VIDEO: Wallabies ready to 'rip' into Boks in brutal slugfest
Veteran prop Allan Alaalatoa said Australia is willing to go ‘toe-to-toe’ with South Africa in what is shaping up as a brutal slugfest at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Springboks host the Wallabies in Pretoria in the opening match an abbreviated Rugby Championship and matching the Boks’ physicality is key to the Aussies getting a first-ever win at forty Loftus.
Alaalatoa is set to make his competitive comeback in the tournament opener, having recovered from an injury sustained while playing for the Brumbies in Super Rugby.
The 29-year-old tighthead said he has been ‘ticking all the boxes’ in training and is confident he will face off against the Boks on Saturday.
Alaalatoa injured his left calf against the Chiefs in a Super Rugby outing and has not played since late May.
He joined the Wallabies in their pre-tour camp and is confident he’ll be in good enough shape for the brutal Boks.
Taniela Tupou is another star prop hoping for as miraculous recovery, having ruptured his Achilles last year.
Angus Bell remains on track to recover ahead of the World Cup, after suffering a recurrence of a foot injury that has sidelined him for the best part of a year.
Talking about tackling the Boks at Loftus, where Austria has never won, Alaalatoa described it as a “great challenge”.
(WATCH Wallaby veteran Allan Alaalatoa speak about the challenge of facing the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld…)
“Being part of the first [Aussie] team to beat South Africa in Pretoria, that would be awesome,” the prop told a media briefing.
“We have spoken about that and having that belief,” he said about the possibility of a win in Pretoria in the tournament opener.
He added that they are ‘tracking’ really well.
“The connection between the players and the coaching staff has been unreal,” the 64-times capped front row forward said.
“We are in a good state and keen to rip in,” he added.
Alaalatoa said the key to beating the Boks – regardless of where the game is played – is understanding their strengths.
“As a forward pack – and we spoke about it last week – they pride themselves on their set piece,” the veteran prop told @rugby365com.
‘They will scrum and maul till the cows come home.
“Around the park, they base their game on physicality.
“It is important for us to understand that and we just have to go toe-to-toe.
“The backs will then add the smartness around the game.
“The physicality is going to be huge against South Africa,”
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@rugby365com
* Picture credit: Julius Dimataga/RugbyAU media
