Rassi stressed that the match against Australia will be an important step for the Springboks ahead of the 2027 World Cup

The upcoming test match between the Springboks and the Wallabies in Perth provides the Springboks team with an opportunity to conduct practical training ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup playoffs.

Despite the immediate goal of winning away against the Wallabies, the coaching staff under Rassie Erasmus is already analyzing all logistical and game details in anticipation of defending the title next year in Australia.

The Springboks are scheduled to return to this venue in October 2027, where they will face Romania in the third group match of the World Cup, making this test match a strategic operational rehearsal.

The group match itself is expected to be predetermined, as the Boks are likely to easily defeat the Romanian team. However, it is the first playoff match in Perth that will command the full attention of the Springboks.

Since the Springboks are likely to finish first in Group B, they will face the best team that finished third in Groups D, E, or F in the Round of 16. Siya Kolisi's team is expected to meet one of the teams from Japan, Samoa, or Tonga in this match before a possible quarter-final clash against their long-time rivals, the All Blacks.

Playing in Perth next Saturday allows the Boks to adapt in advance to the specific environmental conditions and logistical features of the city. Furthermore, Western Australia has a large South African community, and the upcoming match will give the Boks insight into the loud support in 'Perthfontein' that they might expect in 2027.

When South Africa meets Romania next year, as well as whoever awaits them in the Round of 16, the opponents may differ, but the environment will remain the same. By conducting rehearsals at the stadium, hotels, and training facilities now, Erasmus ensures that his team eliminates unknown variables, striving to reach peak form by the start of the main World Cup stage.

In the World Cup campaign, where success is determined by minor advantages, this early reconnaissance in Perth could prove to be a subtle yet decisive edge.

The new Wallabies coach, Les Kiss, plans to combine experience and youth in the team lineup as they prepare for the clash with the Springboks next Sunday in Perth.

The Wallabies intend to utilize their young players at the vice-flyhalf position against the Springboks, who are expected to exert intense pressure from the world champions during the meeting in Perth next Sunday. New coach Les Kiss and his team will face the Boks at Optus Stadium after South Africa secured a 3-1 series victory over the All Blacks in the greatest rugby rivalry.

Kiss noted that while experience remains an important part of his squad, he supports young players in the central vice-flyhalf role. Considering the physical confrontation between South Africa and New Zealand over four matches, the Wallabies are preparing for battles in scrums and utilizing the visitors' rolling maul.

Since experienced Bernard Foley and James O'Connor have been excluded from the squad, Kiss will give young players a chance to demonstrate their abilities against the Boks. Previously, O'Connor was a key figure in the victory over South Africa at Ellis Park in the first match of last season's Rugby Championship. Nevertheless, Kiss stated that they know their veterans.

He told rugby.com.au: 'We know that experience means a great deal, without a doubt. We would like to see how our experienced players (Foley and O'Connor) play, and they will have many opportunities. You can bring them on at any time, and they will immediately enter the game. We know what to expect from them. We had some tense matches, but we are definitely moving up a level when we face the Springboks in two weeks. We are aware of this. We know that we must improve in certain areas, and we are working hard to ensure improvement. But they are on our turf, so we are ready for the fight.'

At present, the Wallabies' first coach is betting on youth rather than experience. This may serve as a signal of intent to the Boks before the upcoming Bledisloe Cup matches against the All Blacks. He has brought in 22-year-old Reds vice-flyhalf Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, and 27-year-old Ben Donaldson is expected to start at number 10 in the absence of injured Carter Gordon.

Kiss added: 'Getting the opportunity to let Harry McLaughlin-Phillips join us and see how we work, and Dono (Donaldson) already has about 20 Tests under his belt, so he is gaining experience. We have young Declan Meredith, who has been demonstrating excellent form for the Brumbies all year, and he performed excellently for us over the last four weeks, playing three Tests. We are trying to develop these young guys to understand how they can lead and drive the game forward.'

Rassie Erasmus gave a strong hint that the Springboks will change their tactics against the All Blacks by adopting a more positive and attacking mindset in the fourth and final match of the series, which will take place in Baltimore.

At the start of the series, the Springboks set out to suppress the creativity of the All Blacks through a physical style of play. However, the strategy based on the 'route-one' approach was effectively frozen and disastrously backfired in the first match at Ellis Park, where the All Blacks secured a convincing victory with a score of 33-16, scoring five tries.

In Cape Town, the Springboks demonstrated a more positive game, scoring three tries in the 33-26 match, and in Soweto last week, they advanced even further, scoring four tries in an exciting 29-24 game.

Now, Erasmus suggested that in Baltimore, the team will strive for victory through attacking play. He noted that he always believed the series would be decided in the third and fourth matches, and that the team would become stronger as it progressed through the tournament. He emphasized that the most important thing is to score more points than the opponent, regardless of how those points are scored.

Erasmus made it clear that against the All Blacks, simply trying to stop their attack is extremely dangerous. He stated: 'I think one of the biggest mistakes you can make against the All Blacks is just trying to defend.' He added that ultimately, it is necessary to surpass the opponent in terms of points, citing the example of Jonny de Beer at the 1999 World Cup against England, where one needed to score more points even if the opponent scored four tries, while realizing five drop goals.

He also mentioned that containing New Zealand is very difficult, referencing the experience of the franchises and France at the Nations Cup in July. Although the Springboks are traditionally strong in goal-line attacks, in the third match they also showed a greater willingness to move the ball into wider areas of the field.

Erasmus reported that assistant coach Tony Brown worked hard after the loss at Ellis Park on expanding the Springboks' attacking arsenal. He noted that the team aims to utilize various opportunities, not just scoring tries via the maul or scrum. He also highly praised the play of Damian (de Allende), Jesse (Kriel), and Ethan (Hooker), noting that the backline is improving.