Australia are fielding their best backline of the Tri Nations, players like Kurtley Beale and Drew Mitchell have proved that they are worthy of their starting positions. Adam Ashley-Cooper has not been moved about so is gaining in confidence and the Genia / Cooper combination is set to razzle-dazzle… we could be in for quite a game!
The big question mark will be around the amount of quality attacking ball that they get from their forwards. Against the All Blacks, the Aussies had plenty of ball but couldn’t break through but you’d expect Robbie Deans to have a plan for his dynamic playmakers to express themselves.
South Africa were strong in the scrum against the All Blacks so Australia will have to ‘get that right’ otherwise Morne Steyn will make them pay. More kick and chase tactics are sure to be employed, with the two Steyn boys endeavoring to kick the $#@!*% out of the pill, while Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen try to cause havoc to the catcher?
Lets hope that a more attacking system is used, I like the look of Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie in the mid-field, they could cause all sorts of problems if they play to their potential.
A major problem for the Boks could be the foraging skills of David Pocock, once again they haven’t picked a player who can match this guy. It’s hard to see Australia winning at Loftus, but you never know, as we saw last week it’s an 80 minute game so it could be the fittest and smartest team that takes it out.