The Boks just smashed the All Blacks. But the Wallabies can still beat world champs
Les Kiss should go and buy himself a lottery ticket.
Not that anyone is complaining, but the new Wallabies coach has had the gentlest of starts to his tenure – and the good news is that it could continue despite the loss of Carter Gordon and their looming date against the back-to-back world champions.
Les Kiss has had a dream start to his tenure as Wallabies coach. Getty Images
While Ewen McKenzie faced the All Blacks and Springboks in four his first five Tests in charge and Michael Cheika was forced to play Wales, Ireland, France and England away to start his tenure as Wallabies coach, Kiss has been given a dream runway since taking over from Joe Schmidt.
Unbeaten in his opening four Tests – two wins against the world No.12 Japanese, and a victory and draw against a severely depleted Pumas side in Argentina, who rested several stars – Kiss’s Wallabies are now expected to face a Springboks side on home soil missing a host of first-choice players.
After prevailing 3-1 over the All Blacks in their Greatest Rivalry Series following Sunday’s (AEST) 43-28 win in Baltimore, masterful Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus hinted that changes were on their way.
“There’s certainly six or seven guys, if we play the Test match tomorrow, some of the older guys, they wouldn’t have been able to play next week,” Erasmus said, having been asked to explain his selection policy.
“Their bodies are just too tired. So, we try and get that balance right.”
And with a five-week break looming following their September 27 clash against the Wallabies, Erasmus is set to make wholesale changes to his side against next year’s World Cup hosts for the Perth Test.
It’s all a part of a “calculated risk” from Erasmus ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup, but it could be the latest gift for Kiss in his mission to turn the Wallabies around from chumps to champs.
So who could sit out?
Reigning World Rugby player of the year Malcolm Marx could be one to sit out the Test.
If he does, that’ll be a major boost for the Wallabies’ chances of notching their second win in three meetings over the Springboks, with Marx arguably the player of the series against the All Blacks after his incredible work at the set-piece and on the ball.
He’s not the only past World Rugby player of the year star who could be given a spell, with Pieter-Steph du Toit a strong chance to be given a spell after featuring in every minute across the four Tests.
Springboks star Malcolm Marx is expected to be one of a handful of players rested against the Wallabies. nna\sworthington
Ditto, wrecking-ball back-rower Jasper Wiese
As is playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and double World Cup champion midfield pair Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, who also featured in all four Tests in the 10-12-13 positions.
Erasmus, of course, has an embarrassment of riches who have been patiently biding their time for opportunties.
Already Handre Pollard – the ‘Ice Man’ of South African rugby – is set to return after being ruled out of the second Test because of injury.
“Handre is almost ready. We could have selected Handre as well, and he’ll probably play against Australia. It’s about consistency,” Erasmus said ahead of the fourth Test.
Halfback Grant Williams is another who is set to return after missing the bulk of the Greatest Rivalry series because of injury. His return could see Cobus Reinach, the veteran and classy halfback, be given a breather.
The changes are likely to extend to the midfield.
Springboks sharp-shooter Handre Pollard could make his return against the Wallabies. nna\cdesilva
After Erasmus relied heavily on de Allende and Kriel, Erasmus could throw something completely different at the Wallabies with Willemse a strong candidate to shift from fullback to inside centre. Canan Moodie, the electric and athletic back, could also join Willemse in the midfield.
If that occurs, it would also allow Aphelele Fass to return at fullback.
Despite the mooted changes, world-class props Wilco Louw, Ox Nche and Thomas de Toit are likely to feature against the Wallabies in what shapes as the greatest examination yet for the Kiss’s set-piece.
Franco Mostert, another quality and proven lineout operator, is also expected to join the Springboks in Australia for the one-off Test match.
Speaking to reporters in Baltimore, Erasmus said his selection policy would likely once again come up for debate, but he added that it was all about ensuring his squad is in the best possible shape ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“I know some people criticise us or do not 100 per cent understand when we, in some games, change the team by 12, by 11 or 13 players for the next game,” he said.
“We hope it’s calculated risk. But the team we played today, the average age was 31. So it’s not a young team.
Rassie Erasmus’s Springboks are riding high after beating the All Blacks 3-1. AP Photo/Themba Hadebe
“Not to say we're clever or we do it the right way, but our experience from playing a series against a team like the British and Irish Lions or a World Cup, you have to have your guys that you know are experiences and can still manage the pace of the game.
”What we've tried to do for the last four, five years, is chopping and changing teams, and sometimes we get a lot of flak for that when we lose the game here or there. But then, as the young guys come in, it's not the first time and they’re next to an older guy with a wise head, maybe not as fast anymore, maybe not as energetic anymore, but a calm head and then you've got the youngster that you bring in.
“So, that's always been the thought process behind that. It's not for us to make a jersey cheap or just give caps away.”
While the Springboks will be anything but easy beats at Optus Stadium, Kiss will know that the world champions will likely be vulnerable without some of their stars.
Now, the Wallabies have to take the opportunity because they won’t get many better chances to take down a major scalp on Australian shores before next year’s World Cup.
