New Zealand have wrapped up the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri Nations trophy, but don't mention the term "dead rubber" to the Wallabies as they prepare for Saturday's Test against the Springboks in Pretoria.
Both teams have plenty to play for as they try to bounce back from hard-fought losses to the All Blacks. The Springboks are hoping to break a run of four losses in this year's tournament, and Australia are desperate for a win to take some heat off the team and the coaching staff. More importantly, the Wallabies have to start winning on the road, which is exactly what they’ll have to do if they’re to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
If they are successful on this trip, they’ll break a 47-year drought at altitude. Australia have lost 11 successive Tests in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein since John Thornett’s Wallabies won on the high veldt in 1963.
It’s a big ask, but the All Blacks proved last weekend that it’s not impossible. Visiting teams are expected to wilt at altitude, but Richie McCaw and his men played the full 80 minutes and came away with a come-from-behind victory to clinch the Tri Nations trophy. The Wallabies watched the Test on television at their Cape Town hotel, and they would have been impressed with the physicality from both sides.
I couldn’t help thinking while watching the match that the Wallabies must find some more mongrel if they are to keep South Africa winless in the Tri Nations. The Boks will be even more desperate this week. The Wallabies welcome Quade Copper back into the side, and the classy fly half will ask plenty of questions of the Boks’ defence providing the forwards gain parity up front.
The Boks are going to have to keep a close eye on him, and that will hopefully give those inside and outside him more room to move. I just hope all the talk about where Cooper’s future lies hasn’t put too much pressure on him.
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