Australia’s shock 38–22 victory over the Springboks at Ellis Park was the rugby equivalent of robbing a fortress at gunpoint. The Wallabies not only stormed Johannesburg, they knocked South Africa off their world No.1 perch and left the champions nursing both injuries and bruised pride.
But Andrew Kellaway has been around long enough to know that one sparkling win does not fix a decade of inconsistency. For the Wallabies, the real battle begins now.
I don't think you change the way you prepare. Mentally, we have to make sure that we're ready, because at this point, the biggest challenge in world rugby is coming up against the Springboks.
The Boks have been the benchmark globally for a while now. To beat them anywhere, home or away, is an amazing achievement. To beat them in South Africa is something we haven't done for a very long time.
But again, [if] you have one good win and you don't follow it up, you're pretty quickly chasing your tail. For us, it's about enjoying it, understanding how big that win was, but also understanding how big this week is. The journey is a long one, and it doesn’t stop.
History and hurdles
The Wallabies haven’t beaten the Boks in Cape Town since 1992. Back then mullets were fashionable, and jerseys were still baggy. They’ll also go into Saturday’s rematch at DHL Stadium without veteran prop James Slipper and winger Dylan Pietsch, both ruled out through injury.
Yet Kellaway insists belief has taken root in this squad, now stitched together by more caps and more hard lessons than in recent years.
Tom Hooper spoke last week about being in the “business of getting better.” Kellaway shares the sentiment.
We've got extremely experienced staff… that's been fantastic. Add into that guys like Whitey [Nic White] and Rabs [James O’Connor], who can add a lot of value there.
Then underneath that, within the team, there's this really strong core group of guys who've been around for a while. When you see consistency in the team, that translates into cohesion and combinations.
What we're seeing is the benefit of the last three or four years of planning. Guys now have 30 or 40 caps instead of 10 or 20. They've got the lived experience to fall back on, especially under pressure.
I'd also add, we've won two games back-to-back. That is a form of consistency. But what we're looking for is a much longer streak — consistent performances, not just wins. We're on the right track, but we're nowhere near where we want to be.
The Achilles heel
Australia’s biggest opponent, beyond the bruising Springboks, is their own track record. Wallaby rugby has long been a rollercoaster: euphoric highs, then stomach-dropping lows. For Kellaway, that Achilles heel must finally be strapped up.
One golden afternoon at Ellis Park is a spark. Sustained fire is something else entirely.
And Kellaway knows exactly what’s coming their way in Cape Town: a wounded Bok side with a bruised ego.
What we've seen from the Springboks over the last four to eight years is a pretty strong game plan that hasn't deviated too much. The box kick to compete, then the physicality around the kick chase.
We're always expecting that from the Springboks. The preparation is different every week for every opposition. What we do know this week is that the Boks are going to respond, so we need to prepare ourselves physically for that. They're the benchmark.
Brakes on the hype
That’s why Kellaway has been careful not to let Australia’s surprise win spiral into inflated expectations. While the rugby world has been quick to hail the Ellis Park upset as a turning point, inside the camp the brakes are firmly on.
It’s about enjoying it, but also understanding how big this week is. The journey doesn’t stop.
For the Wallabies, then, Cape Town will be a test of whether Ellis Park was a rare bolt of lightning or the first flicker of something more enduring.
The Boks, wounded and vengeful, will demand answers. The Wallabies’ response will tell us whether this team is still chasing its tail or finally finding its stride.
