Wallabies must be wary of the Springboks’ speed men

One of the paradoxes of South African rugby is that they can find room for the little guys.

There is a line that connects Brent Russell, Breyton Paulse, Cheslin Kolbe and now Kurt-Lee Arendse. The latter, listed at 176cm and 76kg, will mark Suliasi Vunivalu in Pretoria this weekend, giving away a 25kg weight advantage.

But Arendse is quick – lightning quick – and that’s the other line running through the Springboks’ back line this weekend: they have pace.

No.9 Cobus Reinach, No.10 Manie Libbok – another 76kg non-giant – and No.14 Canan Moodie can all really move, and No.15 Willie le Roux and replacement back Damian Willemse are no slouches either.

The Springboks clearly think that this Test is going to open up, with the oxygen-depleting effects of altitude suiting their side. It mightn’t be an open Test from the outset, but South Africa are a patient side. If they have to wait until the last 10 minutes to find a weary defender, they will.

You only need to go back to Twickenham last November to understand what Lee-Arendse – a former sevens star – is all about. In Eddie Jones’ last Test in charge, England kicked too long, and were promptly cut to shreds by Willemse, le Roux and Arendse on the counterattack.

The Bulls player is lethal off either foot, even on a gloomy afternoon in London, so the familiar dry track on the highveld is going to play right to his strengths.

Yes, all the pre-match talk has been matching South Africa’s physical approach, but that’s about half the story of this Test. The Springboks won’t run it from anywhere, but when they do sense it’s on they have that uncoachable attribute – pure speed – to really test the Wallabies’ new defensive syst