The Springboks will be looking to extend their unbeaten record at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to six Tests when they take on the Wallabies this Saturday at what is considered to be their happy hunting ground.
The Boks have settled into their Port Elizabeth base riding a wave of confidence following a famous win over the All Blacks in Wellington.
They will be overwhelming favourites when they take on a struggling Wallabies team that suffered a humbling loss to Argentina on the Gold Coast the last time out.
The Boks will also have fond memories of Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where they have won four games and drawn one in all Tests played at that venue in the Friendly City, and which is expected to have a capacity crowd this Saturday.
Although the Springboks have that record in their favour, it will not have escaped their attention that they have won just one of their last six games against Australia (drawn two, lost three), despite leading at half-time on four occasions in that time.
The Boks suffered a disappointing defeat to the Wallabies in Brisbane earlier this season, but they are undefeated in five consecutive games at home against Australia (won four, drawn one) and have kept the Wallabies to 10 points or fewer in all these games except the most recent encounter.
The Wallabies currently dwindle down in the last place on the Rugby Championship standings and have lost their last three games on the road. A loss this weekend will equal their longest losing streak in away matches since 2008-2009 when they lost four games against Wales, New Zealand (twice) and South Africa.
Meanwhile, South Africa will be out to win back-to-back games against two different opponents in the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2014, after downing New Zealand 36-34 in the previous round.
– African News Agency (ANA)
(Image: Warren Whitely and Cheslyn Kolbie at Algoa FM studios with Charlie T and Lee Duru)
