Paul Cully is a rugby columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.
The Springboks should have had a man in the sin bin at a crucial stage of the Test match in Cape Town.
On top of their own selections, South Africa’s decision to drop Eben Etzebeth back to the bench could also help the tourists.
The Wallabies have scored some encouraging wins recently but coming from behind to beat the world No.1 Springboks at altitude … that was different gravy.
The first Test against the Springboks will be won or lost by how the Wallabies handle the high ball.
France may be heading to Australia with a star-filled team if and when the Nations Cup gets off the ground next year.
Buoyed by the strong finish to the series against the British and Irish Lions, could the Wallabies win a Test against the Springboks?
The Wallabies pushed the envelope with their aggressive style of play and the Lions folded faster than Superman on washing day.
Results in rugby are heavily affected by the availability of three or four key players. The Lions have had access to those key men, the Wallabies have not.
Anyone who has watched rugby knows that the Wallabies should have been awarded a penalty when Jac Morgan hit Carlo Tizzano.
The First Nations and Pasifika team and the Waratahs were able to give the Lions a scare, now it’s time for the Wallabies to do the same.