Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Darren Walton

'No fear': Suaalii, Wallabies ready for Boks' backlash

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii says the Wallabies hold no fear of taking on the wounded Springboks. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is adopting a "no fear" approach as the Wallabies strive to back up their epic win at altitude with another decades-long drought-breaking victory over the Springboks.

The Wallabies must quickly come down from the high of toppling the back-to-back Rugby World Cup holders 38-22 in Johannesburg to compete with the smarting Boks at sea level in Cape Town on Saturday.

Australia haven't beaten South Africa in Cape Town since 1992.

But after shocking the Springboks for the first time at Ellis Park in 62 years, Suaalii says there's no reason the Wallabies can't deliver again in the Rugby Championship return bout.

"No fear, I reckon, in my opinion. No fear," Suaalii said before training on Monday.

"We're just focused on ourselves. That's all we can do.

"We know they're going to bring their best for 80 minutes, so we've just got to prepare for 90.

"They'll come out firing. We know that. After a loss, you tend to lick your wounds."

The Springboks looked set to run up a cricket score after piling on three tries in the first 17 minutes in Jo'burg.

Suaalii is bracing for a similarly ferocious start from the Springboks this weekend.

"The first (quarter) was quite frantic," he said.

"The power shown, the skill. I'm really proud of the way we handled that situation. That first 18 minutes was a whirlwind.

"But, after that, we stuck to what we could do, what we could focus on and, honestly, I was just real proud of the way we fought back into the game."

After setting up a memorable try in Australia's third-Test win over the British and Irish Lions in Sydney earlier this month, superstar Suaalii bagged his maiden international five-pointer in last Saturday's incredible comeback win from 22-0 down.

"As a young kid growing up that was something I really wanted to do - travel the world and play in different countries and go against the best," said the code-crossing centre.

"And then playing at Ellis Park, my family in the crowd, my partner's family in the crowd, nothing beats it.

"Then to get the win was a very special moment for this team, my family, myself ... (my) biggest growth is the travel away from family, creating friendships with your teammates.

Suaalli
Suaalii is relishing the opportunity of playing abroad and testing himself against the world's best. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

"You're in a different environment, you live with the boys here, and they become your family away from your family.

"So I'm really enjoying just building different relationships and experiencing different things in different countries with your best mates."

Finishing scrumhalf-turned-utility saviour Tate McDermott says Australia's stunning triumph over the Springboks will mean little if the Wallabies don't follow up with another big performance.

"Obviously it was a really proud moment. It had been 60-odd years since we'd got a result at Ellis Park, so it was a huge occasion," said McDermott, who again held his own on the wing after replacing the injured Dylan Pietsch in Jo'burg before taking over from starting No.9 Nic White to help ice the game.

"We've been talking a lot about how we're trending in the right direction and that was another step.

"But it doesn't mean much if we don't back it up this weekend."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.