It is that time of the year again - the 2024 Rugby Championship season is upon us, and kicking off the competition will be Australia taking on South Africa at the Suncorp Stadium on Saturday morning.
The last time these familiar foes met was in this competition in Sydney last year, where the Springboks put in a commanding performance and romped to a 43 -12 victory.
Match preview
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The 2024 Rugby Championship will usher in a number of new law changes aimed at speeding up the game and providing increased flexibility around determining the severity of punishment in different cardable situations.
Certain offences can now see players sent to the sin-bin for 20 minutes, while there are also changes around when players kick for the posts, with a third of the time taken off the clock for kickers to set themselves before making an attempt on goal.
Australia will enter the 2024 Rugby Championship on the up after a tumultuous period under Eddie Jones, which included a period where they managed just two wins in nine Tests.
Now under the guidance of New Zealander Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies managed to see off a gritty Georgia 40-29 in Sydney last month after consecutive victories against Wales. They have won four straight now, the longest winning streak of any nation in the IRB top 10, and are unbeaten under their new head coach.
However, it is worth pointing out that Schmidt's first three games at the helm were against sides ranked 11th and 12th in the world and the victories were far from impressive, especially against Wales, who won most close-quarter duals.
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In that regard, the South Africans will be licking their lips here, given that they relish the battles up front and love asserting their dominance with their powerful pack and, of course, their much-spoken-about 'Bomb Squad'.
Additionally, the world champions arrive Down Under battle-hardened after a drawn series with Ireland, where both Tests went down to the wire, with the Springboks winning the first 27-20 with a penalty try in the 78th minute, and Ireland's drop goal on the siren stealing the second 25-24.
The Boks were exceptional against the Shamrocks as they reduced the normally resolute Irish scrum to a 56% win rate in the second half of the second match, with Ox Nche overpowering Tadhg Fulong whilst Frans Malherbe held off Andrew Porter.
On paper, then, Rassie Erasmus's side should ease to victory here; however, it is difficult to overlook the Springboks' dismal record at the fortress that is Suncorp Stadium.
Unlike any other venue in Australia, South Africa's only win in Brisbane came in 2013 by a 38-12 scoreline, while they have seen some dark days here, including a 49-0 drubbing back in 2006.
Australia form (all competitions):
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- W
South Africa form (all competitions):
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
Team News
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Schmidt has included two uncapped players in his matchday 23 to face the Springboks, giving flanker Carlo Tizzano a Test debut in the number seven jersey due to Fraser McReight's injury, while Luke Reimer is set to make his debut from the bench.
Following a strong performance off the bench in July for the Wallabies, Isaac Kailea has been given his first start at loosehead prop against the formidable Boks' scrum, after three appearances as a substitute.
Meanwhile, the name on every South African fans' lips in the lead-up to this competition is Stormers fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who will make his first Test start for Boks ahead of Handre Pollard.
The youngster put in an electric couple of cameos at full-fack last month and has now been handed a starting role in his more natural number 10 role, where he will partner up with the returning Cobus Reinach.
Australia starting lineup: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Isaac Kailea
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch
South Africa starting lineup: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 RG Snyman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard
We say: Australia 15-36 South Africa
While the Suncorp Stadium has been something of a fortress for Australia over the years, South Africa arrive here ready to go having taken on Ireland in the last month, and we feel the world champions will not be for this catching in this one.
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