Rugby: Boks - We could be far better

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers. Photo / Getty Images

BRISBANE - Despite four straight losses, the Wallabies reckon there is nothing wrong with their game plan.

But they may still be tempted to rewrite it after the Springboks issued a chilling warning ahead of their Tri-Nations rugby clash at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

While the Wallabies are confident of closing the gap on the world champions following their tight 32-25 loss last weekend at Perth, Springboks coach Peter de Villiers claimed it was "frightening" how good his side could become.

"You never know when you are at the top [of your game]. Man-made norms and competitions can make you sit back and rest on your laurels," de Villiers said.

"I know this team can go much, much higher. Now we're at the point where we can trust each other, we can work on the small little things that can make them so much better."

After surprisingly surviving the axe wielded by Wallabies coach Robbie Deans for this weekend's game, winger Lachlan Turner did not have to be told that Australia needed to produce against the Boks.

However, Turner said history showed just how quickly a team could turn things around.

Indeed Australia are a prime example of how a team can morph into world beaters.

The Wallabies suffered a record 61-22 loss to the Springboks at Pretoria in 1997 - two years later they were holding aloft the World Cup trophy.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with our gameplan," Turner said in Brisbane yesterday. "The fact that we have been close the entire series [shows that]. We've got the gameplan to really wrestle games away from the opposition [but] as a unit we've got to concentrate for the whole 80 minutes - once we do that we will be hard to stop."

The Wallabies received surprise support from Springboks skipper John Smit.

"The Wallabies are copping a rough time in the media - unfairly so I'd say," he said. "You guys [in the media] treated us as a laughing stock. A year later we won the World Cup.

"Things can change in a very short period."

AUSTRALIA
James O'Connor
Lachie Turner
A. Ashley-Cooper
Berrick Barnes
Drew Mitchell
Matt Giteau
Will Genia
George Smith (c)
David Pocock
Rocky Elsom
Mark Chisholm
James Horwill
Ben Alexander
Tatafu Polota-Nau
Benn Robinson

SOUTH AFRICA
Ruan Pienaar
Odwa Ndungane
Jaque Fourie
Jean de Villiers
Bryan Habana
Morne Steyn
Fourie du Preez
Pierre Spies
Juan Smith
H. Brussouw
Victor Matfield
Bakkies Botha
John Smit (c)
B. du Plessis
Tendai Mtawarira

Australia: Stephen Moore, Pek Cowan, Dean Mumm, Wycliff Palu, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Peter Hynes.

South Africa: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Ricky Januarie, Adi Jacobs, Frans Steyn.

- AAP