The Wallabies moved to Perth for their return Castle Lager Rugby Championship meeting with the Springboks wounded in every respect of the word, but despite suffering a triple injury blow during their 33-7 mauling at the hands of the Springboks, they will be a stronger side next week.
Australian media have been reporting that coach Joe Schmidt is keeping the door open for Taniela Tupou, the tighthead prop so key to many of their plans who is out of camp grieving after the death of his father. And while it was expected that he would be back in camp after the Brisbane game, at least as the team moved to Perth it seems not to be the case.
There is no doubt that the Wallabies need anything they can find to shore up their scrum after the Bok pack demolished it on Saturday, but whether Tupou alone can be that elixir is doubtful. But if he returns he will definitely bolster the side.
With no Will Skelton in the side and concussion ruling out two of their locks in Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams, both of whom have to be stood down with mandatory rest after the head knocks, Schmidt was desperately looking for options on Sunday, knowing the team would have to front up in the second test in Perth.
INJURIES ARE A HEADACHE FOR SCHMIDT
Add to that the fact that Filipo Daugunu suffered a broken leg, and the injury problems added headaches to Schmidt’s task of turning the team around this week.
Rebels lock Josh Canham and Force second rower Sam Carter - who last played test rugby in 2017 - both received call-ups to cover for the two locks, while Daugunu seems likely to be replaced by Marika Koroibete - a face very familiar to Springbok fans.
Koroibete was involved in several tussles with Bok winger Makazole Mapimpi in the 2022 Adelaide and Sydney tests - including a no-arms hit that should have cost him a yellow card and given the Boks a penalty try in Adelaide, which wasn’t awarded.
The way Koroibete and his teammates celebrated that moment still riles many of the Boks and there will be no love lost when he returns to face them this weekend.
NO TUPOU BUT REPLACEMENTS SHOULD PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED RESPITE
Whether Tupou will be included - he flew back to Tonga on Sunday to attend his father’s funeral - and it isn’t certain when he will return to the side so he may not even come into contention. But the Wallabies may look to veteran Angus Bell for some respite while Tom Robertson, with 24 caps to his name and who has recently returned from a year studying at Oxford, has been called into the squad as well.’
Either way the Wallabies will seize on any straw of hope this week and Schmidt will work out plans - not only to limit damage but to try and disrupt the Boks this week. Coaches often say that a return test in a series, a week after the first, is often the most difficult because opposition sides have a lot they can work on and adjust in that week.
While Schmidt may not have plans to beat the Boks in Perth, the damage limitation and showing some bravery will be off the charts in team meetings this week. That and coupled with the Boks likely to make some changes to give some more young blood a chance, may well even matter a bit more in evening out the contest.
Schmidt was honest in his assessment, saying you don’t solve the issue in a week, but wanted to see more of his side being in contests rather than the one-sided nature of Saturday’s game.
LAST MATCH A BENCHMARK FOR SCHMIDT'S YOUTHFUL SIDE
“That’s probably a benchmark for us. We’ve had three tests prior to that but that’s really a starting point against the really big boys,” he said after the game.
“They’re at a different stage of their evolution with so much experience and players who’ve played at the very top level for a long time and successfully.
“We have quite a youthful side and a side that is still coming together but we’ve got to come together better than we did today and accelerate some of the learning.
While many in the Australian media were wondering just how the Wallabies recover in a week, Schmidt pointed to the expectation the Boks may bring in young blood and to use that as an opportunity.
“I don’t think you can ever guarantee anything. I think South Africa will maybe change up a few personnel or change up a few of the things that they did. You’re always trying to adjust,” Schmidt said.
“I do think that there is an opportunity for us to get back into some of those contests. From the scrum to the aerial contest, where we didn’t really get into the contest. If you don’t get into those contest areas then it’s very hard to play without the ball against a team as powerful and as fleet of foot and skilful as the South Africans.
THERE WILL BE IMPROVEMENTS
“I think there’s guys who will improve what they’re delivering,” he added. “Maybe it won’t be improved in time for next Saturday but we do have to have a bit of a long-term plan.
“We have a much younger side than the South Africans. We’ve got a lot less caps, we’ve got a lot less experience and therefore, my belief, if we chop and change too much then it’s very hard to grow the cohesion.
“When you go out in a game like that, you are very interdependent and you’re going to have to make sure that everyone knows their role, has been built ready to deliver their role.
“I thought Carlo Tizzano did really well today, really well but it would’ve been nice to have Fraser McReight as well - there’s guys who will get better with opportunity.
“I am a realist and I know that you don’t suddenly match up, front up and better those guys but you’ve got to better yourself for next week.”
Schmidt will name his side for the clash on Thursday.