How can the Wallabies be judged in South Africa after the promising signs against the British and Irish Lions?

The best answer is: over a two-week block, particularly after the injury drama on Thursday that ruled out Ben Donaldson and put more responsibility on James O’Connor, even with Tane Edmed named as a late addition to the bench.

Only after the second Test can a fair assessment be made, especially as the first Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg is obviously daunting – a true cauldron where the hosts can put on a score if the defensive dam breaks.

But the Wallabies will have an exceptionally good idea of what’s coming, based on the Springboks’ most recent Test, a 55-10 win over Georgia in July.

And they will have learnt that despite the illusion of the Springboks morphing into an all-court rugby team under the tutelage of New Zealand attack coach Tony Brown, their game is based on box kicks, scrums and mauls – probably in that order.

Four times Springboks halfback Grant Williams launched box kicks from Georgia kick-offs or restarts in the first half, and the Springboks reclaimed three of them.

Springbok Grant Williams undid Georgia more with his kicking than his running game.Credit:........

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