The Springboks host the Wallabies at Loftus, Pretoria at 17:00 on Saturday 28 August in the 2nd last Tri-Nations encounter between the 2 teams for 2010.
We see the match like this:
The Springboks are under the kosh, and severely so, having lost all four their Tri-Nations Tests in 2010 thusfar.
Last week saw a very positive bounce back by the Springboks at FNB Stadium on the one hand and a very disappointing running out of puff display on the other hand when they conceded 12 points and the match in less than 3 minutes at the end of the game.
Largely the same side has been chosen, bar the return of Jaque Fourie at No 13, returning from suspension, and Gio Aplon replaced by Frans Steyn, who is finally here in SA after the Racing Metro / SARU/ Peter de Villiers debacle.
Questions must be asked around Springbok Game Plan options, Coaching Competance, First Time Tackling, Fitness & Endurance, Breakdown Competence and the Form & Heart of some very senior players…. hell that in itself is a mouth full.
Everything is not running like clockwork in the Springbok machine, that is clear.
The Wallabies on the other hand, have now lost 2 in a row against New Zealand themselves but consumately put the Bokke to the sword in Australia before that.
The smallest backline aside, they showed some real guts and determination against the All Blacks in their last outing and against South Africa they were the breakdown masters, with more creative flair to boot.
I’m not impressed by their front row at all but the rest of this team is a solid bunch of tough athletes and given half a chance they will punish you with smiles on their faces.
In SA’s favour is Home Ground Advantage and the Altitude Factor but in the Wallabies favour we could probably count the referee and his assistants.
Go Bokke, show them how it’s done at Loftus!
I predict a Springbok win, simply because the Wallabies are not as tough, rough and ready as the All Blacks… Bokke by 10.
Recent results:
2010: Australia won 30-13, Brisbane
2009: Australia won 21-6, Brisbane
2009: South Africa won 32-25, Perth
2009: South Africa won 29-17, Cape Town
2008: South Africa won 53-8, Johannesburg
2008: Australia won 27-15, Durban
2008: Australia won 16-9, Perth
2007: Australia won 25-17, Sydney
2007: South Africa won 22-19, Cape Town
2006: South Africa won 24-16, Johannesburg
2006: Australia won 20-18, Sydney
2006: Australia won 49-0, Brisbane
Teams:
South Africa: 15 François Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 François Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Butch James, 22 Juan de Jongh.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Benin Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 James Slipper, 18 Ben McCalman, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Faingaa.
Date: Saturday, 28 August 2010
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Expected weather conditions: Clear with a high of 27°C, dropping to 9°C and a light wind from the north, dropping – a perfect Highveld day for rugby
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Wallabies are a faster team, maybe the fastest in the 3N this year & as we know speed kills. GBS & I will watch closely Morne Steyn & also compare his performance to Quade Cooper. But maybe the coaching staff will shock us & come out with a new match strategy? 🙂
@ JimT:
Exactly, we must stop the denial in thinking that we can play OUR game and the Aussies and Kiwis can play THEIR game which is highly skilled at pace with excellent ball retention.
The reality is that the game has moved on to a highly skilled game at extreme pace and we have been caught behind.
The sooner we prepare a team that can stand the pace and up the skill levels at pace then the sooner we will catch up.
Our coach has to pretend that there is nothing wrong with our approach because anything other than that is an admission that he has been overtaken by the Aussies and Kiwis.
This is exactly the problem.
We get caught behind and instead of trying to catch up , we go into denial mode.
@ JimT:WEll I know plenty wont agree with me, but I would exchange Morne for Quade Cooper for the Boks flyhalf. 😀 Think he is a awesome player. Hope he stays in rugby union and does not move over to league.
Think with Fransie back today Morne might have a better game, even if Fransie is not totally match fit. Actually he is not but hoping he has a massive game today.
GO BOKKE.
Game Thread scheduled for 12:00 SA Time
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