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Done and dusted the Tri-Nations may be, but don't dare think there's little on the line when Australia come to Loftus on Saturday.
On South Africa's agenda will be all sorts of points to prove: that they can beat Australia, that they are well-enough conditioned to play the 'new law interpretations' and that they are evolving their game, even if in their own direction.
On Australia's side, there'll be the challenge of winning away, something they've not managed in the Tri-Nations for a while, and making sure they don't finish last. Come to think of it, that's very much on both teams' agendas. Very much.
Then there's individual points. John Smit's ghost from his 100th Test needs a quick exorcision; there'd be little better time to do it than on the occasion of right-hand man Victor Matfield's 100th Test (and apparently in front of at least 30,000 people wearing Victor Matfield cut-out masks, if one report is to be believed).
Next up: Frans Steyn. Is he injured? Does he want to play? Can he still play at this level after a year in France which coach Peter de Villiers has claimed leaves him a yard off the pace?
Other less nagging questions are pertinent to this Bok team. Is Flip van der Merwe going to cut it at this level? Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie are re-united, but is De Villiers of 2010 the same model as the one of 2007 that could put Fourie away through a mousehole with simple timing of the pass?
Perhaps you're seeing a theme to the review of this South Africa side so far, that of the unanswered question. It is one of those things this team used to be very very good at: leaving no detail unexamined, no failsafe untested. But this 2010 model is conspicuous for being considerably less roadworthy than it's predecessor; now it's back in the place where so much of this Bok model was constructed, are we going to see the flaws corrected? Another question. You just can't find any answers as to how this side, dominant in so many facets last year and for so long the benchmark for the world, has fallen from grace so.
Opposite them stand a few longer-standing doubts. We've heard for so long how Australia have been building and the foundations have looked sturdy indeed, but Wallaby fans around the place are beginning to wish that at least one storey could be put up without a fatal flaw being revealed.
Questions here too, personal and collective. Is Quade Cooper and Matt Giteau the most effective 10-12 axis? Can the Wallaby scrum continue to raise itself to the big occasion despite being palpably second best? Was the 30-13 win over the Boks a month ago yet another false dawn? Is this team really capable of more or is this just a good side being made to look ordinary in the toughest competition of all?
South Africa and their fans have a fair few chances to set a record straight in this Test. Refereeing it is Alain Rolland, who raised the ire of the Bok faithful in New Zealand just over a month ago by daring to whistle a few penalties for the opposition.
Pretoria is not a pretty place to go if you're not popular - particularly not when the locals have been whipped into a frenzy by the national anthem being belted out by Afrikaans folk-hero Toks van der Linde moments before the hundredth Test of Pretoria's favourite son Matfield - and Rolland will be under extraordinary pressure during this game. But Rolland is rarely flapped by such events and South Africa will need to be very careful of their own discipline. The fans will not give it to them and neither will Toks van der Linde.
Moreover, punishing any indiscipline will be a kicker coached this week by the native Braam van Straaten, as infectiously enthusiastic a kicking coach as you could wish for. If Matt Giteau was feeling a little shaky about his kicking before this week, Van Straaten will have ensured that not only is Giteau kicking better, but positively relishing each kick as a fun new experience as well.
No, make no mistake, this is not just a match-up between two runners-up, this is a no holds barred face-off between two embattled nations seeking redemption for all sorts of woes. It's going to be riveting viewing.
Ones to watch:
For South Africa: Enfant terrible or still the prodigal son? One feels that this match will be a test of more than just rugby abilities for Francois Steyn. Capable of 60m penalties just as much as he might be capable of breaking down after 60m running if Pierre Berbizier is to be believed, Saturday will see the wisdom of Steyn's French exile either proven or utterly discredited.
For Australia: Back from suspension and re-untied with Will Genia, the memory of Quade Cooper's abilities will not be lost on the Pretoria faithful after the Reds eked out a win over the Bulls in the Super 14, inspired by the very same Cooper. But it's one thing to win a provincial match in Suncorp, quite another to face the locals up north in SA. Cooper's supposedly suspect temperament will be given the most meticulous of examinations.
Head to head: The two finest blindsides in world rugby go mano a mano: Juan Smith and Rocky Elsom. As abrasive a battle as you could wish for between two men at the very heart of their respective teams.
Previous results:
2010: Australia won 30-13 in Brisbane
2009: Australia won 21-6 in Brisbane
2009: South Africa won 32-25 in Perth
2009: South Africa won 29-17 in Cape Town
2008: South Africa won 53-8 in Johannesburg
2008: Australia won 27-15 in Durban
2008: Australia won 16-9 in Perth
2007: Australia won 25-17 in Sydney
2007: South Africa won 22-19 in Cape Town
2006: South Africa won 24-16 in Johannesburg
2006: Australia won 20-18 in Sydney
Prediction: The Loftus factor to win it for the Boks. But only by a whisker - say five points!
