Genia: 'Toxic' check at Loftus

Cape Town – The truth or otherwise of long-time Wallabies and Reds halfback partner Quade Cooper’s claims of a “toxic environment” in the Australian camp will be “there for all to see” against the Springboks at Loftus on Saturday, says absent captain Will Genia.

The scrumhalf, currently recovering back home after rupturing a knee ligament earlier in the Castle Rugby Championship, was speaking in the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday in the wake of the ever-controversial Cooper’s charges of unrest in the touring camp.

The outspoken No 10 had also lashed out at coach Robbie Deans’s “boring” game-plan.

Genia, however, is taking a more diplomatic, seemingly “reserve judgement” view ahead of the Highveld crunch (17:00 kickoff).

“If you go over there (to South Africa) and you play against the Springboks in Pretoria and you’re not all on the same page, you’re not all buying into it ... they’ll get smashed, to be honest.

“The boys do understand the privilege that they have in representing their country. We all do ... they don’t take that for granted.

“They seem very focussed, they seem like they’re really enjoying their time over there.”

The Wallabies have never won at Loftus, where previous results between the two nations are as follows:

1963: South Africa 14 Australia 3

1997: South Africa 61 Australia 22

2001: South Africa 20 Australia 15

2005: South Africa 22 Australia 16

2010: South Africa 44 Australia 31