adminBRISBANE. — The beleaguered Wallabies look to end a spiralling run of six straight defeats with the heat on coach Michael Cheika as they take on South Africa in the Rugby Championship in Brisbane tomorrow.
It’s been all downhill for Australia and Cheika since they were beaten by the All Blacks 34-17 in the World Cup final in London last October.
The Wallabies have since lost three Tests at home to Six Nations champions England before back-to-back Bledisloe Cup hammerings by New Zealand last month.
A further defeat to the Springboks this weekend would equal the Wallabies’ worst run in the post-1995 professional era.
Significantly for Cheika, seven consecutive defeats back in 2005 brought about the demise of then coach Eddie Jones, who is now in charge of England.
The Wallabies are desperately looking to turn around their fortunes against the Springboks, who are coming off a 26-24 loss to the Pumas in Argentina a fortnight ago.
Teams (15-1)
Australia: Israel Folau; Dane Haylett-Petty, Samu Kerevi, Bernard Foley, Reece Hodge; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Dean Mumm; Adam Coleman, Kane Douglas; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio
Replacements (one to be omitted): Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Lopeti Timani, Sean McMahon, Nick Phipps, Tevita Kuridrani, Drew Mitchell
South Africa: Johan Goosen; Bryan Habana, Jesse Kriel, Juan de Jongh, Francois Hougaard; Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk; Warren Whiteley, Oupa Mohoje, Francois Louw; Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Lourens Adriaanse, Adriaan Strauss (capt), Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Franco Mostert, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jaco Kriel, Morne Steyn, Lionel Mapoe.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WAL) — AFP.
Online Reporter