South Africa: 15 Francois Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Janie du Plessis, 2 John Smit, 1 Gurtho 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 Faainga, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 James Slipper, 18 Ben McCalman, 19 Scott Higginbotham, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Faainga.
Date: Saturday, August 28
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Weather: Sunny, 17°C dropping fast after the sun goes down
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
By Dave Morris
Comments
justice_4_all says...
GOOD LUCK all you Oz fans......I hope you need it! GREAT Teams, all 3 of them and I cannot wait for this test...hopefully 15 agaisnt 15 for 80 and champagne rugby all the way....I predict Hougaard is MoM
Posted 16:03 28th August 2010
scot_rsa says...
Clinton - no you're not wrong. Rugby fans around the world have a lot more respect for each other than in most other sports. Unconditional? No, I don't think so but then I would not expect that. We all have our hopes and expectations, as long as we're willing to accept constructive arguments then we'll get along fine. Hey, I'm a Scotland and Bok fan, I'm going to take a lot of that. Your point is important though and I'm glad you brought it up - let's keep it constructive. I could mention a lot of other sites where there is REAL mudslinging. Keep blogging eh?
Posted 14:59 28th August 2010
bruce says...
@Safehands
My point wasn't that SA were the best ever, or that their gameplan was the finest thing since sliced bread, my point was that much is made of the fact that the AB's were bad last year. Given their results to other teams (especially 4 straight wins over the Walabies) though I'm not sure they were as bad as some make out.
Sure there are different game-plans by the different teams. the gameplan is the coach's perogative. I wish the Boks were more Stormers-like than Bulls-like, but hey, maybe that's just me.
My point was though that while the plans for both sides are the same as last year, the execution, and results are reversed. At the end of the day victory (leaving asthetics aside for the moment) depends on the quality of implementation, not just the quality of the plan. Executing a bad plan well doesn't make it a good plan, but neither does executing a good plan poorly make it a bad plan.
It's natural to favour the competition you win as the true measure of the sport. Naturally New Zealanders prefer the IRB ranking, SA supporters prefer the world cup. As a Stormers supporter perhaps I prefer the S14. Alas at the end of the day the Tri-nations allows only 3 compeditors (perhaps we should invite France in? ) whereas the WC is the "global" one.
So SA claim "world champions" - NZ claim "best team in the world" and both would be accurate in that respect.
Posted 14:10 28th August 2010
Cass402 says...
A lot of people on here dont like it but a "world cup" is exactly that. The winners of which are called world champions...if there is an intervening competition which pits all the best teams in the "world" against each other, then the winners of that will be world champions until beaten by another team. Every team that enters it has exactly the same chance to win it as the others...the fact that you were the "best team" according to what ever stats you measured against means nothing when the competion starts. Every head coach from Henry, Deans, PDV, and even us mere mortals in the northern hemisphere has had RWC2011 in the forefront of their plans since the last one ended.Winning the Tri nations is great and winning the Six nations is seen as a good thing down here in the mud but they mean jack to the wider rugby public.The AB's for example, were the standout favourites for the last WC but didnt make it to the final.Each team has the same chance as every body else..
Posted 08:22 28th August 2010
Clinton says...
I originally joined this website because I was eager to share thoughts with rugby fans from allover the world. I was under the impression that rugby supporters have unconditional respect for eachother's teams. I was so wrong. Since I joined this site I've seen nothing but nagging, bitching, moaning and mud-slinging going about. Are there any people on this site who can actually have a decent, intelligent conversation about rugby? If there are, it would be awesome to get in touch with you!!
Posted 07:53 28th August 2010
safehands says...
@Justice_4_all..............you're absolutely correct with your response to mine.
I get a little carried away sometimes with the whole who is better than who drivel.......must have something to do with my father-in-law being a saffa and us constantly winding each other up come Trinations time and let's not even broach the RWC choking thing!! You'd love to be a fly on the wall when the games are on!!
To the matter at hand though....SA v Aus.......only one real winner here in my eyes and that is the Boks.
Pretoria, Matfield's 100th, 4 straight losses, mostly blue bull pack and half back pairing......surely there can only be but one outcome.......a 15 point hiding for the Wallabies, if not even more!!
Posted 05:05 28th August 2010
ManWarrior says...
@safehands & bruce, I enjoyed your comments. Obviously you have some rugby savvi...
I think it is going to be a entertaining test. Now that the trophy is out the way it would be great to see the boys play some rugby (hopefully the Springboks play more than the Wallabies).
I think de Jong and Aplon got hard done by. I would have liked to see Aplon on left wing.
Jacques Fourie will deffinitely spice up the backline and the Loftus faithfull will not make easy for the Auzzies.
My idiotic patrionism says Boks by 30 but my limited rugby savvi says Boks by 10, then again Gits might just ruin the day for us (God forbid)
In closing, I agree that the AB's are still number one (I checked the stats) and SA number two with the Auzzies hot on our heals. If we can win some consecutive Trinations trophies to add to our silverware then only can we start releaving the AB's of there hard earned title (best team in the work'.
Go Bokke!!! RWC2011 Champs
Posted 23:45 27th August 2010
justice_4_all says...
@safehands, what are you arguing about??? Nobody can be in any doubt that New Zealand is now and has been for very long periods through the history of the game the dominant rugby nation. Anyone who claims anything different is just winding you up or an idiot. So that is settled now. What is important is that the gap between the AB, the Wallabies, and the Boks is not so great that we cannot have superb competitions: RWC (a bit of a crap shoot), the TriNations, and the Super14. All of this arguement about who is dominant or who is the best is just a pissing competition. I almost wish you would win the next RWC so that Saffers would stop winding you up about choking and kiwis could relax a bit more and stop feeling the urge to respond by waving the stats....the games this TriN have been fantastic....and tomorrow's going to be a cracker (Boks by 17 or I will admit that Trinats is the prohet of all things rugby)
Posted 18:38 27th August 2010
sebbb says...
Still a bit baffled by SA's selection, though with PdV at the helm I am not sure why! Britz and the Beast would have been far better options in a front row playing a high speed game (necessary without a fetcher). Rossouw and Matfield are a proven combination and I think the Boks will miss Danni's ball carrying too.
In the backs, JdV has been off the pace for a while, either Olivier or De Jongh would have been a better choice. A half fit Steyn against Cooper and Giteu's ability to put the ball between the defensive line and the full-back is suicide. If he is not alive to the threat the Aussies will tear them to pieces.
Aus to win by 10+
Posted 17:06 27th August 2010
safehands says...
@Bruce.....I think you are a little way off the mark with what my logic suggests.
I'm pretty sure I said that SA were good last year.
The actual jist of my observations are not about the AB's or the Wallabies. It is about the perceived notion (mostly from Bok fans) that they had suddenly come across the perfect gameplan which was set to dominate world rugby for the foreseeable future. Did you honestly believe that that gameplan would dominate other world powerhouses for years to come?
It is about the crazy notion that because they won the RWC in 07 that they could rightfully claim to be the best team in the world for the next 4 years. That is a ludicrous train of thought along the lines that England were a great side after the 2003 triumph. At the end of the day it is a knockout tournament which favours a certain luck of the draw. Remember, there is no hiding place for any team in the trinations. The best team wins it.
While a notable title (one which I won't deny wishing my beloved AB's would hold aloft again....sometime in the next 50 years would be nice), I reckon the title of WORLD CHAMPIONS would be far more credible if the team that won it would actually win their respective hemisphere titles a little more than once every 5/6 years.
So while nobody can deny that SA are an excellent rugby nation, I can certainly argue the fact that they are by no means the most dominant rugby nation out there.
Win 2 or 3 trination tournaments in a row, win at least 75% of your November tour games (shows strength in depth for 1 thing as apposed to whingeing about tired players etc.) and most will concede that the balance of rugby power has shifted.
Win the RWC next year and nothing therafter for the next 3/4 years, and you'll be still be regarded as 2nd best to the Blacks by most rugby savy supporters.
Posted 14:10 27th August 2010
Carpelone says...
This will be easy, as the referee should be neutral now (i.e. not interfering in the match to facilitate ABs' game plan). Boks by at least 10. Wallabies will be soon a tough nut to crack, should they discover one or two decent forward to stabilise their set pieces.
Still of the opinion that the Abs peaked far too early and that they have revealed too many weapons (i.e. McCaw playing among the backs) which can be neutralised for the RWC 2011. In addition, there is no significant room for improvement
Posted 13:03 27th August 2010
bluelion says...
Looking forward to the most hotly contested fixture of the Tri-nations. Of all 9 games why is this likely to be the closest? The All-Blacks aren't playing. They are too good this year for both teams. And Sth Africa need the home advantage to level the playing field.
Francois Steyn is back, and may well prove the difference tomorrow afternoon. What do the public think of a player who opts to play 5,000 miles away? He's obviously not too motivated by Test caps. That's not great the year before a world cup.
Posted 12:29 27th August 2010
bruce says...
@safehands
>> 1. South Africa were good last year, but the AB's were very poor too which culminated in the saffas thinking that they were better than they really are.
