Rugby
Altitude no excuse, says Wallabies prop Paenga-Amosa─── MORGAN PIEK 13:31 Tue, 12 Aug 2025
The Wallabies are keeping their focus firmly on the game when they take on the Springboks in Johannesburg on Saturday in the opening round of the 2025 Rugby Championship.
The altitude in Johannesburg is always a challenge for visiting teams, and the Wallabies haven’t beaten the Springboks at Ellis Park since 1963. This will be the 11th Test between the two sides at the famous venue, with the four-time world champions winning nine of the previous encounters.
The Wallabies’ only victory there came on 24 August 1963, when they edged South Africa 11-9.
Eben Etzebeth leading the Springboks onto the field against the Wallabies. Photo: The Rugby Championship
Saturday’s clash will also be the first meeting between the teams at Ellis Park in more than six years. In their last encounter on the ground, the Boks claimed a convincing 35-17 win. The Wallabies’ most recent victory over South Africa was in August 2022, when they won 25-17 in Adelaide.
Since then, the Boks have strung together four wins on the trot.
Australia head into the fixture quietly confident after their recent performances against the British & Irish Lions. They were unlucky to lose the second Test 29-26 in Melbourne but bounced back to win the third 22-12 in Sydney.
Western Force prop Brandon Paenga-Amosa admitted that playing on the Highveld presents its own challenges, but said the Wallabies are focusing on what they can control.
“Obviously, we know the biggest thing about Ellis Park is the altitude, and I think it will definitely influence how the game is played,” said the New Zealand-born front-rower.
“It’s a good thing that we’re here now, so we can start acclimatising.
“The boys are excited, we’ve already had a couple of training runs, and being familiar with our plays is massive for us. I think if we get our details right, it’ll go a long way towards producing a good performance.
The Springboks beat the Wallabies 35-17 at Ellis Park in 2019. Photo: X
“We’re trying not to dwell too much on the altitude, because at the end of the day, if we nail our plays and our individual roles, it’ll go a long way for us.”
Saturday’s Test at Ellis Park kicks off at 17:10.
Springboks - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché
Replacements - 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse
Wallabies - TBA
