Rugby Championship 2021: South Africa Springboks v Australia Wallabies – live!

The Springboks are the No 1 ranked side in Test rugby, they’re the World Cup holders, and recently knocked off the touring British and Irish Lions. But, as Gerard Meagher wrote recently, there’s a bloodlessness to all this success that isn’t winning over any neutrals.

Judging them purely on results – a World Cup triumph and a Lions series win – you cannot say it has not been successful, but equally it has become a way of excusing the fact that they are not exactly riveting to watch. This series, South Africa have welcomed any accusations that they are “boring” – Handré Pollard countered by saying the only thing more beautiful than South Africa’s style of play was his wife.

Bret Harris sets the scene for tonight’s action right here:

It is undisputed that the Wallabies will face an entirely different challenge to the one posed during the Bledisloe Cup when they play world champions South Africa on the Gold Coast on Sunday night. The Springboks and the All Blacks do not only play different styles of rugby, but they almost play different codes of rugby.

“I’m very focussed about doing a good job tonight,” says Quade Cooper, while giving an interview to Australian TV during his kicking drills.

“There’s so much more to life than football,” he adds, before making a gag at Sonny Bill Williams’ expense.

Dave Rennie has made three changes to the side that lost to the All Blacks in Perth. The headline of course is the recall of Quade Cooper in the No 10 jersey, four years since his last Test. “He’s had a really positive impact since joining the group, put pressure on us as selectors and he’s excited to get out there and perform on Sunday night,” Rennie said.

Angus Bell, the youngest member of the squad, has been given the nod to make his international starting debut alongside hooker Folau Fainga’a and tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa in the front row. Alaalatoa’s appearance brings up his 50th international cap.

Izack Rodda, who featured off the bench last week, also wins a starting berth and will play in the second row alongside Matt Philip.

Only six of the XV that began the first Test of the season against France have survived to this point.

South Africa have named a much-altered line-up to the side that defeated Argentina in August with 13 changes overall. Duane Vermeulen leads the call-ups with the No 8 making his first appearance for the Springboks since the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. He has recovered fully from the ankle surgery he underwent earlier this year.

Elsewhere in the pack, Eben Etzebeth starts at lock, and there’s a new-look front row of Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi.

In the backline scrum-half Faf de Klerk is back from a knock, and Sbu Nkosi replaces the injured Cheslin Kolbe on the right wing.

The bench is packed full of quality, including the returning Herschel Jantjies.

“Duane, Faf and Herschel are Rugby World Cup winners, and so is Eben, who is back after we rotated him to manage his workload,” said head coach Jacques Nienaber. “We are pleased to have them back in the fold.”

The Springboks have endured a testing run of injuries and are now forced to complete this portion 0f the Rugby Championship on Australian, not South African, soil. “Australia pose a strong threat with their running rugby and they like to keep the ball in play,” Nienaber said. “They will also be playing in front of a charged-up home crowd, so it will be good to have these experienced players back as they know what it takes to perform in big matches.”