Australia vs. South Africa: Date, Time, Live Stream and 2014 TRC Preview
A must-win match for Australia sees Ewen McKenzie's side play host to current Rugby Championship table leaders South Africa on Saturday, who come to Perth in good form following back-to-back wins over Argentina.
Results against Argentina are annually viewed as morale boosters for the Southern Hemisphere's "big three," and the question now sits as to whether the Wallabies can get their first win of the tournament.
A 12-12 draw against the All Blacks in Round 1 remains Australia's only result of the 2014 competition, and they'll need to capitalise upon home advantage this Saturday if they're to maintain any hope of a revival.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Date: Saturday, Sept. 6
Time: 11:05 a.m. BST/6:05 a.m. ET
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK, subscription required), SuperSport stream (RSA, subscription required)
TV Info: Sky Sports 3 (UK), SuperSport 1 (RSA)
Heyneke Meyer Enacts Drastic Change
Although winning both their games against the Pumas was a fine way for South Africa to begin the Rugby Championship, Heyneke Meyer clearly isn't content with how those wins came about, and he has opted for widespread changes.
The Springboks coach has made six changes to the line-up that just about trumped Argentina 33-31 in Salta, with Victor Matfield, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira, Marcell Coetzee, Morne Steyn and Jan Serfontein all coming in.
Of those deemed unfit for starting duties, Bismarck du Plessis and Handre Pollard strike as the most contentious decisions, but Meyer is confident in his choices, per Sky Sports:
"We were always planning in moving our personnel around during the competition. The only new player in the team is Warren [Whiteley], whom I'm very happy for and excited to see what he can do. He covers all three positions in the loose trio and can make an impact later in the game.
Saturday's Test against Australia will take a massive effort from every member of our squad. We're not looking at their recent result against New Zealand and we know they will be a tough opponent.
"
Having not established the dominance he would have expected of his men in the first two fixtures, it's understandable that the Springboks tactician is eager to enforce the standards he's seeking in time for Australia.
However, swapping so many personnel could have an adverse effect, with Meyer evidently willing to take risks in order to advance his squad.
Mixed Bag For Waratahs Contingent
The calls for Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps to start as Australia's half-back pairing have been heeded, and McKenzie will try the pair at fly-half and scrum-half, respectively, on Saturday.
Michael Cheika won the Waratahs a maiden Super Rugby title this year thanks largely to the success of that combination, but it's not all good news for those who represent the reigning champions.
Instead of moving into the centre as some foretold, Kurtley Beale has been dropped from the starting XV entirely, while Adam Ashley-Cooper exchanges his No. 13 jersey for a place on the wing.
The switches have been partly influenced by injuries and others general omissions, but it's something of a surprise to see Beale excluded altogether, OptaJason noted what a creative force the player has been this season:
There's also no place in the matchday squad for Will Skelton as James Horwill takes his place on the bench.
The changes show that even strong club form only pays so much significance in regards to the national team, with McKenzie doing what he feels is best for the Wallabies' fortunes first and foremost.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
