The weight of the occasion is almost enough to tip the great red continent into the Indian Ocean. Sunday night’s clash between the Wallabies and South Africa in Perth marks a year from the start of the home World Cup, which will kick off with the Wallabies playing at the same venue.
The date with the mighty Springboks is also the first match under Wallabies coach Les Kiss against one of the traditional rugby powers. It’s also the country that happened to give the Australian his first opportunity coaching in union more than two decades ago.
The former North Sydney Bears winger has not shied away from big decisions in his selection, only adding intrigue to already hefty anticipation. “This is a big, big Test team, [and] everyone knows they go three, four deep in every position,” Kiss said, continuing a build-up more befitting a weighbridge. “We expect nothing but a massive, massive Test match against them.”
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who has worn the heavy expectations of the Australian rugby community for two years, has finally been shifted to wing. Kiss said he made the move partly to defuse the bombardment expected by a side that alternates blows high and low. “[Suaalii’s] aerial battle is going to be big,” Kiss said. “He’s probably one of the best in the business.”
The coach further explained that Len Ikitau’s ability to play No 12 and 13 – where the centre will start on Sunday – as well as Hunter Paisami’s own versatility and strong form, also facilitated the move.
The change could a symbol of a change in tack, however, with the World Cup just 12 months away. Suaalii’s modest impact at outside centre has had many in Australia rugby believing one of the Wallabies’ aces has not yet found the perfect hand, and calling for a redraw.
Suaalii told the Guardian recently that he was keeping an “open mindset” to his position, and Kiss said the player was “nothing but positive” this week when told of the move. The coach still expects the former NRL star – who is just 23 but has already made 24 Wallabies appearances – to return to centre at some point in the match when reserve winger Harry Potter is called on, and was adamant he remains an option in midfield.
“I didn’t even have to explain some of the rationale around it or the reasons why we went that way, but he was up for it, no doubt,” Kiss said. “When I spoke to him originally, [he said he will] put the jersey on, play anywhere – and I know they all say that – but to tell you the truth, I’m really happy with him at 13, I am.”
Suaalii’s first start at wing is Kiss’s most notable selection, alongside his decision to pack the bench with forwards. They number six, one more than the traditional 5-3 split, and are designed to counter the Springboks’ finishing group which includes the front row which started the last two Tests against the All Blacks. “You look at what they’re finishing with and you can see the idea that Rassie [Erasmus, South Africa’s coach] has come in with. But we’ve got a pretty good bench too.”
The Springboks look different from the team that finished off New Zealand in Baltimore two weeks ago. That 43-28 win secured the series 3-1. Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and centre Damian de Allende have been allowed to fly home.
Erasmus has made 13 changes from the starting side he selected in Baltimore, and backrower Siya Kolisi, centre Jesse Kriel and prop Thomas du Toit have been left out of the 23. Only lock Eben Etzebeth and winger Ethan Hooker retain their places in the XV.
Rather than expose weakness, however, the unorthodox selection showcases the depth of the world champions. Starting props Zachary Porthen, 22, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 25, were good enough to be named on the bench for the first Test against the All Blacks, won by New Zealand 33-16, but did not play again in the series. Two-time world cup winner Handrè Pollard has been recalled at flyhalf, having also missed the past three Tests, and inside centre André “the giant” Esterhuizen – who doubles as a flanker – will captain the Springboks for the first time.
Erasmus said in the lead-up he will use Sunday’s clash to test the depth of his squad. “We rolled the dice a little bit against the All Blacks by [selecting] consistently the same team,” he said. “We obviously were getting some momentum as [the series went] on longer, but if we keep on doing that, how would we know when we get to the Nations Championship at the end of the year, or at the World Cup next year, what can the next guy do?”
Kiss described Erasmus, with whom he worked in Ireland, as a “deep thinker” and a “good mate”, as well as someone who will “have a few things up his sleeve, that’s for sure”. But so too might the Australian, whose first experience of elite rugby union was with the Springboks as defence coach when Erasmus, now 53, was still playing. “I learnt rugby through the eyes of Springboks,” Kiss said.
“That’s just the plain truth of it all. I loved the Wallabies, I saw the way we play, the skilful nature of our game, the way that we would use the ball on the back of [John] Eales and co taking that forward pack forward.
“So I knew the game, I understood the tenets of the game and how it worked, but when you’re on the ground and you learn the game through the eyes of the Springboks, it was a powerful way to learn first up. I often say it was a gift, to learn rugby through their eyes.”
