How Wallabies’ Ellis Park miracle could pave way for dream 2027 World Cup
The Wallabies’ famous victory over South Africa at Ellis Park on Sunday did not just end a 62-year drought, it could also help deliver the perfect home World Cup for Australia in two years.
The Wallabies’ 38-22 win at Johannesburg earned them the maximum three ranking points, keeping them safely in sixth place, and ahead of Argentina, which could prove crucial leading up to the World Cup draw in December.
In theory, the Wallabies will get a safer passage through the World Cup if they are sixth or higher in the world rankings, which will ensure they are seeded and at the top of their four-team pool when the draw takes place in December.
If the Wallabies go on to finish first in their pool at the World Cup, they will likely avoid some of the game’s most dangerous teams in the 16-team knockout stage, giving them a safer passage through the tournament.
The fact the Wallabies’ victory over South Africa took place away from home and was by more than 15 points netted them the most possible ranking points, giving Australia a valuable cushion in sixth place before a challenging series of matches.
The Wallabies remain sixth in the world rankings, with 85.08 points, ahead of Argentina on 81.60 and Scotland on 81.57.
There was previously a mere 0.3 of a ranking point between Australia and Argentina before the Ellis Park victory.
Argentina lost to New Zealand by 17 points in Cordoba on Saturday, costing the Pumas 0.45 ranking points and extending Australia’s lead even further.
If the Wallabies had not beaten South Africa, they would have likely needed to beat Argentina twice at home, at Townsville and Sydney next month, to retain sixth place.
Speaking to media in Cape Town befpre the team’s first training session on Monday, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii said there was no fear of a Springboks side that has faced heavy criticism from fans and media at home.
“No fear, I reckon, in my opinion, no fear,” Suaalii said. “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 just got to prepare for 90 [minutes].”
Suaalii scored his first international try at Ellis Park and said that the ability to play the best in the world overseas for the Wallabies had fulfilled a childhood dream.
“I think as a young kid growing up that was something I really wanted to do, was travel the world and play in different countries and go against the best,” Suaalii said.
“And then playing at Ellis Park, my family in the crowd, my partner’s family in the crowd, nothing beats it, and then to get the win was a very special moment for this team, my family, myself ...
The Wallabies celebrate a remarkable victory at Ellis Park.Credit: AP
“[My] biggest growth is the travel away from family, creating friendships with your teammates ... 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.”
The Wallabies will be without winger Dylan Pietsch and prop James Slipper for the second Test in Cape Town.
Pietsch needs surgery on a broken jaw, while Slipper failed an HIA at Ellis Park. In positive news, Len Ikitau is in contention to play in Cape Town after recovering from a laceration to his leg in Johannesburg.
The move to sea level will provide a stiff challenge for the Wallabies. South Africa have played the Wallabies 12 times in Cape Town, losing just three.
The Wallabies have never beaten South Africa in Cape Town in the professional era. Their last win came in 1992 after the Springboks returned to Test rugby following the country’s apartheid regime.
The Springboks will take on the Wallabies at Cape Town Stadium at the foot of Table Mountain for the first time this Saturday, after playing all of their previous Tests in the city at the old Newlands stadium.
South Africa have played five Tests at the former 2010 soccer World Cup venue, losing once to the British and Irish Lions in the first Test of the 2021 series, before beating the touring side in the next two Tests to seal the series. South Africa’s last game at the stadium was a win against New Zealand in September in The Rugby Championship.
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