Wallabies confident ahead of rematch with Springboks
The Wallabies are expecting a backlash from the Springboks in Cape Town this coming Saturday.
Australia's rugby players at Emirates Airline Park ahead of their clash with the Springboks. Picture: @wallabies/X
JOHANNESBURG - Australia's players are confident they will beat the Springboks in consecutive weeks following their stunning victory in their Rugby Championship fixture in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The Wallabies recorded a historic result as they recovered from 22-0 down in the first quarter of the match to win 38-22. It was their first win in South Africa in 14 years and a first at Ellis Park over the Boks since 1963.
Wallabies’ scrumhalf Tate McDermott admitted they were shellshocked after the world champions scored three tries in quick succession at the start of the game, but applauded his teammates for never giving up.
“We were obviously in a bit of shock. They went bang, bang, bang pretty quickly in the way they scored their tries. Through width, through skill and through power – exactly what they’re famous for… It looked like we always had that belief, the way that we stuck in the fight was something that I was really proud of,” said McDermott
The visitors were largely written off in the lead-up to the game, considering they were playing at altitude and had history against them as well, but managed to pull off the most stunning of wins. However, McDermott says last week's result will be undone if they can’t repeat their performance.
“Yeah, obviously, it was a proud moment for this team. It had been sixty-odd years since we got a result at Ellis Park, so it was a huge occasion. We’ve been talking a lot about how we’re trending in the right direction, and this was another step, but it doesn’t mean much if we don’t back it up this weekend,” said McDermott
The Wallabies are expecting a backlash from the Springboks in Cape Town this coming Saturday. The Bok fightback, however, will have to be done without captain Siya Kolisi, flank Pieter-Steph Du Toit and wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe, who were all injured in the Joburg game.
“The Springboks are world-class. We saw what they did in the first 20 minutes; they tore us to shreds. So, we know they’re coming and they’re coming hard,” McDermott said.
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