Skelton and co pose physical test for underdone Boks

OPINION: The Springboks look set for a timely physical challenge against a Will Skelton-inspired Wallabies side over the next two weeks.

On Thursday, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt announced his 35-man squad ahead of the double-header against the Boks in South Africa.

At a glance, there are several notable inclusions with the potential to boost the Wallabies at the line-out, maul and gainline, as well as a series of injury-enforced omissions that threaten to compromise the tourists at scrum-time.

Skelton, Tom Hooper, and Langi Gleeson were among the forwards who lent the team a physical edge in the recent Tests against the British and Irish Lions.

Thanks to the recent change to Rugby Australia’s overseas selection policy, Skelton (La Rochelle), Hooper (Exeter Chiefs) and Gleeson (Montpellier) will all be available for the matches in Johannesburg on August 16 and in Cape Town a week later.

The complexion of that B&I Lions series certainly changed once Skelton was introduced in the second Test in Melbourne.

The 2.03m, 135kg behemoth added immense value as a ball-carrier and gave the abrasive B&I Lions forwards a taste of their own medicine in every off-the-ball scuffle.

The Wallabies will need players like Skelton to stand up to Eben Etzebeth and company over the next two weeks.

Skelton, Hooper, Gleeson and another key forward in Rob Valetini hammered the B&I Lions defence, and if all four are fit, the Wallabies may provide the Boks with a much needed physical test.

Unfortunately for the tourists, injuries have depleted their front row stocks.

This will leave them vulnerable at scrum-time – and possibly detract from their overall forward effort in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Hooker Dave Porecki announced his international retirement after the B&I Lions series, and it’s since been confirmed that another strong option in Matt Faessler won’t tour.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa (21 caps) has been drafted into the group as a result, while Billy Pollard (10) and Josh Nasser (6) are the other hookers in the squad.

Veteran tighthead Allan Alaalatoa is recovering from shoulder surgery and won’t be back until later in the Rugby Championship.

Another experienced No 3 in Taniela Tupou – who was so influential at the scrum and with ball in hand in the third Test against the B&I Lions in Sydney – has been included, but is expected to miss the first clash against the Boks at Ellis Park due to a toe injury.

While the centurion James Slipper and Angus Bell look set to bolster the loosehead side, Schmidt will be forced to back Tom Robertson (33) or the less experienced Zane Nonggorr (12) at tighthead against the world’s best No.1, Ox Nché.

To be fair, the Boks are also without several frontline props at present.

World Cup-winning tightheads Frans Malherbe and Trevor Nyakane are sidelined with serious injuries, as is loosehead Gerhard Steenekamp, who played 10 of the Boks’ 13 Tests last season.

It could well be argued that Wilco Louw has been South Africa’s best scrummaging tighthead for the past two seasons, even when Malherbe and Nyakane have been fit.

Louw and Nché will fancy their chances against a depleted Wallabies pack, and the Bok team as a whole should look to harness their formidable set piece wherever possible – winning penalties and territory, and accumulating points.

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While the Wallabies are coming off three intense battles against the Lions, the Boks have enjoyed a relatively gentle introduction to the international season.

The Barbarians offered little resistance in the 54-7 rout in Cape Town, while Italy and Georgia only fired in patches.

South Africa may feel like they have a point to prove, of course, after conceding maul tries to both Italy and Georgia.

The Wallabies line-out troubled the B&I Lions in the recent clash in Sydney, and may challenge the Bok pack throughout the coming series.

That challenge, and indeed the challenge at the gainline and breakdown, is exactly what the Boks need at this stage of their season.

While results against Australia will be important, every player in the squad will be competing for a place in the group that travels to New Zealand for the highly anticipated Freedom Cup series.

Physicality and intensity aside, Schmidt and the Wallabies may ask other tactical questions of the Boks in the coming weeks, and it will be interesting to see how the hosts respond.

Various trick plays have proved successful against the Boks over the years, and the defence will have to be on high alert.

The Wallabies boast threats across the backline, and the likes of Tom Wright and Max Jorgensen will bear close marking.

Outside centre Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i looks set to face the Boks for the first time, while a more familiar foe in Nic White has put off his retirement for a shot at a rare win on South African soil – the Wallabies haven’t won in the Republic since 2011.

Flyhalf, however, is a problem position for the Wallabies.

First-choice Noah Lolesio remains unavailable after undergoing neck surgery, while Tom Lynagh has been ruled out of the tour to South Africa after sustaining a concussion in the third Test against the Lions.

Schmidt may turn to Ben Donaldson, who played from the bench in the B&I Lions series, or could spring a surprise by starting the recent recalled James O’Connor at No 10.

The 35-year-old utility back recently won the Super Rugby tournament with the Crusaders, but last represented the Wallabies in 2022.

Waratahs pivot Tane Edmed, who made his only appearance for the Wallabies against Ireland last November, is also part of the squad.

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