Five challenges facing world champion Springboks in Australia

World Cup title-holders South Africa are set to arrive in Australia for two Rugby Championship matches, seeking consistency after erratic early-season form.

The Springboks have been both brilliant and lacklustre at home against Wales and New Zealand from July, winning three matches and losing two.

READ | Springboks' departure to Australia delayed after cancelled flight

Australia has not been a happy hunting ground for South Africa, losing six of the last seven Tests there and drawing the other.

Here, AFP Sport highlights five challenges facing head coach Jacques Nienaber and his staff ahead of internationals in Adelaide on August 27 and in Sydney on September 3.

Wing

First choice right wing Cheslin Kolbe is ruled out by a broken jaw and understudy Kurt-Lee Arendse is suspended until late September.

That leaves solid Jesse Kriel, creative Warrick Gelant and uncapped 19-year-old Canan Moodie as candidates for the No 14 green and gold shirt.

Springboks 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White says Moodie is "good enough to win 100 caps for the Springboks".

Hooker

Nienaber will be keeping his fingers tightly crossed that Malcolm Marx is not injured during a tour Bongi Mbonambi was unable to go on due to injury.

South Africa often start with Mbonambi and introduce Marx early in the second half as a highly effective impact player. Both score regularly off driving mauls.

Joseph Dweba, the likely second choice in Australia, had a nightmare Test against New Zealand, conceding several scrum free kicks and penalties and being guilty of crooked lineout throws.

Flanker

Loose forward Pieter-Steph du Toit was a colossus during the triumphant 2019 World Cup campaign in Japan and subsequently won the Rugby Player of the Year award.

But the Japan-based