far from their clinical best.
Premable
Jonathan Howcroft
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v South Africa in round two of the 2024 Rugby Championship. Kick-off at Optus Stadium in Perth is 7.45pm AEST (5.45pm local).
This evening’s clash took on a whole different complexion around this time last weekend, when the Springboks were celebrating their one-sided victory in Brisbane. South Africa were awesome, demonstrating a new-found love for taking risks and broken field play. The Wallabies, meanwhile, were awful. Bullied at set pieces and disjointed in possession, Joe Schmidt’s first defeat was a serious wake-up call.
Irrespective of the outcome of today’s clash, Schmidt must get more out of his key performers. A two-thirds changed front-row should help, but the No 10 jersey remains problematic. Everyone needs to take responsibility for the myriad skill errors and breakdown penalties.
Theoretically, a stronger-looking Wallabies should close the gap on a weaker-looking Springboks with South Africa naming an experimental matchday 23. If they don’t, the already difficult task facing Schmidt will become monumental as he prepares Australia for next year’s Lions tour and the 2027 World Cup.
If you’d like to get in touch while I’m on, please fire all communication to jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.
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