A VIEW FROM DOWN UNDER: The Matt Dunning column, vol 1

Ex-Wallaby prop Matt Dunning previews the first test in Adelaide. He talks about the dark front row arts, how Beast Mtawarira gave him battle scars to remember and why he’s not buying Jacques Nienaber’s reason for benching Malcolm Marx.

It’s interesting that the 91st test between the Springboks and Wallabies will be played in Adelaide because it’s not a rugby city. It will be hosted at a cricket ground rather than a rugby stadium which will play some way into the Boks’ favour because the home crowd won’t be as parochial as they are in Sydney, Queensland and Melbourne for that matter.

For as strong as the Springboks have been over that period of time, it’s a crazy stat that they last won in Australia in 2013. History shows the result has really gone to the home team but, at the moment, South Africa have a tried-and-true side and are right near the top of world rugby. On a Wallaby front, we’ve probably got more depth than we’ve had in a long time but we have as many as 15 first-rankers out at the moment. The likes of captain Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi are missing in vital positions.

BENCH MARX A MISTAKE

I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid Jacques Nienaber is pouring because if Malcolm Marx isn’t the best hooker in the world then tell me who is. I don’t know any other rugby team that picks a World XV player on the bench. I like Ox Nche but there is also an argument to start Steven Kitshoff at loosehead. On the other side of the scrum, I love Frans Malherbe. He looks like an old-school prop and probably eats, sleeps and drinks like one too. If Malherbe’s not the best tighthead in world rugby, he’s right up there with Tadhg Furlong and Kyle Sinckler. I love the way he scrummages and he does it his way.

To rewind, when I moved to tighthead later in my career I often scrummaged against Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira. The Beast was extremely strong! I remember trying to stay on the back of his neck all game in 2008 when we beat the Boks in Durban. Post-match, I had shredded skin on the inside of my neck from staying on him. Looking back now, it was one of my harder days playing tighthead.

TUPOU A WORK IN PROGRESS

When it comes to the Wallaby front row, I’m a massive fan of Taniela Tupou who will start from the bench. He should be the best tighthead in world rugby and has every ability to be but at the moment he’s not. He’s gone back to his old habits by scrumming with his left shoulder behind his right, which sees him scrum on the angle. It’s neither powerful nor effective and draws penalties. I know he can do it the right way and hope he fixes that because I see our scrum being in a bit of trouble if he scrums that way.

James Slipper did a tremendous job in the England series and I’ve been really impressed with the way he has played this year at loosehead and tighthead. I agree with starting him at loosehead and Allan Ala’alatoa at tighthead. With Ala’alatoa, you know what you’re going to get at scrum time – he’s square with good technique. He is not as explosive or powerful as Topou but is a better technical scrummager at this point.

BOKS HAVE THREE TALL TIMBERS

The Wallaby line-out has worked pretty efficiently but it’s got to lift to the next level against Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager. They are a world-class second row and, with Pieter-Steph du Toit, the Springboks genuinely have three tall timbers who can jump. The Wallabies are going to have to work their backsides off to do well at set-piece time. I wouldn’t suggest we are going to dominate in those areas but I think we can gain parity. I don’t see the set-pieces winning or losing us the test and it could instead be our lack of overall cohesion and experience against a quality squad who knows how to win.

WALLABIES BACK YOUTH POLICY

At this level, it’s not just about being faster or stronger. Winning test matches is between the ears. For the Springboks, the fact that Faf de Klerk is back at scrumhalf is massive. Faf is fantastic and with him and Handre Pollard in the 9-10 axis and Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am in the midfield, the Boks are tremendous. Our midfield comprises great young guys but compared to your 12 and 13 we are talking about World XV players versus new test players. And at 10, that theme continues with Noah Lolesio, 22, selected ahead of 71-test capped Bernard Foley who misses out altogether.

WHY FISHER IS A GOOD CATCH

I wouldn’t suggest that Dave Rennie is a man under pressure. No one is arguing with his coaching ability and messaging. From what I understand, he’s got the players who rate him. Laurie Fisher has come in as interim assistant coach to offset the loss of Matt Taylor. What I love about Laurie is that he knows rugby and what makes people tick. I enjoyed playing for Laurie (for Australia A) and the narrative is that players like to play for him. Does it get you the win? Probably not but it does help with team performance. The bookies don’t often get it wrong and I’d suggest South Africa will start as favourites.

*** Dunning debuted for Australia against Namibia in 2003 at the Adelaide Oval and played the last of his 45 tests in 2009. He also scored the most famous drop goal of all time.