Wallabies assistant Donnelly warns Springboks intensity will mirror 2027 World Cup pressure

Australia assistant coach Tom Donnelly has warned his squad that facing the world champion Springboks will serve as a direct rehearsal for Rugby World Cup 2027, as South Africa arrive in Australia for a two-Test series following a 3-1 series win over New Zealand.

“It’s probably the level and the intensity… something we’re probably going to experience at the World Cup next year,” Donnelly told reporters. “We’ve seen the level of intensity in the Test matches against the All Blacks in the last four games. Just that never-relenting pressure that’s going to come with playing the world champions.”

The Springboks, who remain top of the World Rugby rankings and have lost only two Tests since splitting a series with the Wallabies 13 months ago — both defeats coming against the All Blacks — concluded their North American tour with a record crowd of more than 68,000 in Baltimore before flying to Australia’s east coast ahead of a trip to Perth later this week.

The Wallabies’ preparations have been complicated by a significant injury blow. Charlie Cale, 25, sustained a shoulder injury in Perth and will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, returning to Canberra to begin his recovery. Western Force backrower Nick Champion de Crespigny has been called into the squad as his replacement.

“Pretty disappointed for Charlie. He’s had a very good Super season and then came in, has been really, really good in our environment,” Donnelly said. “Obviously his speed in the air, his aerial skills are a real strength of his. We’ll lose a little bit of that but at the same time, de Crespigny [is a] pretty similar player, very good aerial skills as well and pretty physical. Replacing a little bit like-for-like with the guy we’ve brought in, but disappointed for Charlie.”

Despite the setback, the Wallabies head into the series with momentum under head coach Les Kiss, having won three and drawn one of their matches so far in 2026 — though they have not played in over two weeks. The previous meeting between the two sides, roughly 13 months ago, ended level at one Test apiece: Australia completed a remarkable comeback victory at Emirates Airline Park before losing the following weekend in Cape Town.