Folau expects running of the Boks
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Wallaby fullback Israel Folau says his team are expecting the unexpected from the Springboks, believing that Newlands could be the perfect ground for some running rugby.
The Wallabies managed to pip the Springboks in Perth when Rob Horne dived over the tryline minutes from full-time to hand the Boks their first loss of the Championship.
It was a great escape in Perth for the Wallabies and Folau is not expecting things to get any easier at Newlands this weekend, when the Boks play their return fixture against the Australians.
The Australian team arrived in South Africa late on Monday and after a brief gym session Folau spoke to the media about what they were expecting from the wounded Springboks.
"I think they might play a bit more of a ball in hand game," the Wallaby superstar said.
"For us it is about expecting anything – we know that they kick a lot but, with the game being at Newlands, they might well chance their hand and run the ball a bit more.
"As a team we have got to expect anything and try and put up a good challenge."
Folau was candid in his belief that the Springbok game had reached another level, especially in terms of their attacking prowess.
He is mindful that should the South Africans choose to keep ball in hand, and the conditions aid that style of play, they have the players and the strike force that could be a potent threat on their tryline.
"I think that they have evolved big time, they run the ball a lot more and they look pretty dangerous in attack, they have definitely changed their game up," Folau added.
"The conditions in Perth were wet so we couldn't really attack, but hopefully it is dry this week and we can play a bit more running rugby ourselves."
Folau's counterpart in the Springbok team is the gifted ball player Willie le Roux, and for the Wallaby fullback he is a big threat personally and to the team as a whole.
"[Willie] le Roux is one of their danger men and we know that as a team, we have to try and limit his opportunities and time he has time with the ball," he said.
"He is a great player and one to watch out for this weekend."
Another player that Folau, and the rest of the wallabies, will be very alert to is young flyhalf Handre Pollard.
He is an unknown factor to the Australians seeing as he did not feature in Perth, but he has obviously made a mark on the opposition for this weekend with Folau stating that, should he be picked, he will be another player they would look to shut down.
"I think he [Pollard] definitely adds something in attack," Folau said in conclusion.
"He runs the ball a lot and he adds something extra in attack.
"If he gets an opportunity to play, we as a team have to play as a unit to try and stop him if he decides to run."
The Springboks will be desperate to enact some form of revenge on the Australians after looking in control in Perth up until the 77th minute. Newlands has mostly been a happy hunting ground for the home team – while for the Australians, it has been a tough pace to walk away from victorious.
By Darryn Pollock
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