Jacques Potgieter was rarely complimentary about South Africans’ views on Aussies.

SOUTH Africans enter a game believing they can bash and bully Australians into submission.

The theory has long been surmised but after gaining valuable insight into the South African rugby psyche playing alongside Jacques Potgieter at the Waratahs, Bernard Foley now knows it’s not theory, it’s fact.

“He said he always enjoyed playing against Australians because he thought there was an opportunity to get one over them,” Foley said.

While polite in his public statements, Potgieter’s on-field brutality was more than matched by the candour with which he spoke to NSW teammates about how Aussies were viewed in the hard world of South African rugby.

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It was rarely complimentary. Waratahs coach Michael Cheika used his bruising appraisals as challenges to his players and far from shy away from Potgieter’s truth sessions, the 2014 title-winners actively sought him out for insight.

“You sort of try and pick his brain a bit and understand the psyche of the South Africans, especially those forwards and how they like to play the mind games, and out muscle you early on and get inside your head,” Foley said.

“But I think the guys in this (Australian) side have all had success against South African teams, whether it be Super Rugby or (Tests), so there is definitely confidence there, and that’s changed in recent times. We know what the South Africans are going to come and do.

“They never shy away from the physicality side of things, so we just have to match them.”

Returning to the side after playing no. 10 in the June whitewash over France, but being benched for the Bledisloe Cup, Foley admitted he was disappointed with his demotion for Kurtley Beale.

“I suppose off the back of everything it was tough to swallow but I suppose after a day or two you get over it. You are still representing your country on the bench and you still have a job to do,” Foley said.

“There was a bit of disappointment there for a second, as every player would (feel) after they get dropped. But then I focused on my role and digested my role in the side and was looking forward to it.”

The Wallabies looked sharper in the dying stages of both Tests against New Zealand under Foley’s stewardship, and his existing combination with Nick Phipps should see the Australian attack flow with greater continuity.

The return of Beale into an impact role is hoped to also see a return to the successful formula of the French series, McKenzie said.

“Kurtley can go in anywhere and make a difference,” he said.

“We saw that in the French series. He can go out there and make things happen when people get tired. He can keep everyone very honest and create opportunities.”