All seven of Matt Giteau's Tri Nations tries have come against South Africa
24 July, 20:00
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
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Key facts
- South Africa's last victory over Australia in Brisbane was during the 1971 tour, when they won 14-6 in the second of a three match test series that the Springboks won 3-0. Since then, the Springboks have lost the last seven matches they have played in the city.
- The next player to score their first try in the Tri Nations will be the 150th player to score a try in the history of the competition.
- MATT GITEAU has scored seven tries in the Tri Nations, all against South Africa.
- BRYAN HABANA needs one more try to become the leading try scorer in South African test match history.
- There are only 13 points required in Saturday's match to
reach 2,500 points in matches between Australia and South Africa.
Tri Nations history
- Australia have played nine Tri Nations matches in Brisbane, with six wins, all against South Africa and three defeats, all against New Zealand.
- Australia have played South Africa five times at the Suncorp Stadium in the Tri Nations, winning all five with 163 points scored and 41 conceded. The last time the sides met here was in 2009, when the Wallabies won 21-6.
- The biggest winning margin in Tri Nations history came at the Suncorp Stadium on 15 July 2006, when Australia beat South Africa 49-0.
- Australia have won the Tri Nations twice, in 2000 and 2001, whilst South Africa have three tournament successes, in 1998, 2004 and 2009.
- Australia have won 14, drawn 1 and lost 16 against South Africa
in the Tri Nations, with 12 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats on home
territory.
Starting line ups
- Australia make three changes in personnel to the side that started against Ireland last month. Prop BENN ROBINSON, lock forward NATHAN SHARPE and scrum half WILL GENIA all come into the starting line up.
- South Africa have made four changes to the starting line up from the team that lost 31-17 to New Zealand last weekend, with BJ BOTHA coming in at tighthead prop, RYAN KANKOWSKI at flanker, RUAN PIENAAR at scrum half and GIO APLON on the wing in place of the suspended JEAN DE VILLIERS.
- Nine members of both starting line ups played in Australia's 21-6 win over South Africa in Brisbane last year. ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER and JAMES O'CONNOR both scored tries for the Wallabies in that match, with MATT GITEAU kicking the remaining points and MORNE STEYN replying with two penalties for the Springboks.
- The Australian starting line up has won 55% of test matches played compared to a 67% success rate by the South Africa starting XV.
- In the Tri Nations the win ratio for the two starting line ups is 30% for the Wallabies and 47% for the Springboks.
- In Tri Nations head to heads, the Australian starting line up has won 43% of matches between the two teams and the South Africa line up has won 58%.
- On home ground the Australian starting line up has won 52% of matches played in the Tri Nations, whilst the Springboks have won 24% of matches away from home.
Tri Nations debutants
- Australia hooker SAIA FAINGAA, prop SALESI MA'AFU and outside centre ROB HORNE will be making their Tri Nations debuts on Saturday. On the replacements bench, JAMES SLIPPER, ROB SIMMONS, MATT HODGSON and KURTLEY BEALE will all make their Tri Nations debut if they take the field. For ROB SIMMONS it would also be a test debut.
- Among the Springbok replacements there are also four players who would also be making their Tri Nations debuts if called upon at the weekend; PHILIP VAN DER MERWE, DEWALD POTGIETER, FRANCOIS HOUGAARD and JUAN DE JONGH.
The Age Factor
- South Africa's squad is an average of 28 months per man older than the Australian squad.
- The Australian squad is the third youngest of any squad in Tri Nations history at an average of 24 years 11 months. The youngest was the Australian squad that defeated South Africa in Brisbane last year.
- Five of the Springboks 22 man squad are aged over 30, with 33 year old lock forward VICTOR MATFIELD their oldest and most experienced Tri Nations player. This will be his 98th test appearance and his 39th in the Tri Nations.
- Wallabies second row forward NATHAN SHARPE is the only member of their squad over the age of 30. The 32 year old will be making his 83rd test appearance and his 34th in the Tri Nations.
The heavyweight division
- South Africa will have a 41 kg weight advantage in the scrum over their opponents, including a 24 kg advantage in the front row. The heaviest man on the pitch will be Australia tighthead prop SALESI MA'AFU at 126 kg (19st 12lb).
Size matters
- Springbok outside centre JAQUE FOURIE weighs in at 105 kg (16st 7lb) and is 17 kg heavier than his opposite number, ROB HORNE.
- The smallest man on the pitch will be South Africa's right wing GIO APLON at 175 cm tall (5ft 8ins) and 78 kg (12st 4lb) in weight. He will be playing opposite DREW MITCHELL on the Wallabies left wing, who is 7 cm taller and 17 kg heavier.
Catch me if you can
- MORNE STEYN scored all 31 points against New Zealand in their 31-19 victory in Durban in 2009, which is the highest individual points total by a player in Tri Nations history. STEYN kicked eight penalties in that match, which is also the highest by any South African player in all tests played.
Top of the 'Boks
- BRYAN HABANA needs just one more try to become the highest South African try scorer in test matches. He is currently level with JOOST VAN DER WESTHUIZEN on 38 tries.
- Next in the all time list is outside centre JAQUE FOURIE with 28 tries.
That losing feeling
- Australia number 8 RICHARD BROWN has yet to be on the winning
side in the Tri Nations, losing all five matches in which he has
played.