I've seen this thread re-occur over and over this season. And I'll grant you the AB's of 2010 are a step above the class of 2009.
But if the AB's were so tragically poor last year, how did they beat the Aussies 4-0?
By your logic SA did nothing, the AB's were crap, and the Walabies crapper. That's a tough sell.
The real reason is a lot simpler. The SA game last year was exceptionally precise and well executed. It starts with Du Preez's kicking which is more accurate than it looks. This year a similar plan was tried, but Januarie doesn't have the kicking game to make it work.
Last year the AB's had the same plan as this year. Last year (against SA) they were pressured into too many mistakes. This year they weren't under the same pressure, so the result went for them.
However last week the AB's showed that with sufficient pressure their plan has flaws. That pressure faded at the end, but the game was in the balance with 10 minutes to go.
Sure I want to see the Boks run - don't we all - but it doesn't matter what the plan is, if you execute poorly, you'll lose.
Posted 11:16 27th August 2010
martinmarais78 says...
I hope we go down in the next 2 games + November tests for the greater good... (i.e. World cup WITHOUT PDV) Snorre & Hoskins must go!!!
Posted 09:04 27th August 2010
reado15 says...
I think this game will be harder to pick than a broken nose. SA looked very good last week but ran out off puff at the end. Australia are quite good but their backs lack the class of the AB back line and they struggled to break very good SA defense last week. So if SA defend as well as they did against the AB's they will win, if they dont aussie will win. I reckon a 5 - 7 point margin
Posted 08:51 27th August 2010
scot_rsa says...
Should be an exciting game, can't see past a Bok win though. Usual half-truths floating around regarding FSteyn, don't think he can be 100% match fit so why did PDV select him? Especially with no fullback backup on the bench eg Aplon in place of de Jongh. Does PDV want to prove a point about the Northern Hemisphere? Can't believe he is that dumb so perhaps he just wants to see if he's still got it. Some exciting talent from the Wallabies, never afraid to try new faces and experiment. Looking forward to a try-fest.
Posted 08:27 27th August 2010
bigb69 says...
SAF should drop John Smit and bring in Bismark, it is a hard decision, but obvoius. As for domince - the ABs have now won 5 out the last 6 tri-nations. Last year they were conceeded more tries and they won. Long may this sort of dominance continue I say ! 1 win every 5 years..
Posted 06:02 27th August 2010
hossman says...
What a match awaits. It has all the ingredients of being a belter. Playing at altitude, an ageing Bok pack, a talented but inconsistent Wallaby side. Victors 100th, the Boks are battered from last week but their in front of adoring fans, Cooper is back, Higginbottom FINALLY gets his chance, Francosi Steyn - hurt or not hurt, wants to play - doesnt want to play, an Irish ref, the shadow of PDV in the background just waiting to do soething dumb, pressure on Robbie Deans, the shadow of NRL hanging over Cooper and to finish it off two teams with wounded pride looking for some salvation and a step towards the RWC as well as closing the gap to the AB's - i think we have all the ingredients to witness a real specticle this weekend. As an ar dent Wallabies fan naturally i am tipping us to end our 'drought' on the highveldt, but only just. It is that close i will be watching every pass and feeling every tackle. Good luck to all you Bok fans (but not too much) hope we see something special and a Wallabies win !!
Posted 05:33 27th August 2010
safehands says...
Planet Rugby quote re Boks; "You just can't find any answers as to how this side, dominant in so many facets last year and for so long the benchmark for the world, has fallen from grace so".
I can give you 2 reasons:
1. South Africa were good last year, but the AB's were very poor too which culminated in the saffas thinking that they were better than they really are.
2. 1 victory in a tournament and 1 cup win in the past 6 years does not a dominant force make.
So to answer the question, you can't fall that far from the top if you were only a few rungs of the ladder up to start with.
Don't believe me...look at the last 11 matches between SA and Aus, the Aussies are actually 6-5 victories to the good. Again does not suggest a dominant force.
Take the 3-0 whitewash away from last year and even take away the 3-0 reverse this, and you might find that the SA record against the AB's is even worse than that above.
Look at the tours up North and again, (ignore the whining about 2nd rate selections, tired players etc etc. It's the same for all teams who tour anyway), you'll find the SA stats bang average.
Posted 05:13 27th August 2010
KiwiLad says...
All of the hope and all of the bull will be put to the test come saturday...
Has Quade Cooper got what it takes at this level????
Or would he be better of playing league anyway?
A shining light at S14 time but this is a new level.
I think he should have signed a contract one way or the other befor leaving Aus,
as he is about to be found wanting
Posted 04:05 27th August 2010