Adelaide - South Africa captain Siya Kolisi says Australia have made their intentions clear with a 6-2 split between forwards and backs on their bench in the Rugby Championship clash between the sides in Adelaide on Saturday.
There is some irony in the Wallabies having moved to a forward-based game-plan among the replacements just as the Springboks, often criticised for being too focused on using their powerful pack, have moved away from it by adding an extra back to their bench.
"A lot of people had a lot to say about us doing it, but Australia have set their intentions in terms of what they want to do," Kolisi told reporters on Friday.
"It's going to be a tough set-piece battle. It (the 6-2 split) works, but we're trying something new this week."
Kolisi is eagerly anticipating the battle with the Wallabies loose trio, led by their dynamic number eight Rob Valetini, as he reunites with flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen in the Bok back row for just the second time since they lifted the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
"We know each other very well and it's all about the battles. We want to be involved in as many as possible. Hopefully we can influence the game this weekend."
But the Boks are also expected to run the ball more and prominent in that plan will be centre Lukhanyo Am, who has been in incredible form so far in 2022.
If he gets the time and space to work his magic, the Boks will be in business.
"He's been amazing for us for a very long time," Kolisi says. "It took a while for people to see that. He always wants to learn, talk to other players and hear opinions.
"The best thing about Lukhanyo is that he plays rugby the same way he did (early in his career) for Border. He has the same love for the game as when he was a kid.
"We need, as a team, to give him those opportunities on the field."
The Boks have not won in Australia since 2013, but Kolisi says they are confident of changing that statistic on Saturday.
"No matter the results in the past, we always back ourselves. We have never gone into a game and said, 'OK, we're going to lose this one'. Never. I still back us."
Reuters