SYDNEY: The Wallabies left yesterday for South Africa aiming to regain momentum and end a 22-year losing run against the Springboks in Cape Town this weekend.
Team vice captain James Slipper said the tourists were hopeful of ending their drought at the Newlands ground but conceded New Zealand had all but won the Rugby Championship title.
The Wallabies and Springboks, who face off on Saturday, are both on 10 points, six points behind tournament leaders New Zealand with two Tests left in the southern hemisphere series.
Loose-head prop Slipper said the tour to South Africa and Argentina was a chance for the Wallabies to regain the momentum they lost after their 51-20 humiliation to the All Blacks in Auckland last month.
Australia have subsequently beaten South Africa 24-23 and Argentina 32-25 in home Tests.
“We’re pretty happy with the way we’re going but I think ever since that Auckland game we lost a bit of momentum,” Slipper told reporters.
“And (the Championship) probably is New Zealand’s to lose.
“In saying that they have to do this trip as well. It’s one of the tougher trips you can do as a rugby team.”
New Zealand will play the Pumas this weekend in La Plata before taking on the Springboks in Johannesburg on October 4.
But the Wallabies must first end the Springboks’ dominance at Newlands where the Australians have not won since 1992.
“I think we’ve been a bit frantic (in the past),” Slipper said.
“But I think with our game (and) the players that are in our team at the moment, we’re shutting down games.
“Obviously, we didn’t do too well on the Gold Coast (against Argentina) -- but I feel like we’re scoring enough points, we just need to step up our defence.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards was left lamenting a poor first 30 minutes as the Falcons suffered a 19th straight league defeat in a 35-10 loss at home to English Premiership champions Northampton on Sunday.
The Saints, bouncing back from their 20-16 loss to Wasps, ran in three tries in the opening half-hour as Will Hooley, Alex Waller and Ken Pisi all crossed Newcastle’s line, with Hooley also kicking 13 points.
Newcastle rallied after the break with Noah Cato scoring a try before Wales wing George North’s brilliant late touch-down secured a bonus-point win for the visitors. AGENCIES
