Loose forward Tom Hooper and winger Max Jorgensen are under no illusions about the size of the task awaiting Australia against the Springboks on Sunday.
Les Kiss’ Wallabies host the world champions at Optus Stadium in Perth, with Rassie Erasmus’ men boasting five wins from the last six meetings between the teams and coming off a Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series win.
Speaking in the build-up to the one-off Test, Hooper highlighted the physicality that the Australians can expect from the visitors in green and gold this week.
“It really is like waves crashing down on top of you. You’ve kind of got to make sure you’re going back towards them,” he said on Friday.
“If you let them get momentum, that’s when you’re on the back foot. They’ll get some really good collisions, and winning one collision turns into two, then three.
“You saw it in the All Blacks Tests – when they wrestled back momentum and shifted it, it was because they got back onside and started taking it back at the Boks.
“So that’s what we’ve got to make sure we do: sniping out that momentum with our intent,” Hooper added. “If you win those collisions, it goes a long way to putting the pretty boys away in the wide channels.
“We’re just going to make sure we’re winning that battle up front and go from there.”
MORE: Ox building towards something bigger
Kiss has also opted for a 6-2 split among the replacements, including Hooper, but Rassie Erasmus has named a powerful bench too – the world’s reigning Player of the Year Malcolm Mark and 49-Test Jasper Wiese the notable names on the wood.
“We’ve seen the South African team grow from strength to strength,” Hooper said. “In the past three Tests they played against the All Blacks, they were a really formidable opposition.
“We certainly have confidence, but we know we’re going to have to be at our best to match it with the world’s best.”
KEO: Rassie’s Perth gamble comes with a loaded bench
Jorgensen starts in a back three with the versatile Joseph Suaalii on the left wing, a move the 22-year-old believes boosts the Aussies’ chances under the high ball.
“Obviously, the aerial battle is going to be a huge one,” he noted. “Everyone knows how good he [Suaalii] is in the air, and it’s going to be a good change-up for him. It’s definitely exciting.”
Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images
