Key Battles: Springboks vs Wallabies

We take a look at the key battles that would decide the opening Rugby Championship match of the round that sees the Wallabies take on the Springboks in Bloemfontein.

The Battle of the Locks 

Eben Etzebeth & Franco Mostert vs Izack Rodda & Adam Coleman

The Springboks lineout was picked apart in their 57-0 loss to the All Blacks and their locks along with Malcolm Marx to ensure this does not happen again.

Michael Cheika would have seen what happened to the Springboks in Albany and would have prepared youngster, and first time starter, Izack Rodda and Adam Coleman accordingly.

If the Wallabies can disrupt the Springbok lineout like the All Blacks did they may be on their way to first win in SA since 2011.

The New Boys out wide

Dillyn Leyds vs Marika Koroibete

After shocking defence display against the All Blacks, Allister Coetzee has dropped Raymond Rhule and replaced him with Stormers winger Dillyn Leyds.

Leyds will certainly bring something different on attack to Rhule, as he has spent alot of time at fullback and may come into the midfield as another first receiver. 

Marika Koroibete is set to make his well-deserved first start on the wing for the Wallabies having scored 6 tries for the Rebels this Super Rugby season. 

The Rebels winger will be hoping he can emulate Rieko Ioane's performance against South Africa, while Leyds will need to be defensively sound against a hard ball carrying winger.

The Battle of the centres

Jan Serfontein & Jesse Kriel vs Kurtley Beale & Tevita Kuridrani

Serfontein & Kriel seem to have formed a solid partnership in the midfield for the Springboks, while Beale & Kuridrani seem to be Michael Cheika's front runners having started all of the Wallabies Rugby Championship since round 2.

Serfontein provides the Boks with the necessary grunt as well as the ability to shift the ball out wide, while Kriel brings tonnes of speed and an additional boot in the backline.

The Wallabies have it the other way round with their inside centre, Beale, providing the pace and skill and their outside centre, Kuridrani, runs clever lines and provides the grunt in the backline.

Both sides have fantastic outside backs that could punish the opposition and it will be up to centre pairings on how much space they will get.