Springboks vs Wallabies: Wallabies Confident Ahead of Ellis Park Clash

The Wallabies are heading into their Rugby Championship opener against South Africa with belief. This is despite Ellis Park’s daunting history and their own lack of experience at the venue.

Few members of the current Australian squad have played at the Johannesburg fortress, where the Wallabies have not tasted victory since 1963. Their last visit was in July 2019, ending in a 35–17 defeat to the Springboks. Still, the players are buoyed by the progress shown in their recent series against the British & Irish Lions, particularly in the closing Test. They are eager to build on that momentum.

Learning to Conquer Ellis Park

Hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 29, who has 20 Test caps but has never played in South Africa, fronted the media alongside uncapped scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan. This occurred during the team’s first press conference of the week. Neither had sought advice from teammates with prior Ellis Park experience.

“For us, it’s about knowing our roles and doing our job for the team,” Paenga-Amosa explained. He acknowledged the altitude factor at Ellis Park, describing it as “a bit of a part” in how the game unfolds. However, he said the squad’s early arrival would help them acclimatise. “The boys are excited to be here,” he added.

Respect Without Intimidation

Since arriving over the weekend, the Wallabies have had several training runs and are confident in their game plan. Paenga-Amosa stressed the importance of focusing on execution rather than overthinking the conditions.

The Australian hooker made it clear that while the Springboks’ achievements are respected, they won’t be viewed as unbeatable. “We respect what they’ve done, winning World Cups, but for us it’s about playing them here and testing ourselves,” he said. “You can look at all their past achievements, but at the end of the day, it’s about what happens at Ellis Park.”

Australia will take on the reigning world champions on Saturday. This marks the first of two back-to-back Rugby Championship encounters. The team is determined to rewrite their long-standing Ellis Park record.

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