Wallabies feel the pressure

George Gregan

Wallabies captain George Gregan says his side are feeling the pinch ahead of tonight's Tri-Nations test against South Africa.

The Wallabies face a highly confident Springbok side who have won the last three tests between the sides.

"Any time you lose a few games on the trot the confidence, although you don't want to admit it, does take a bit of a dent," Gregan said. "So it's important for that side of things to get back on track and rectify a few things that have let us down a little bit.

"When you are down on confidence you still have to work that little bit harder on your detail and things turn around."

The enormity of the situation and the injury toll - seven players are unavailable - meant the Australians did not finalise their starting XV until yesterday, with Mat Rogers the surprise selection ahead of Clyde Rathbone on the wing. Rogers has not started a game for the Wallabies on the wing in his 27 tests.

The reserves will not be decided until today as coach Eddie Jones weighs up using rookie Adam Ashley-Cooper on the bench or opting for a fifth forward in John Roe.

History looms heavily over the Australians.

They last lost four successive tests in 1981-82, but lock Nathan Sharpe said he did not want to be burdened by what had happened in the past.

"You can't go into games like this thinking like that. We're out to win the game and when we do that all that talk of four in a row, or whatever you want to say, goes out the window."

South Africa have used their long stay in Perth to drum up expatriate support in a bid for a first away win in the series in seven years. Coach Jake White has named an unchanged side from the one that beat the All Blacks 22-16 two weeks ago.

- Reuters, AAP