Test Rugby LIVE: Springboks power sets up an early lead

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Wallabies’ clash with South Africa in Perth.

My name is Iain Payten and I will be with you on the blog, and we have the Belfast battler Jonathan Drennan on the ground at Optus Stadium. All our game coverage and Dr Dre’s match report will be right here tonight, so don’t stray too far.

In the event you have some adrenaline left after a massive weekend of sport so far, we have you covered.

The Springboks are favourites for tonight, and fair enough given they’re the world no.1 side and have won the last two Rugby World Cups. They just beat the world no.2 side, New Zealand, by 3-1 in a four-Test series.

But the Wallabies aren’t without a chance. The Boks named a hugely changed side from the one that mostly took on the Kiwis - coach Rassie Erasmus only named two regular starters in the run-on XV. (Their bench is stacked, however)

And the Wallabies have the belief that still lingers from last year, when they were even bigger outsiders but beat the Boks in Johannesburg and then almost beat them a week later in Cape Town.

The Wallabies have had a decent run of success in Perth against the Boks, too.

But the home ground advantage is probably neutralised by the fact Perth can be mistaken for the most easterly South African city, such are the numbers of expats who now called WA home.

What do you think? Who will get the chocolates tonight?

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In case you missed it … here is the news from the Wallaroos’ big win over Scotland in Edinburgh, from our friends at AAP, who were on the ground.

The Wallaroos have delivered the most accomplished display of their European campaign, roaring back from a halftime deficit to blow away Scotland 30-10 and end a six-match losing streak.

After two tough defeats to world champions England and fellow powerhouse outfit France in successive weekends, the Wallaroos marked Michaela Leonard’s historic 50th Test with a second-half display of power and precision in Edinburgh on Saturday. (Sunday AEST).

On Saturday, I walked around Optus Stadium and it was filled with heartbroken Fremantle Dockers fans after a Grand Final defeat in Wharfie Time.

A day later, the same stadium is filled en masse by fans in Springbok green, but there are hopes for a happier day of local sports fan. There are quite a lot of late walk ups, partially helped by the fact that the Dockers aren’t doing a celebration party.

We are looking at a crowd of over 50,000 and with the sun setting in Perth it’s the perfect time for rugby. This is a city with a sizeable South African population and I have living on a diet of biltong for most of the week, but the Wallabies will be desperate to keep up their unbeaten record under Les Kiss.

Some big calls from Les, namely having no formal cover for five-eighth and Ben Donaldson. Excited for this one and looking forward to it.”

Ok, here are the teams and details for tonight.

Kickoff is at 5.45pm local time, which is 7.45pm AEST. The game is on live on Channel Nine.

As mentioned, the Boks have made massive changes to their starting side but South Africa have the best depth in international rugby, so that doesn’t mean they’ll be noticeably weakened.

The Wallabies have made a couple of interesting changes, some forced and some unforced.

Les Kiss has pulled the trigger on shifting Les Kiss to the wing, which will be a fascinating watch. His aerial athleticism should be a big weapon for the Wallabies, in attack and defence.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Wallabies’ clash with South Africa in Perth.

My name is Iain Payten and I will be with you on the blog, and we have the Belfast battler Jonathan Drennan on the ground at Optus Stadium. All our game coverage and Dr Dre’s match report will be right here tonight, so don’t stray too far.

In the event you have some adrenaline left after a massive weekend of sport so far, we have you covered.

The Springboks are favourites for tonight, and fair enough given they’re the world no.1 side and have won the last two Rugby World Cups. They just beat the world no.2 side, New Zealand, by 3-1 in a four-Test series.