Away day blues
- South Africa's inside centre WYNAND OLIVIER has played seven matches away from home in the Tri Nations and has yet to be on the winning side.
Brace yourself Wallabies
- Springboks' winger BRYAN HABANA has scored six of his seven Tri Nations tries away from home and has scored a brace of tries against Australia on two occasions, both times in Perth. South Africa won both those matches, 22-19 in 2005 and 32-25 in 2009.
MattGit-icent seven
- MATT GITEAU has scored seven tries in the Tri Nations, all against South Africa. This makes him the leading Australian try scorer against the Springboks in the competition. Five of those tries came at home, including two at the Suncorp Stadium when playing at inside centre in the record 49-0 win in 2006.
The man in the middle
- GEORGE CLANCY of Ireland takes charge of his first Tri Nations match.
- It is also the first time Clancy has refereed a match involving Australia.
- He has officiated in one match involving South Africa, when the Springboks beat Italy 26-0 in June 2008.
- His most recent international saw New Zealand beat Wales 42-9 on 19 June.
Head to Head Facts and Figures
- This is the 72nd test match between Australia and South Africa. Australia have won 27, drawn one and lost 43 overall.
- Australia have won 18, drawn 1 and lost 14 at home against South Africa.
- South Africa's last victory over Australia in Brisbane was during the 1971 tour, when they won 14-6 in the second of a three match test series that the Springboks won 3-0.
- There are only 13 points required in Saturday's match to reach 2,500 points in matches between Australia and South Africa.
On this day (24 July) in Tri Nations history
- Australia lost 34-15 to New Zealand in Auckland in 1999.
- South Africa lost 23-21 to New Zealand in Christchurch in 2004.
Tri Nations Facts and figures
- This is the 96th Tri Nations match since the competition began in 1996.
- This is the 32nd test match between Australia and South Africa in the Tri Nations.
- The team leading at half time in the Tri Nations has gone on to win in 78.2% of matches played (68 out of 87, eight have been drawn at half time).
- The next player to score their first try in the Tri Nations will be the 150th in the history of the competition.
Australia facts and figures
All Tests:
- MATT GITEAU has scored exactly 600 points in his test career for Australia in 81 matches. He is third in the all time list of Australian points scorers behind leader MICHAEL LYNAGH with 911 points.
- GITEAU's next successful conversion will be his 90th in test matches.
- STIRLING MORTLOCK needs 11 more points to become the fourth Australian to reach 500 points in test matches.
- MORTLOCK's next successful penalty goal will be his 75th in test matches.
- DREW MITCHELL needs one more try to reach 20 tries and 100 points in what will be his 46th test appearance.
- DAVID POCOCK will be making his 20th test appearance.
Tri Nations:
- Will reach 1,300 points in Tri Nations competition if they score 23 points on Saturday.
- Australia have won four and lost eight in the Tri Nations under Head Coach ROBBIE DEANS.
- STIRLING MORTLOCK needs two more points to become the fifth player to reach 200 in the Tri Nations.
- MATT GITEAU may just beat him to the landmark as he requires seven more points to reach 200 in the Tri Nations.
- STIRLING MORTLOCK needs one more try to reach 10 in the Tri Nations and become the leading Australian try scorer in the competition. He is currently joint top on nine tries with LOTE TUQIRI.
- STIRLING MORTLOCK is the leading Australian points scorer against South Africa in Tri Nations history on 119 points.
South Africa facts and figures
All Tests:
- Need two more successful penalty kicks to reach 750.
- JOHN SMIT will be making his 99th test appearance, which will put him just three behind the most capped South African player, PERCY MONTGOMERY. VICTOR MATFIELD is just one test behind SMIT in third place on the all time list.
- SCHALK BURGER and JAQUE FOURIE will both be making their 60th test appearances.
- BJ BOTHA will be making his 25th test appearance.
- MORNE STEYN will become the fourth highest points scorer in South African history if he scores 11 points on Saturday, moving him above BRAAM VAN STRAATEN on 221 points. He still has a long way to go to catch all time leader PERCY MONTGOMERY on 893 points.
- BRYAN HABANA needs two more tries to reach 200 points overall and would be the sixth South African player to reach that landmark.
Tri Nations:
- Won six, drawn one and lost 26 of their 33 away matches.
- South Africa have won seven and lost seven in the Tri Nations under Head Coach PETER De VILLIERS. Nearly 45% of the points scored by the Springboks in this competition during his era as Head Coach have come through penalty goals. This compares with just 28% for Australia under ROBBIE DEANS.
- GURTHRO STEENKAMP will be making his 10th appearance in a Tri Nations match.
- MORNE STEYN will reach 50 points against Australia in the Tri Nations if he scores eight points on Saturday. He averages over 14 points per game in the competition.
- South Africa are the only team to have failed to score a point in a Tri Nations match. This has happened three times, including once against Australia in the record 49-0 defeat in 2006 at this venue.
- The only team to have a player sent off in the Tri Nations. ANDRE VENTER received his marching orders in the 55-35 defeat to New Zealand in 1997 and MARIUS JOUBERT saw red against Australia in 2002 when the Springboks won 33-31 in Johannesburg.
- Hold the record for the most points scored in a Tri Nations match, with 61 against Australia on 23 August 1997 in Pretoria.
- JAQUE FOURIE and BRYAN HABANA are joint leading try scorers for South Africa in the Tri Nations with seven apiece, along with BREYTON PAULSE.
