PRETORIA - The Wallabies refuse to be lulled into a false sense of belief that the Springboks are ripe for the picking after the South Africans sank to an embarrassing 57-0 record defeat at the hands of the All Blacks a week ago.
Wallabies Adam Coleman and Reece Hodge remain wary of the backlash that will be coming from the Springboks ahead of their Rugby Championship match in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
“I feel like they are going to be a team that want to prove something. They are a very good side, one rainy day doesn’t make it winter for them. I know they are a quality side and they will bring it to the table in Bloemfontein,” said Coleman from their team’s hotel in Johannesburg.
While the Wallabies would want nothing more than to believe that the Springboks fortunes have now taken a turn for the worst, Hodge is aware of how close they were to defeat in their 23-all draw in Perth two weeks ago.
“They are obviously a very tough opponent for us and we were pushed all the way for a draw and it came down to the wire for them trying to win. One bad game doesn’t make a bad team. They’ve won five and lost one and that pretty much tells the story there. If you are getting criticized for that then it is pretty tough.”
The Wallabies will have more to be confident about going to Bloemfontein on the back of a 45-20 win against Argentina in Canberra and with second spot on the Rugby Championship log firmly in their grip.
“I think it is something positive we can take out of the campaign so far ... I think we have some good things to take out of that game and a few work ons as well like we have had in the past few weeks,” Hodge said.