'You have to be aggressive': Wallabies to front up in hope of historic Loftus win

Wallabies forwards coach Neal Hatley says that today's opening Rugby Championship encounter against the Springboks will be a benchmark of just where Australia stand.

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The Wallabies have not played since Eddie Jones took over the coaching reigns, and Hately says that to win at Loftus Versfeld for the first time, his side will have to front up. 

"There's not many places harder in world rugby to come than the Springboks at Loftus, so it will give us a good benchmark of where we are," said Hatley.

"You have to be aggressive. You have to be competitive at scrum, and at the line-out and in the drive.

"If you come over here and you roll over, you'll get murdered so we've got to make sure that we are aggressive in all those aspects."

Hatley was in awe of the Springboks' depth, even though they've opted for spit squads with 13 players having already travelled to New Zealand for next weekend's clash against the All Blacks.

"The Springboks have some real problems haven't they - no Malcolm Marx, but they have Mbongeni Mbonambi," Hatley said with a smile.

"Look, they've got incredible depth. We know from a tight five point of view, [about] their bomb squad and we respect the South African pack immensely.

"That's why for us it's an exciting challenge to start with... to play this team, this pack of forwards, at this ground.

"For some of the guys making their debut, to experience Test rugby at altitude in Pretoria against the Springboks is a hell of way to start."

Saturday's clash kicks off at 17:05.

Springboks

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane