Reality check in the mail for Wallabies with scary Springboks up next

The Wallabies will be quietly hoping the brutal four-Test series between the Springboks and All Blacks has left both sides battered and bruised.

Australia play South Africa in Perth, on September 27, and based on what we witnessed in the Greatest Rugby Rivalry, some fatigue in the legs and minds of the Bokke will be needed for the Wallabies to match them. It will be a major step up from Les Kiss’ first four games in charge.

South Africa were scarily good in beating the All Blacks 3-1 in the series, and they are now the red-hot favourite to win a third straight Rugby World Cup next year.

The All Blacks were strong as well, but the Springboks physically dominated them, both in the set-pieces and in collisions. Throw in electric players such as Kurt-Lee Arendse on counter, and Malcolm Marx’s on-ball pestilence, and the Boks are a complete side.

Will they be knackered? Sadly for Aussie fans, probably not. Rassie Erasmus’ squad also has ridiculous depth, and they’re using their pitstop on the NSW Central Coast this week to rest up.

Super Hooper still on the scene

Les Kiss will name his squad to meet the Boks on Monday, and the Wallabies will be particularly boosted by extended stays of offshore duo Tom Hooper and Taniela Tupou.

Tupou, whose 145-kilogram frame will be vital at scrum time, had already indicated he would stay for this game before heading back to Racing Metro.

Hooper’s return date to Exeter was a little less clear. But informed sources say he’s also due to be named by Kiss, and the big back-rower will be a crucial player for the Wallabies.

The All Blacks showed in their first Test win in Johannesburg that defensive turnovers are vital to slowing the Boks’ roll, so poaching threats will be needed for the Wallabies at Optus Stadium. But you also can’t survive with the sheer size needed to go toe to toe in the contact zone.

Hooper is one of the few Australian players who has both. At 199 centimetres and 123 kilograms, the Bathurst bulldog is abrasive in contact, but is also deceptively good for a steal or three.

Super players press claims

The smile on Tom Lynagh’s face after a 40-minute return for Queensland on Saturday said plenty. After just 17 minutes all year due to injury, Lynagh emerged unscathed after a decent shift at Ballymore. That would have encouraged many, including Kiss.

Whether Lynagh is recalled to the Wallabies remains to be seen. It’s probably wiser to leave him playing for Queensland for a few more weeks, with an eye on games against the All Blacks in October. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips was also solid in the Force’s late win.

Zac Lomax also returned to action at No.13, and if anything, he overplayed his hand. But the call to try him at No.13 is a smart one given it’s not a position of depth in Aussie rugby.

The Tahs were too strong for the Brumbies in a scrappy game on Sunday afternoon in Bungendore, with Teddy Wilson influential and Max Burey strong on debut. Corey Toole showed his potent speed, and young Brumbies skipper Toby McPherson also stood out with some bone-crunching hits.

Wallaroos show potential against the world’s best

On paper, the result of the Wallaroos’ 48-15 loss to England in Salford on Sunday morning was as expected. The English women are an even more dominant world No. 1 than the Boks men.

But the Wallaroos showed enough to suggest a turnaround is under way in the new regime run by ex-Aussie sevens coach Tim Walsh. The Wallaroos led England 10-5 at half-time, which was the first time the Red Roses had trailed after 40 minutes since 2020. Considering England have won 67 of 68 games since 2020, that’s a decent confidence-builder.

You can’t get too carried away – England were clearly rusty early on. But steps forward, however small, are the name of the game for the Wallaroos.

Professionalism can’t come quickly enough

The biggest positive of a game like that for the Wallaroos is to be given painful lessons on where their game is lacking. Under pressure, the Wallaroos were unable to stay on task for more than a few phases, with and without the ball. Defensive connections in particular got very loose.

All of that is perfectly predictable for a semi-professional side, up against full-time teams such as England and New Zealand. Staying on task is a trained behaviour.

“The reality is that even at our best, we’re probably not good enough,” Walsh said. “And we will be, but that’s where we’re at at the moment.”

The sequence of phases that led to Faliki Pohiva’s try was a glimpse of what is possible. Strong carries from Amelia Whitaker, Pohiva and Waiaria Ellis and a lovely kick from Samantha Wood led to a stolen lineout from Michaela Leonard and a second powerhouse charge through traffic from Pohiva.

The seeds are there, but they badly need an irrigation system.

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