South Africa v Australia, Rugby Championship
Boks out to change recent run of defeats
ESPN Staff
September 24, 2012
South Africa look dejected following a score for Australia's Ben Alexander, Australia v South Africa, Rugby Championship, Subiaco Oval, Perth, Australia, September 8, 2012
South Africa look dejected after Ben Alexander goes over against them in their recent meeting © Getty Images
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South Africa host Australia in Pretoria on Saturday and will hope to rectify their recent run of bad form against their southern hemisphere rivals.

The Boks lost to the Wallabies 26-19 back on September 8 and then fell to a defeat against the All Blacks in the next match. Heyneke Meyer will now be under pressure to turn the tables back on the Wallabies especially after it was Australia who dispatched them from the 2011 World Cup at the quarter-finals stage.

On that occasion, the Springboks lost out 11-9, although they have failed to beat the Wallabies in their last five meetings - falling 39-20 and 14-9 during last season's Tri-Nations.

However, South Africa hold the historical advantage over the Wallabies with 41 Test victories to their rivals' 33 since their first meeting in Sydney back in 1921 - in which the Springboks emerged victorious thanks to a 25-10 win.

And they also hold a solid record at Pretoria against the Wallabies having played there five times and won on each occasion. Their most recent encounter at Loftus Versveld came back in 2010 where the Boks prevailed 44-31

Australia v South Africa

All-time record: Played: 78, South Africa won 44, Australia won 33, drawn 1

Biggest winning margin: SA: 45 (53-8 Johannesburg 2008); Aus: 49 (49-0 Brisbane 2006)

Highest score: SA: 61 (61-22 Pretoria 1997); Aus: 49 (49-0 Brisbane 2006)

Most tries: SA: 8 (28-3 Johannesburg 1961, 61-22 Pretoria 1997 and 53-8 Johannesburg 2008); Aus: 6 (49-0 Brisbane 2006)

Most points (individual): SA: 140 Percy Montgomery; Aus: 159 Matt Giteau

Most tries (individual): SA: 7 Breyton Paulse; Aus: 9 Matt Giteau

South Africa v Australia:

Click here for South Africa's Test record courtesy of Statsguru

Click here for Australia's Test record courtesy of Statsguru

Click here for a record of all South Africa v Australia matches courtesy of Statsguru

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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