White: Why Boks must beat Wallabies, All Blacks in 2018

Cape Town - With the 2019 Rugby World Cup in mind, former national coach Jake White says it’s imperative for the Springboks to beat the Wallabies and All Blacks this year.

White, who coached the Boks to World Cup glory in France in 2007, was speaking ahead of South Africa’s clash with Australia in Brisbane this weekend. They Boks face the All Blacks in Wellington the week afterwards (September 15).

In an interview with the Rugby World website, White said the Boks could find the going tough in Japan next year if they fail to beat the Wallabies and All Blacks in 2018.

“I’m just going to use South Africa (as an example). If they don’t start beating New Zealand and Australia now, it’s highly unlikely that they will be able to psychologically get ready for the World Cup,” White said.

White used Clive Woodward’s England, the 2003 World Cup champions, as an example.

“Clive knew that when they (England) beat New Zealand in New Zealand, and then beat Australia in Australia, just before the 2003 World Cup, they were actually ready to win a World Cup. And so he had to put them in that pressure situation for them to win it.”

England won the 2003 edition when they beat the Wallabies 20-17 after extra time in the final in Sydney.

The Springboks will play alongside the All Blacks in Pool B at next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.

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Saturday’s Test is scheduled for 12:00.

Teams:

Australia

15 Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Will Genia, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lukhan Tui, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Scott Sio

Substitutes: 16 Folau Faingaa, 17 Tom Robertson, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Izack Rodda, 20 Ned Hanigan, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Bernard Foley, 23 Jack Maddocks

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Cheslin Kolbe