VIDEO - Flannery: Detail at the breakdowns key against Schmidt's charges

VIDEO: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said it, and assistant coach Jerry Flannery confirmed it: The Wallabies will bite at the breakdowns.

Since Australia appointed Joe Schmidt as head coach, he has lifted the team from its lowest ebb and made the country feel it can win again.

Yes, they didn’t win the three-test series against the British and Irish Lions, but they were tough as nails and won the last Test with brute power.

Now they are up against the world champions at Ellis Park on Saturday, and Flannery, the man in charge of the Boks’ defense, understands that Australia’s slim path to victory relies on power and punch at the back of their forward pack.

They are led by Rob Valetini, one of Australia’s truly world-class players. The prodigiously talented backrow forward has impressed with his bruising physicality, strong ball carrying, and a deft offloading game.

Valetini is usually one of the first names on Schmidt’s team sheet.

The Wallabies played with physicality and intent in the second and third Tests and refused to be pushed around. Will Skelton was at the heart of much of it.

South Africa is banking on the dynamic loose trio of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Marco van Staden to nullify that threat.

This is where Flannery plays a huge role – not only in preparation for the onslaught, but in understanding the thought process of the former Ireland coach, Schmidt.

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“We played them last year when Joe came in, and I was familiar with his philosophy from his work with Ireland and New Zealand,

“We’ve seen it since Joe Schmidt came in, from last year into this year.

“They play a lot of direct rugby with an awful lot of detail. Breakdown is a massive area in their game,” Flannery told reporters on Tuesday, adding: “If you look at it on a timeline from the last time they were at the World Cup, they looked a bit rudderless.

“Then Joe came in – he is a brilliant coach. The level of detail that he brings is phenomenal.

“I saw the impact that he had on Ireland by making players play much higher than their perceived capacity.

“I think he has come in and he’s got Australia firing,” Flannery mentioned.

The Wallabies’ performance against the Lions has been meticulously analysed by the Springboks, none more so than Flannery, who says their victory in the third Test was expected.

“I wasn’t surprised because I knew they were better than they showed in the first Test.

“I think they were a lot more confrontational, and they were obviously massively disappointed to lose the second Test.

“But they were in the mix, and I think the narrative that is out there now is that Australian rugby is on the up and they will be looking to target us and keep building that.”

One area to stop the Wallabies’ attack is at the breakdowns, says the defense coach.

“Like for most teams, in attack, getting quick ball is going to be the big thing for them,” Flannery explains.

“You could say the breakdown is key to stopping them. Joe’s teams are meticulously planned – not just for the first three phases but for five or six. That requires accuracy at the breakdown, and they always have two players in quickly.

“To retain the ball and be in the right place, you have to be detailed with your breakdown.

“Our system won’t change much, but what we will do is emphasise certain areas more.

“Bringing in guys like Taniela Tupou, Skelton and Valetini gives them huge ball-carrying power and momentum, which feeds into that quick-ball game.”