Rugby Championship: Australia v South Africa match preview

Heyneke Meyer: Refusing to underestimate Australia

Michael Hooper: Confident of beating South Africa

Australia captain Michael Hooper insists his side’s previous poor run against South Africa will count for nothing in Saturday’s Rugby Championship encounter.

The Wallabies have been convincingly beaten in their last three Tests against the Springboks – losing 28-8, 38-12 and 31-8.

However despite this poor run, Hooper will head in to clash in Perth in defiant mood.

“It was a long time ago, teams have changed and we’ve got a completely different squad,” Hooper said.

Australia drew their opening match of the Championship against New Zealand before suffering a heavy defeat in the rematch.

That means Australia’s wait for a victory over one of the top-ranked IRB sides during Ewen McKenzie’s 18-Test reign goes on.

“That will be a conversation people have until we change that situation,” McKenzie said. “Make no mistake: I want to win every Test, whoever we play.”

McKenzie has recalled Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps for the clash, while James Hanson and Tevita Kuridrani also both start. Nic White and Kurtley Beale drop to the bench, while Nathan Charles is injured and Pat McCabe has been forced to retire.

Quality

McKenzie has also opted for a 6:2 split on the bench, James Horwill, Matt Hodgson and Saia Fainga’a called into the match-day squad.

Boks coach Heyneke Meyer insists his side will not be underestimating the threat posed by Australia.

“I truly believe they have a quality, quality side,” Meyer said.

“In the wet they played some great rugby where they drew (with the All Blacks). And even the game they lost, I know they lost on the scoreboard, quite considerably, but they showed some brilliant touches and played some great rugby.”

Meyer has made a number of changes to his line-up following the back-to-back wins over Argentina, with Victor Matfield, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira, Marcell Coetzee, Morne Steyn and Jan Serfontein included in the side.

Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe, Warren Whiteley and Pat Lambie also come into the squad, joining Bismarck du Plessis and Lood de Jager on the bench. However Gurthro Steenkamp, Juan Smith, Handre Pollard and Damian de Allende are among those dropped.

Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps; 1 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Sam Carter, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 MIchael Hooper (c), 8 Wycliff Palu.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Matt Hodgson, 22 Nic White, 23 Kurtley Beale.

South Africa: 15 Wille le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar; 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Victor Matfield, 6 Francois Louw, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 8 Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Damian de Allende. 

Watch Australia v South Africa on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 10.30am

Article source: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/rugby-brumbies-sign-japanese-playmaker-harumichi-tatekawa-080157558--spt.html

Rugby Championship: Australia v South Africa match preview