Fiery test in offing as Wallabies bristle

BRISBANE - The Wallabies are angered by accusations that their forwards are soft, and plan to show South Africa their full force in tonight's Tri-Nations test in Brisbane.

Australian forwards have been denigrated over the years as not being up to par with their Tri-Nations rivals, New Zealand and South Africa.

Last year, the Lions made similar claims before losing a series to the Wallabies.

Now the Australians believe it is time to put up or shut up, and claim the Springboks will change their opinions after the test at the Gabba.

Wallaby No 8 Toutai Kefu says the Springboks are kidding themselves if they expect to out-muscle the Australian forwards.

South African coach Rudolf Straeuli riled the Australians with a pre-match claim that the Wallabies had only "one or two" physical forwards.

"It's just a load of rubbish," Kefu said. "Guys just scoff at it and laugh at it, and we're sick and tired of it as a forward pack.

"They come out with the same thing every year - 'the weakness in the Wallaby team is through the Wallaby pack.'

"I seriously think that the forward pack has improved a lot."

Kefu said he doubted whether Straeuli believed his own rhetoric after the Wallaby forwards performed strongly in their last three matches against Six Nations champions France, and New Zealand.

"I seriously don't think he believes it that much, especially after how we went against New Zealand and France," Kefu said. "We've had the harder preparation going into Tri-Nations."

The Wallaby pack shaded the All Blacks in atrocious winter weather in Christchurch a fortnight ago in a 12-6 loss, before the Springboks fell 41-20 to New Zealand in Wellington last Saturday.

"Rudi [Straeuli] has been adamant that our forwards lack courage and lack the physical ability to play test football," Australian coach Eddie Jones said yesterday.

"They've made it clear they're going to attack us in that area, so we've got a confrontation to meet and we've been working hard to make sure we're ready to meet it."

Springbok skipper Corne Krige has challenged his team to go the distance against Australia.

South Africa were quick out of the blocks against the All Blacks, leading 13-6 early on before the New Zealanders ran in five tries for a comfortable victory.

"We want to go out there and do it for 80 minutes, not only for the first 20," he said.

Krige said the periods just before and after halftime proved crucial last weekend.

"Ten minutes before halftime and the 10 minutes after have proved to be a bit of a problem for us in the past."

He said his team needed to improve a lot or face a repeat of the Tri-Nations match in Brisbane in 1999 when the Wallabies won 32-6.

"We thought we were right up there leading into the All Black test and we thought we were going to win the game, and we didn't," Krige said.

"From our side there needs to be a step up - a step up in physicality, a step up in concentration and, hopefully, a better team performance and, of course, another step up in defence."

"We like to play the game physically and that's exactly what we're going to do.

"That's the way we enjoy playing the game and that's the way we traditionally play the game."

South Africa have recalled winger Breyton Paulse and prop Faan Rautenbach for injured players Dean Hall and Willie Meyer.

Jones has asked English referee Steve Lander to be strict on the tackle interpretation rule so players who are not involved in the ruck are on side and behind the last feet in rucks and mauls.

Just the facts: Australia versus South Africa in Tri-Nations matches

Played 12: South Africa six wins, Australia five, one draw.

In Australia: Played six - Australia four, South Africa one, one draw.

Largest margins: South Africa 61 bt Australia 22, Pretoria 1997; Australia 32 bt South Africa 6, Brisbane 1999.

Most appearances: 12 Joe Roff (Australia), George Gregan (Australia), 11 Mark Andrews (South Africa).

Most tries: Four, Ben Tune (Australia), Joe Roff (Australia).

Most points (all games): 79 Matt Burke (Australia).

Most points (single game): 26 Jannie de Beer (South Africa), 1997.

All-time records

Played 50 matches: South Africa 32 wins, Australia 17 wins, one draw.

In Australia: Played 22 matches - South Africa 12 wins, Australia nine wins, one draw


Australia: Chris Latham, Ben Tune, Matthew Burke, Daniel Herbert, Stirling Mortlock, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt), Toutai Kefu, George Smith, Owen Finegan, Justin Harrison, Nathan Sharpe, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young. Reserves: Brendan Cannon, Ben Darwin, Matt Cockbain, David Lyons, Chris Whitaker, Elton Flatley, Mat Rogers, David Croft (one to be omitted)

South Africa: Werner Greeff, Stefan Terblanche, Marius Joubert, De Wet Barry, Breyton Paulse, Andre Pretorius, Johannes Conradie, Bobby Skinstad, Joe van Niekerk, Corne Krige (capt), Victor Matfield, Jannes Labuschagne, Faan Rautenbach, James Dalton, Lawrence Sephaka. Reserves: Delarey du Preez, Ollie le Roux, AJ Venter, Hendro Scholtz, Neil de Kock, Adrian Jacobs, Brent Russell.

Referee: Steve Lander (England).