Bookies back Wallabies to edge Boks

Cape Town - Australia will edge South Africa in their Rugby Championship encounter in Perth on Saturday, local bookmakers believe.

The Springboks started the competition with two wins over Argentina, while the Wallabies suffered two defeats against the All Blacks.

However, Michael Cheika’s men came close to beating New Zealand in Dunedin, when a last-gasp try from Beauden Barrett saw the All Blacks sneak a 35-29 win.

That performance was enough to convince the bookmakers to make the Wallabies slight favourites for this Saturday’s Test.

According to Sportingbet.co.za, the Wallabies will eke out a victory by less than two points.

The home side can be backed at 3/4 odds, with South Africa given 21/20 odds.

In 83 previous Tests between the nations, the Boks have won 46 times compared to Australia’s 36, with one game drawn.

South Africa’s record in Australia is however less impressive.

In 37 away Tests, the Boks have beaten the Wallabies 12 times compared to 24 losses, including one draw.

In Perth, the South Africans have won three times, lost four, with one drawn match in 2001.

Saturday’s Test is scheduled for 12:05 (SA time).

Teams:

Australia

15 Israel Folau, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Reece Hodge, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Sean McMahon, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio

Substitutes: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Samu Kerevi, 23 Curtis Rona

South Africa

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Beast Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Damian de Allende