Wallabies ready for Boks onslaught in Championship opener
Prop Allan Alaalatoa eyes a chance for Australia to make history in Pretoria
04 July 2023 - 16:59
by NICK SAID
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Australia's Allan Alaalatoa and Izack Rodda in action with Fiji's Levani Botia at the Sapporo Dome in Japan, September 21 2019. Picture: PETER CZIBORRA/REUTERS
For Australia prop Allan Alaalatoa, matching SA’s physicality and playing “smart footie” will be the keys to success in their Rugby Championship opener on Saturday with the chance to make history in Pretoria.
Australia hope to make it seventh time lucky at Loftus Versfeld, having lost on their previous six visits as they begin a new era under coach Eddie Jones with just a handful of matches to fine-tune their plans ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France.
“Our goal heading into this weekend is to focus on ourselves and play a brand of footie Australia will be proud of. Entertaining and smart footie with a [physical] edge around it,” said Alaalatoa
“If we do that we will have every opportunity to get a win and build momentum ahead of the World Cup.”
The visitors are expecting a brutal assault up front from the home side’s forwards and a testing time under the high ball against a Springbok side that target those two areas for weakness in opponents.
“We have to understand their strengths, as a pack we have spoken about how they pride themselves on their set-piece. Scrum and maul, they will do that until the cows come home,” Alaalatoa said.
“They base their game around physicality and it is important for us to understand that. We just have to go toe-to-toe, our backs will then add the smartness around the game.
“It is a great challenge, it is something we are excited by, being part of the first Australian team to beat SA in Pretoria would be awesome.”
Australia have not played in SA since 2019 and with Super Rugby no longer featuring franchises from the latter, several of the touring squad have not been challenged on African soil before.
“Our leaders have shared their experiences of playing in Pretoria at altitude. It was really good to hear, it was so valuable to the young players who will be feeding off those guys at the weekend,” said Alaalatoa.
“We know for sure there will be players who are nervous, some boys haven’t played in a while; other boys are playing their first game [in SA]. We have spoken about those scenarios through the week so when it comes we are ready to face it.”
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Wallabies ready for Boks onslaught in Championship opener
Prop Allan Alaalatoa eyes a chance for Australia to make history in Pretoria
For Australia prop Allan Alaalatoa, matching SA’s physicality and playing “smart footie” will be the keys to success in their Rugby Championship opener on Saturday with the chance to make history in Pretoria.
Australia hope to make it seventh time lucky at Loftus Versfeld, having lost on their previous six visits as they begin a new era under coach Eddie Jones with just a handful of matches to fine-tune their plans ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France.
“Our goal heading into this weekend is to focus on ourselves and play a brand of footie Australia will be proud of. Entertaining and smart footie with a [physical] edge around it,” said Alaalatoa
“If we do that we will have every opportunity to get a win and build momentum ahead of the World Cup.”
The visitors are expecting a brutal assault up front from the home side’s forwards and a testing time under the high ball against a Springbok side that target those two areas for weakness in opponents.
“We have to understand their strengths, as a pack we have spoken about how they pride themselves on their set-piece. Scrum and maul, they will do that until the cows come home,” Alaalatoa said.
“They base their game around physicality and it is important for us to understand that. We just have to go toe-to-toe, our backs will then add the smartness around the game.
“It is a great challenge, it is something we are excited by, being part of the first Australian team to beat SA in Pretoria would be awesome.”
Australia have not played in SA since 2019 and with Super Rugby no longer featuring franchises from the latter, several of the touring squad have not been challenged on African soil before.
“Our leaders have shared their experiences of playing in Pretoria at altitude. It was really good to hear, it was so valuable to the young players who will be feeding off those guys at the weekend,” said Alaalatoa.
“We know for sure there will be players who are nervous, some boys haven’t played in a while; other boys are playing their first game [in SA]. We have spoken about those scenarios through the week so when it comes we are ready to face it.”
Reuters
Jones restores tactical kicking to Wallabies’ game as Boks loom
Pollard’s absence puts Libbok and Jantjies in the spotlight
Junior Springboks expect a cracker against Italy
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Boks focused on winning Rugby Championship as Australia loom
Boks sweat on Nché for Wallaby showdown
GAVIN RICH: Wondering if history will repeat itself at the Rugby Championship
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.