VIDEO: Wallaby hooker says Aussies love being the underdog
VIDEO: The Wallabies are not just chasing a win when they face the world champions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Not only will the Australian visitors aim to secure another victory following their win over the British and Irish Lions in the third Test, but there are more at stake.
Finishing in the top six by the end of the year is paramount to ensure they get a top-six seeding ahead of the 2027 World Cup draw in December.
Currently, the Wallabies are in sixth spot with 82.08 points – that is 0.3 points ahead of seventh spot Argentina.
Scotland and Fiji are behind the Wallabies, while the Wallabies have some work to do to move into the top five.
England (87.64) is five points clear, second-place New Zealand (92.06) is almost ten points ahead, and the back-to-back world champions, South Africa (92.78) at the top.
Australia will be on a quest to move higher up and retain some scalps ahead of them on the World Rugby rankings.
But it won’t be easy, as the Springboks came out on top on Australian soil twice last year.
The challenge is immense with the Wallabies’ last win at Ellis Park way back in 1963.
Their last trip to Ellis Park in 2019 saw them go down 17-35.
Eleven years earlier, in 2008, the hiding was immense – 8-53.
Wallaby hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, who last faced the Springboks seven years ago in Port Elizabeth, has never played at Ellis Park.
On Monday, Rugby365 asked him about the challenge ahead, playing at altitude, and what to expect from the Springboks.
Paenga-Amosa said he respects the Boks’ record at Ellis Park, but doesn’t feel intimidated by it.
“I feel Ellis Park is the home of South Africa.
“If I do get the opportunity to play against the Springboks, it would be a huge honour.
“We respect what they’ve done.
“We respect them as a team and for winning the World Cups. But we’re just going to take them at face value and what we see in front of our faces at Ellis Park rather than putting them up on that pedestal,” Paenga Amosa said.
“I definitely think we’re at a better place now than we were 12 months ago.
“Off the back of a really good win against the [British & Irish] Lions, we just want to continue to build that momentum going into the Rugby Championship against South Africa, Argentina, and then the All Blacks.
“We’re looking at definitely continuing that momentum.”
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Paenga-Amosa played the British and Irish Lions four times, representing the Force, the AUNZ XV, the First Nations and Pasifika XV, and the Wallabies in the victorious final Test in Sydney.
And the hooker is not shying away from being an underdog once again.
“We enjoy being that underdog as Aussies,” he said.
“I feel like a lot of the time we are the underdog, and we love a comeback story, so this is nothing new for us.
“It takes the pressure off us,” adding: “We’re ready to fire off our shot and have a crack.”
“We know the biggest thing about Ellis Park is the altitude, and that plays a bit of a part in how the game will be played.”
The Wallabies in the City of Gold on Saturday, and took time out on Sunday to go sightseeing and took the opportunity to visit a wildlife and safari park.
“We’re here now, so we get to acclimatise to that altitude.
“We’re trying not to think too much about the altitude, though, because in the end, if we nail our plays, nail our own individual roles, it’ll go a long way for us.”
Paenga-Amosa’s younger sister, Katalina, is part of the Wallaroos squad now in England ahead of their World Cup opener later this month.
The 29-year-old said his family was proud of his sister, also a hooker.
“It’s been awesome for my sister, I’m proud of her and excited to watch her ripping at the World Cup – most of the household has been buzzing.
“It’s been exciting the past month for me personally, and if I do get that opportunity in Jo’burg to play against the Springboks, it’ll be a huge honour for me.”
