The anthems are done, now onto the footy
An incredible rendition of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and Advance Australia Fair more than matched it in a packed Suncorp.
This is the biggest crowd at this stadium in over a decade and we are looking forward to a brilliant encounter. Strap yourselves in.
Andrew Kellaway warms upCredit: Getty Images
South African sell-out in Suncorp
The amount of green in Suncorp already is incredible. Springbok fans travel always en masse as we saw in the World Cup in France and they have shown up massively in Brisbane.
The South African travel woes in Australia have been well-documented in the lead-up to the game and this will do their morale no harm.
The braais were sizzling outside the stadium and the atmosphere is now building nicely ahead of kick-off.
The South African bomb squad
It wouldn’t be the Springboks without the 6-2 bench split.
A slight tweak as mentioned with breakaway Salmaan Moerat coming in on the bench due to the injury of RG Snyman and Ben Jason-Dixon getting a start in the number 7 jersey.
The influence of Wallabies prop James Slipper off the bench will be huge given the pressure his side are likely to be under when the Boks empty their bench.
Rassie has rolled this dice many times before and it is likely to cause havoc in Brisbane.
Springboks warm up in BrisbaneCredit: Getty Images
How are you seeing today?
What about the Boks?
Two major changes for the Boks, with superstar in waiting Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu looking to make the five-eighth position his own for his country.
No.8 Elrigh Louw will also want to make a strong impression, being preferred over World Cup winner Kwagga Smith.
Apart from the two players mentioned above making their first Test starts, it is a familiar Springbok side, with quality in the backline and the forwards.
There is a big late change in the Springboks, RG Snyman has been ruled out with an injury, moving Pieter-Steph Du Toit into the second row.
Ben Jason-Dixon starts at No 7, and Salmaan Moerat comes onto the bench for the Boks, Moerat captained his country in their last Test against Portugal.
Payto from Suncorp
How the Wallabies are lining up
A reminder of how the team is lining up for the Wallabies in Brisbane.
Schmidt has rolled the dice and started the Force’s Carlos Tizzano in the number seven jumper due to the injury of standout performer Fraser McReight.
It will be a proud day to debut for Tizzano who is a born and bred WA product, but this is as big a challenge as it gets fronting up directly with Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph Du Toit.
At loosehead prop Isaac Kailea impressed against Wales and Georgia, but like Tizzano will have a huge level to jump up against the Springbok front row.
Noah Lolesio has been entrusted with the number 10 jersey after Ben Donaldson failed to impress against Georgia and will partnering Jake Gordon who enjoyed a strong July series.
Fortress Suncorp
The odds are stacked against the Wallabies, but they have a secret weapon, Suncorp Stadium.
The Springboks have a horrific record at the Brisbane venue, having lost 11 out of their 12 Tests there since 1996.
Iain Payten broke down the data to try to understand why the Springboks are not great travellers to Australia here
I spoke to South Africa’s 1995 World Cup drop goal hero Joel Stransky about the travel conundrum here
Stransky was also extremely interesting on the latest ace in the Springbok pack, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who starts at 10 and can and does turn games by himself.
The Wallabies prepare to face South Africa in BrisbaneCredit: Getty Images
Welcome to the Rugby Championship at Suncorp
We are back for the Rugby Championship with the first game against the world champions the Springboks at Suncorp Stadium.
I am Jonathan Drennan and it’s great to have your company as ever.
Joe Schmidt guided the Wallabies to three wins on the trot against Wales twice and Georgia, but this is a huge setup in quality of opposition.
The Wallabies face a Springboks side that were stung in July by a late Irish drop goal that levelled the series 1-1 and they arrive in Australia with a serious score to settle.
The great Iain Payten is on the ground for us in Brisbane and will be bringing us the action directly from Suncorp.
The braais are sizzling outside the stadium and the Wallabies face their biggest Test of 2024 in front of a full house. Let’s see how they respond.
Suncorp Stadium ahead of the gameCredit: Getty Images
