The Springboks are ranked second and the Wallabies third going into the penultimate-round southern hemisphere contest at tradition-steeped Newlands stadium. But the Wallabies would rise to second behind world champions New Zealand if they can end a 22-year Cape Town jinx.

Since a 26-3 win there in 1992 over opponents making only their second appearance after years of apartheid-induced isolation, the Wallabies have suffered six consecutive losses.

Australia turned the tables this month with a 24-23 win in Perth that proved anything but a celebration for Springbok wing Bryan Habana as he reached the 100-cap milestone. He was controversially yellow-carded late in the second half for a tackle on Adam Ashley-Cooper and the Wallabies took advantage to snatch victory via a late Rob Horne try.

South Africa lost again one week later, going down 14-10 to nemesis New Zealand, albeit after a much more passionate, defensively strong display. Those losses and Australia being beaten away to New Zealand have left the Springboks and Wallabies six points adrift of the All Blacks with two rounds to go.

And if New Zealand gain an expected win in Argentina later on Saturday and collect a four-try bonus point they will seal a third consecutive Championship title. Given they have the tougher final-round fixture – at home to the All Blacks – South Africa must overcome Australia to have a realistic chance of finishing runners-up for the second successive season.

“This will be a tough outing and we have to fire on all cylinders for the full 80 minutes,” said Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer. “It is great to be back in South Africa after three tough games on the road and we are looking forward to playing in front of our supporters.

“We have had a couple of great training sessions and there is a definite resolve to improve the quality of our performance on Saturday.”

Australia coach Ewen McKenzie believes the set-piece contests are set to play a crucial role in the outcome of the test.

“Set pieces are always an important focus for us – even more so when you play South Africa,” said the former Wallaby prop. “We realise the outcome of the scrums and line-outs will be vital to the final result. The Springboks always rise to another level when playing at home and we are under no illusions as to the challenges ahead.

“But we are looking forward to those challenges, in South Africa and in Argentina, as we continue evolving and improving our game.”

South Africa have made two injury-enforced changes to the side that started against New Zealand with scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and flanker Teboho Mohoje replacing Ruan Pienaar and Francois Louw.

Meyer has dismissed concerns about run-on debutant Mohoje, a 24-year-old who made his senior rugby debut only this year, being ring rusty.

“His match sharpness is a concern having last played in July, but he is very fit,” said Meyer of a forward expected to play 50 minutes before veteran Schalk Burger comes off the bench.

McKenzie has changed both wings from the team that edged Argentina with Adam Ashley-Cooper and Joe Tomane replacing Peter Betham and Horne. The other alteration is at hooker with Saia Fainga’a coming in for injured Tatafu Polota-Nau, and the inclusion of experienced prop Benn Robinson is among the bench changes.

KEY MATCH-UPS

Joe Tomane v Cornal Hendricks

Finally injury-free, Tomane makes a welcome return to the Wallabies backline for his first Test start since Australia’s win over Wales last December. Tomane replaces Rob Horne on the left wing, and the Brumbies flyer can expect anything other than a quiet reintroduction to Test rugby. That’s if the Wallabies follow the instructions of Fox Sports Rugby expert Rod Kafer, who says Tomane’s direct opponent — Hendricks — represents a weakness in the Boks backline.

“This is where the opportunity is for the Wallabies — get the ball and target Cornal Hendricks,” Kafer said on Rugby HQ. “He gets caught a lot in defence. There’s absolutely an opportunity for the Wallabies, if they can move the ball to the far left they’ll score some tries down Cornal Hendricks’ wing.” Of course, Hendrick does pose a big attacking threat of his own having scored five tries in his seven Tests to date, so Tomane will also have to aim up in defence.

Ben McCalman v Duane Vermeulen

Wycliff Palu’s continued absence through concussion provides McCalman with another chance to lock down a starting role for the Wallabies. The Western Force star has shrugged off the challenge of Scott Higginbotham to hold on to the No. 8 jersey, but will have his hands full up against the big Boks pack and particularly Vermeulen.

The abrasive back-rower was a powerhouse when he went toe-to-toe with reigning world player of the year Kieran Read in Wellington a fortnight ago. The Wallabies — in particular prop James Slipper, who was on the receiving of a brutal hit that was harshly penalised in Perth a fortnight ago — also know full well the damage that Vermeulen can cause. McCalman was solid in Australia’s narrow win over Argentina last start, and his ball-carrying and strong work-rate will be needed to help the Wallabies match the Springboks up front.

Bernard Foley v Handre Pollard

Foley’s return to the No. 10 jersey has coincided with back-to-back victories for the Wallabies, and he has the chance to steer them to a drought-breaking third-straight win when he starts a Test on the road for the first time. The Waratahs star’s attacking stats make for good reading — two line breaks, six tackle busts, and 122 run metres in those two triumphs — and he continues to impress as a goal-kicker.

