Durban - AFP
Australia scrum-half Will Genia conceded Tuesday that the Wallabies cannot expect to dominate South Africa in their Tri-Nations Test here Saturday the way they did at home last month. The Wallabies outclassed the severely depleted Springboks 39-20, scoring five tries to two, in a Sydney romp that opened the annual southern hemisphere championship won a record 10 times by New Zealand. Only captain and hooker John Smit and flank Danie Rossouw from that team are expected to start the return match at Kings Park Saturday and Genia accepts the 'new' Springboks are going to pose a far greater challenge. "It is going to be a big challenge this weekend with the Springboks having a lot of their leading players back," he told reporters at the team base on the outskirts of the city. "These returning players are going to make it all the tougher for us and we cannot play the way we did against the All Blacks last weekend," said the scrum-half whose cheeky solo try helped Queensland Reds win the Super 15 title this season. Genia admitted that Australia -- widely seen as second favourites behind hosts New Zealand for the 2011 Rugby World Cup -- were woeful during a 30-14 drubbing from the All Blacks last weekend. "We were very poor against the All Blacks and the only way to erase that memory is to get on to the Kings Park field and put in a performance that all Australians will be proud of. "Our defence was pretty poor in New Zealand. We were a little bit passive the way we attacked them in defence and this allowed the All Blacks to get front-foot ball," admitted 25-cap Genia. "When you allow a team like the All Blacks to get front-foot ball they will kill you every time. We will work on that this week and ensure it is not a weakness going into the Springbok match." Centre Adam Ashley-Cooper was equally respectful of South Africa despite their disastrous Tri-Nations campaign so far with the Sydney hiding followed by a 40-7 Wellington thrashing from the All Blacks. "We are expecting a very different side from the one we played in Sydney. They will have a lot of experienced players back and be playing in front of their supporters," he said. "South Africa are one of the best teams in the world -- especially when you are playing them at home -- and it will be a tough challenge but one we are looking forward to."