Springboks to do lineout homework

Tue, Sep 6, 2016, 7:21 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Club teammates at Toulon but there will be no coffee catch-up for Drew Mitchell and Bryan Habana ahead of the Springboks Test.

The Wallabies lineout isn’t as bad as the All Blacks made it look, Springboks assistant Matt Proudfoot says.

Australia’s set piece was dominated by New Zealand, giving them the worst success rate across the Rugby Championship, but Proudfoot said South Africa didn’t see it as a Wallabies weakness.

The All Blacks dominated the Wallabies in the lineout. Photo: ARU Media/Stu Walmsley“I don't see a problem in the Australian lineout,” he said.

“I think they've got incredible jumpers, Moore's one of the best throwers in World Rugby so I don't think there's an issue, I think it's just they need to find their rhythm and they're a good side.”

“The All Blacks have backed themselves in that department and it paid off for them.

“The [Australian] jumper takes a different option and it works for them and there is no problem.”

The Australian lineout and the effect of the selection Michael Hooper and David Pocock ion the starting side been in the spotlight for the past season, with the pairing taking away a lineout option.

The Springboks have a menacing second row. Photo: Getty ImagesSpringboks lock Lood de Jager echoed his coach’s defence of their opponents, but said he hoped they had done the homework as well as their New Zealand counterparts did.

“That's [Hooper-Pocock selection] why they go with a lot of five-man lineouts, especially if Skelton is also on the field.

“They've got good jumpers in [Scott] Fardy, [Adam] Coleman, [Dean] Mumm - there's good options,” he said.

“I concur with coach Matt, they played the All Blacks the last two Tests and the All Blacks are a very good man-watching side in lineouts.

“If you have an off day, they can punish you for it. You have to be at your very best against the All Blacks at lineout time.

“In the series against England, Australia won lineout ball pretty easily.

“It's not a big concern for them but we've done our homework as well and hopefully we can put them under pressure at lineout time.”

Adam Coleman had his first run-on start in Wellington. Photo: Getty ImagesRookie second rower Adam Coleman is one who could again be in the mix for the Test, as much for his abrasiveness as anything else.

Coleman led the way with aggression in the second Bledisloe Test, in a Wallabies side that the All Blacks this week described as ‘weak’ for using that tactic.

De Jager said he was expecting more of the same from the Wallabies on Saturday night.

“There's always a bit of that in a game between South Africa and Australia, it's always a big game for us and a personal thing,” he said.

“I think there will be a bit of off-the-ball stuff from them but we definitely won't stand back in that department, we'll stand up.”

The Wallabies host South Africa at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, kicking off at 8:05pm AEST, LIVE on FOXSPORTS. Buy tickets here

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