Rugby

Springboks to face unknown Wallaby faces in Rugby Champs opener

Only a handful of Australian gamers shall be aware of the South Africans after they meet in Brisbane subsequent Saturday.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and several other of his gamers are spot on after they say they don’t know as a lot concerning the Wallabies this season as has been the case in the previous, following the announcement by Australia coach Joe Schmidt of his 36-man squad for the 2 Tests Down Under towards the world champions.

The Boks arrived in Australia on Thursday forward of their first two matches in this yr’s Rugby Championship, in Brisbane subsequent Saturday and in Perth on August 17.

In the previous, when South Africa was nonetheless part of the Super Rugby set-up, involving Australia and New Zealand, the gamers and coaches would get to see the international locations’ greatest gamers in motion towards each other from February to May yearly.

But, with South Africa having pulled out of Super Rugby three years in the past, and joined the northern hemisphere and the United Rugby Championship, there may be an unknown issue as soon as once more for the gamers and coaches, in each camps, going into this yr’s Rugby Championship.

Unknown Wallabies

Several names in Schmidt’s Wallabies squad shall be utterly unfamiliar to the Bok gamers, and training staff, with solely a sprinkling of males recognized to the South Africans.

Here one thinks of veteran gamers comparable to Marika Koroibete, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Nick White and Andrew Kellaway.

There are, nevertheless, simply two uncapped gamers in the 36-man squad, Corey Toole and Carlo Tizzano.
The Wallabies squad will prepare collectively for the primary time from Saturday.

“We’re hopeful that the squad selected will embrace the challenge of playing South Africa over the next fortnight,” Schmidt informed Australia media.

The Wallabies go into the collection on the again of a two-series win towards Wales (25-16 and 36-28) and one-off win towards Georgia (40-29).

The Boks, who’re in Australia with a 33-man squad, drew 1-1 with Ireland and beat Portugal in their one-off Test.

Wallabies squad:

Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Angus Blyth, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Isaac Kailea, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, Luke Reimer, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Seru Uru, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson.

Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Josh Flook, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Hamish Stewart, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright.


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