SA Rugby Mobi-Unit coach Duane Vermeulen said the Wallabies will be well prepared going into Sunday’s Test between the teams in Perth at 11:45 SAST. He noted the hosts had ample opportunity to analyse both the Boks and All Blacks during the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, and that they would certainly take those lessons going into this clash.
Vermeulen refused to entertain critics, who allegedly claim that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’s 13 changes to the starting team for the match was a sign of disrespect to the Wallabies. “No one plays this game to lose, so anyone who talks about losing is making a strange statement,” said the former Springbok No 8.
Vermeulen believes the new-look side will be ready to step up. “From our side, we’ve just come off the Greatest Rivalry series, and yes, we are making a few changes, but in the long run and with the guys understanding their roles, everyone knows exactly what they need to do and when,” said the Bok assistant coach. “At the beginning of the year Rassie said everyone would get an opportunity to play, and this is a testament to him staying true to his word. Hopefully the guys take their opportunity on Sunday and show us what they’ve got.”
Vermeulen shot down suggestions that the Springboks will “fall flat” after facing the All Blacks before taking on the Wallabies. “That may be your perspective, but it’s not as if we go into a Wallabies Test and say, ‘let’s just throw the ball around and have fun because it’s not the All Blacks’. They are a tier-one nation, who are a team on the rise, and they are playing really well, so we’ve been preparing hard."
The time since the Baltimore Test was not a break, Vermeulen clarified. "It was a case of giving the guys time to run through their plays and understand their roles. They will be up for it, and we are looking forward to it as well.”
The double Rugby World Cup winner echoed sentiments that the Australian forward pack is a big weapon for their team, and he expected a massive battle on Sunday. Australia are ranked seventh in the world but are unbeaten under new coach Les Kiss, with two wins against Japan followed by a win and a draw against Argentina in Argentina.
“The big thing about the Australian side is that they are really quick at the breakdown,” said Vermeulen. “They have some good poachers, good jacklers in their squad, and their scrum poses a different threat to that of New Zealand."
“We haven’t faced their lineout and maul this year, and they have been doing really well," Vermeulen added. "They’re a whole different set-up under Les Kiss, and we’ll have a game on our hands come Sunday. They’ll be well-prepared and can’t be underestimated. They will definitely go into this game with a proper plan and hope everything goes their way and they execute it well.”