Rugby Championship Odds: Wallabies Tipped to Bounce Back Against Springboks

Australia's set pieces will be put under pressure as the Wallabies look to avoid a seventh straight Test loss when they take on South Africa in Brisbane, Australia, in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.

New Zealand exposed severe deficiencies in the Wallabies in its two Bledisloe Cup wins last month as the All Blacks consistently stole the ball from the throw in.

Australia has now won just 69 percent of the ball from their own throws after two rounds of the Rugby Championship, compared with Argentina (91.67 percent), South Africa (91.3 percent) and the All Blacks, who haven't lost a throw.

Despite their problems, Michael Cheika's Wallabies are still tipped as favorites to claim the win in Brisbane.

According to website AustralianGambling, the Australians are $1.60 for the win, while the visiting Springboks are $2.35.

Cheika named four uncapped players in his 33-man squad, with centre Kyle Godwin, prop Tom Robertson, back-rower Lopeti Timani and winger Sefa Naivalu joining returning Rio Games sevens star Henry Speight.

Also in the squad is France-based veteran Drew Mitchell, who defended Australia's ability to bounce back from its Bledisloe disappointment.

"It's important for us to shelve that to the side and show these young guys it's what's happening at training and within the walls of our meetings that are important," Mitchell told reporters.

Australia's defense has also been a concern in recent Tests, with the back line often struggling to reach its defensive positions in broken play.

The Springboks are also coming off a Test disappointment after suffering just their second-ever defeat to Argentina in their last match at Salta two weeks ago.

The venue of Saturday's test is also a tough one for South Africa, which has won just one of its last 10 tests against Australia in Brisbane.

A Wallabies victory by 1-12 points is the most favored margin play at $2.55, with the Springboks $3.40 to win by the same margin.

A blowout result is considered unlikely with the Wallabies $3.30 to win by 13 points or more, while a big win by the Springboks (over 12.5) is an $8.20 chance.

Springboks centre Juan de Jongh says the week-long break between rounds in the Rugby Championship has given his side the chance to figure out where they need to improve.

"Whatever happened in Argentina is behind us now," De Jongh, who was part of the bronze-medal-winning South African sevens team at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, told the media. But he said playing Australia in Australia was not an easy task.

"When you come to Australia, it is never an easy match."