Boks must make the most of RWC showcase

OPINION: The Springboks as well as the Wallabies will have the opportunity to deliver a World Cup statement in Perth next Sunday.

Does the one-off between the Wallabies and the Boks really matter?

When the fixture was first confirmed at the beginning of 2026, it certainly seemed less important than most of the others on the Boks’ schedule.

At that stage, the Boks were focusing on the Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks and were treating the Nations Championship as a secondary concern.

With the Rugby Championship on ice until 2027, the Boks agreed to one-off fixtures against Argentina in Buenos Aires and Australia in Perth – staged either side of the All Blacks’ tour to South Africa.

At the time, those matches didn’t seem as important.

More recently, eyebrows were raised after the Boks flew directly to Australia after a four-Test slog against the All Blacks, which included a taxing journey to Baltimore, United States ahead of the final match.

Now that the Boks are in Australia – the 2027 World Cup host nation – the match is getting the hype and attention it deserves.

The Boks, of course, have been building towards the global tournament since 2024.

Coach Rassie Erasmus as well as the players have spoken about what a third-consecutive World Cup title could mean for the group’s legacy.

While success in 2027 won’t hinge on the result of a one-off in 2026, the Boks could send the rugby world a message via a dominant performance against the Wallabies in Perth next Sunday.

By contrast, the Wallabies could hog the headlines if they complete another heist.

What a story it would be if the Aussies scalped the world champions a year out from a global tournament staged on home soil.

Indeed, the narrative could change if they go on to win at least one of the Bledisloe Cup fixtures against the All Blacks next month.

The Wallabies have struggled in recent seasons, but have won three and drawn one since Les Kiss took the coaching reins in mid-2026 – a run that includes a 1-0 series win Argentina.

A victory against the Boks would serve to show that Kiss’ charges are on the right track, and give local fans a reason to believe that their team will contend for the title in 2027.

While Erasmus will be desperate to win, the Boks may be viewing the fixture in a slightly different way.

The Boks have been based in Terrigal near Sydney this past week, and the group will use the same base in the lead-up to the 2027 World Cup.

The current stint in Australia should provide the coaches and players with a valuable opportunity to experience some of the country’s venues, cities and conditions ahead of the tournament proper in 2027.

The Boks are set to face Italy in Adelaide, Georgia in Brisbane and Romania in Perth during the pool stage.

A potential quarterfinal clash will be staged in Perth, while the rest of the playoff programme will play out in Brisbane and Sydney.

The Boks’ most recent tour to Australia in 2024 was a resounding success.

Erasmus’ charges thumped the Wallabies 33-7 in Brisbane before winning 30-12 in Perth the following week.

Those results earned South Africa a rare series win Down Under, and set them up for their first Rugby Championship title since 2019.

The stakes will be lower this coming weekend, with no tournament log points on offer.

And yet, for the players who’ve had precious few chances to experience Australian conditions, the opportunity will be significant.

Erasmus used just 30 players over the course of the four Greatest Rivalry Tests, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he made several changes this week.

The “new” players should be desperate to make a statement in a country that will host next year’s World Cup.

Furthermore, they should view the game as a springboard to selection this November, when the Boks play Italy, France and Ireland in Eupre, before a fourth fixture – potentially the Nations Championship Grand Final – in London.

Many of the Boks may be tired after carrying a heavy workload in the series against the All Blacks, but those who’ve had fewer opportunities since the July Tests and subsequent one-off against Argentina should be ready to make the most of this chance.

The result will be important in Perth, and the No 1 team on the planet should expect to beat a side that is currently languishing at No 7.

But the 22-38 loss to the Wallabies at Ellis Park last year will be in the back of the Boks’ minds, and as Erasmus mentioned recently, another loose performance could lead to another chastening defeat.

The performances of several fresh players and combinations will be in the spotlight, as Erasmus gathers more answers ahead of the Nations Championship as well as a bumper 2027 season that will culminate with the World Cup in Australia.

While it won’t be as important as the Greatest Rivalry series, the one-off promises to be a fascinating battle and the success or failure of the players will influence selections in the months to come.