Along with his clutch match-winning conversion against South Africa in Perth, Foley is yet to miss a penalty goal attempt in this season’s Rugby Championship, landing nine from nine. This weekend he’ll line up for the first time against young gun Pollard, who wins his first Test start against the Wallabies after being overlooked for the Perth loss. The occasion certainly won’t worry the 20-year-old, who was thrust into South Africa’s subsequent clash with the All Blacks in Wellington. He looked right at home against the world champions on their home turf, and should feel even more comfortable on home soil.

Prediction

The Wallabies are yet to find consistency this year, but will need to do so if they are to have any hope against the Springboks at their hoodoo venue.

Both the Wallabies and the Springboks need to win to stay in contact with the All Blacks at the top of the table, while at the same time hoping Argentina can pull off an upset against the All Blacks.

The Springboks have the obvious strength in the forwards and will be looking to exploit that later today. The Wallabies will need to ‘hang-tough’ to be in with a chance of pulling off an upset against the No. 2 ranked team.

The Wallabies have made a habit of making matches close, and I don’t expect that to change tonight, however, I can’t see them getting on top of the Springboks in Cape Town. I’m tipping the South Africa by 5 in a last 10 nail-biter.

Teams

Australia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; James Slipper, Saia Faingaa, Sekope Kepu, Sam Carter, Rob Simmons, Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper (captain), Ben McCalman.

Bench: James Hanson, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Scott Higginbotham, Nic White, Kurtley Beale, Rob Horne.

South Africa: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana, Handre Pollard, Francois Hougaard; Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Marcell Coetzee, Teboho Mohoje, Duane Vermeulen.

Bench: Bismarck du Plessis, Trevor Nyakane, Marcel van der Merwe, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Cobus Reinach, Pat Lambie, JP Pietersen.

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The Springboks first international of the year gets underway in South Africa when they welcome the Nick Mallett coached Word XV to Cape Town, before taking on Wales and Scotland in the coming weeks.

Watching Wales talk up a big game before ultimately falling short or seeing Scotland battle valiantly for an hour only to be overcome when it counts carry little novelty. But the chance to watch a team featuring Hosea Gear, Matt Giteau, Steffon Armitage, Mamuka Gorgodze (etc, etc, etc) attempt to punch holes in the Bok defence? That will get me excited, for sure.

Heyneke Meyer has implemented some surprising changes in his Springboks squad ahead of this weekend’s clash, bringing both old faces and new into his side for what should make for some intriguing experimentation.

Veteran second-rowers Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will start alongside each other for the first time in three years. As exciting as the recall is, this South African squad is far from the youngest around, and it will be interesting to see how so many sets of old legs last on Saturday. But Matfield has shown this term that his standards haven’t slipped, temporary retirement be damned.

South Africa deservedly start as favorites even though the World XV has named a strong side. But, like we’ve see with the Barbarians on so many occasions before, you can’t just throw 23 guys together and expect them to perform in a one off test.

Because of the change of South Africa’s selection policy, we see not only Matfield and Botha reunited in the second row, but also Morne and Frans Steyn in the midfield. The first time they’ve played together for a long time.

How they manage to gel after many years apart will be a major factor in determining as to how large the final score margin will be. With South Africa having many combinations which haven’t played together for such a long time, this is a real blessing for Heyneke Meyer to have before taking on more well organised opposition.

James O’Connor will be up for a big game.

Having failed to earn Meyer’s recognition as a Springbok, Rory Kockottwill take to Cape Town with an added incentive to impress against the stars of his native South Africa on Saturday.

The unpredictable half-back may be deserving of international recognition for some, having stood as a leading figure for Castres in their run to the Top 14 playoffs this season, but his ability to link up with players such as Matt Giteau and James O’Connor will be key for any success.

Key Match-Ups

Francois Louw v Steffon Armitage
Francois Louw will start for South Africa on Saturday, advancing the prospect of a collision against newly crowned European Player of the Year SteffonArmitage. The Rec figurehead has done a sensational job of maintaining his loyalties with both club and country in the past, but there couldn’t be a more in-form challenge coming in Louw’s direction on Saturday.

Matt Giteau v Frans Steyn
Matt Giteau has been in the form of his life and was a major part of the Toulon team which went on to win the Top14 and Heineken Cup double. His form has lead to calls from many for Australia to scrap their selection policy and pick Giteau for the Wallabies.

Frans Steyn has been the key linchpin for the Sharks backline this year. His kicking game has been top class, and at 110kg, is a powerful runner as well.

Our Prediction

Many of the World XV will be keen for a strong showing to gain favour with their national team selectors before next years World Cup, and because of this, we’re not expecting the World XV to go down without a fight.

While on paper the battle in the backs looks close, few of the World XV has played together, and that lack of cohesion will be obvious throughout the game. The South African’s have a clear and obvious dominance in the forwards, and I suspect little respect will be given to the World XV pack.

I’m tipping the Springboks to win by 25.

Teams

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Fourie du Preez, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Lwazi Mvovo

World XV: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Mamuka Gorgodze, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Juandré Kruger, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Sona Taumalolo.

Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Joe Tekori, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 Jimmy Cowan, 22 François Trinh-Duc, 23 Benson Stanley.

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