For the second consecutive week South Africa clash with Australia in the Rugby Championship, the Boks were on the receiving end of a shock defeat last week, will there be a different outcome in Cape Town on Saturday.
South Africa v Australia, Saturday 23rd August, Cape Town, KO 17:10 (South African time)
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (RA)
Weather Forecast – Cape Town
South Africa:
The Boks started last weeks Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Johannesburg in the region of 16.5 point favourites on the bookmakers main handicap line. However they came unstuck as the Wallabies put in a sterling second half display to come out on top 38-22.
There was little sign of what was to come when South Africa scored 3 tries in the first 17 minutes (Arendse, Esterhuizen and Kolisi), 2 of which were converted by Libbok, they were 22-0 up although the deficit was reduced to 22-5 by half time. The second half saw South Africa fail to add to their points tally, the Wallabies ran in 5 further tries and in terms of log points the Boks left the game empty handed.
Rassie Erasmus announced his line up for this game on Tuesday afternoon and there are 10 changes to the starting XV. Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe are all unavailable due to injury and Jesse Kriel takes the skippers armband.
After this South Africa face a double header with the All Blacks in New Zealand. They host Argentina in Round 5 and then take on Los Pumas again in the final round in a game which will be staged at Twickenham. South Africa are now 33/10 second favourites to defend the Rugby Championship title they won in 2024.
Australia:
A Dylan Pietsch try was Australia's only score in the first half at Ellis Park last week but further tries from Jorgensen, a brace from Wilson, Suaalii and Wright secured the bonus point win. O’Connor converted 4 of the 6 tries as the Wallabies secured a first win in South Africa since 2011.
Australia recently concluded their 3 match series against the British and Irish Lions. They lost the first test 27-17 but improved in the second contest despite going down 29-26. Although the series was gone the Wallabies finished it on a high with a 22-12 win on the 2nd August.
After this Australia have two home fixtures against Argentina before they travel to New Zealand in Round 5 and then host the All Blacks in the final round. Australia have shortened in to 7/1 to win the Rugby Championship title in 2025.
Recent Head to Head
2025 RC Johannesburg South Africa 22-38 Australia
2024 RC Perth Australia 12–30 South Africa
2024 RC Brisbane Australia 7-33 South Africa
2023 RC Pretoria South Africa 43-12 Australia
2022 RC Sydney Australia 8-24 South Africa
2022 RC Adelaide Australia 25-17 South Africa
2021 RC Brisbane Australia 30-17 South Africa
2021 RC Brisbane Australia 28-26 South Africa
2019 RC Johannesburg South Africa 35-17 Australia
Team News
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 RG Snyman,3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. (Late change for Boks, Fassi for Willie Le Roux at full back)
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Lood de Jager, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Akuso Suaalii, 12 Len Iketau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Andrew Kellaway
The Betting
Updated 22 August 10h14
South Africa -13.5 points at 9/10
Australia +13.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
BETTING ANGLE
My plays for Week 2 of the Rugby Championship will be posted on our Rugby Championship Blog which you can view here.
I am leaning towards a tight and potentially low soring game.
Likewise Currie Cup Week 5 bets will be posted on this blog and picks for the pool stage of the Womens RWC can be found here.
Finally, all this week's rugby tips from members of the Goodforthegame community can be found on the weekly rugby thread on our discussion forum.
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