The former Springbok captain feels Australia had plenty of opportunity to study both South Africa and New Zealand during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series and will take plenty from that experience into their Test against the world champions.

Vermeulen also dismissed suggestions that Rassie Erasmus’s decision to make 13 changes to the starting XV was disrespectful towards the Wallabies.

Duane Vermeulen - Morgan Piek

“No one plays this game to lose, so anyone who talks about losing is making a strange statement,” said the former Springbok 8th-man.

“The big thing is that Australia had a good opportunity with RGR to prepare for the Boks, and after this match, they play the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand, so they’ve had a nice chance to take a good look at both teams and work out how they want to play against us, and also the Kiwis.

“They’ll definitely go into this game with a proper plan. From our side, we’ve just come off the Greatest Rivalry series and, yes, we are making a few changes, but the guys understand their roles, so everyone knows exactly what to do and when.

“At the beginning of the year, Rassie said everyone would get an opportunity to play, and this is a testament to him staying true to his word, so hopefully the guys take the opportunity and show us what they’ve got.”

Vermeulen also rejected the notion that the Springboks could “fall flat” after their intense Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry campaign against the All Blacks.

“That may be your perspective, but it’s not as if we go into a Wallabies Test and say, ‘Let’s just throw the ball around and have fun because it’s not the All Blacks’.

André Esterhuizen will captain the Springboks for the first time - Morgan Piek

“They are a Tier One nation, a team on the rise, and they are playing really well, so we’ve been preparing hard.

“The time since the Baltimore Test was not a break. It was a case of giving the guys time to run through their plays and understand their roles. They will be up for it, and we are looking forward to it as well.”

The double Rugby World Cup winner also highlighted Australia’s forward pack as a major threat and expects a physical contest in Perth.

“The big thing about the Australian side is that they are really quick at the breakdown,” said Vermeulen.

“They have some good poachers in their squad, and their scrum poses a different threat to that of New Zealand. We haven’t faced their lineout and maul this year, and they have been doing really well.

“It’s a different set-up under Les Kiss, and we’ll have a game on our hands come Sunday. They will be well prepared, and we will not underestimate them.”

Vermeulen, who was one of the standout Springbok No 8s during his playing career, also had plenty of praise for Jasper Wiese, who is set to earn his 50th Test cap from the replacements bench this weekend.

“It’s amazing how time has flown by,” said Vermeulen.

“Jasper got there a lot faster than I did, and he’s a fantastic player and real stalwart in the team. He’s also become one of the core leaders in the group over the last couple of years.

“He is the go-to guy if you want to go forward, and he’s been playing really well. It’s a fantastic achievement and there is a lot more to come from him. I enjoyed the time I played alongside him, and coaching him is just as much fun.”

Sunday’s Test in Perth will kick off at 11:45.

Wallabies - TBA

Springbok - 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 André Esterhuizen (captain), 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Marco van Staden, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Replacements - 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nché, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Quan Horn

Morgan Piek OFM Sport