Why Boks should be cautious of Wallabies
The Springboks, sitting top of the Rugby Championship standings after beating Los Pumas twice, face the Wallabies in Perth next Saturday – a Round Three match in the SANZAAR championship.
The second part of the Springbok squad, consisting of the forwards and some management staff, travelled to Perth on Saturday.
The backs arrived in Australia on Saturday already and immediately went to work in preparation for the showdown with the Wallabies nerxt week.
The forwards were put through their paces in a midday session in Johannesburg, before boarding their plane.
Springbok coach Allister Coetzee said that he was satisfied with the team's preparations over the past two days – following their three-day break.
The Springboks arrived from Salta on Tuesday and the squad reassembled in Johannesburg on Friday.
According to Coetzee, the Springbok squad is in good spirit, all players are in very good health and the group is looking forward to the Australasian tour.
"Our players are in a very good space, they are all medically fit and excited about the next two weeks," Coetzee said.
"While we are happy with the results against the Pumas, we will continue to work hard on our processes and we definitely want to improve on the Salta performance.
"We are still growing as a team and our immediate focus for now is the next Test, in Perth.
"We are not getting too far ahead of ourselves.
"The Wallabies, in Australia, are a huge challenge and if you look at recent contests between us, then you will see the results have been close," Coetzee added.
Regarding the impressive impact of the Springbok bench so far this season, Coetzee said: "Nowadays, the game is faster, players are fitter and the collisions much bigger.
"It is therefore important to have a match 23 where every player is ready to start.
"We don't look at players as good starters or good impact players.
"The entire match squad is selected to do a job, and our players understand that."
Coetzee will announce his matchday squad on Thursday, September 7.
