Expect a red hot Cardiff clash

Expect a red hot Cardiff clash

4 Jun 2010

There is no such thing as a ‘nothing’ Test. Saturday’s Bok confrontation with Wales in Cardiff has significance.

The Springboks, in the build-up to the 2007 World Cup, relished every chance they had to play – and beat – England. Even when they thrashed an England side in South Africa missing the core of their regulars the Boks spoke up the meaning of constantly winning against blokes wearing the English white jersey.

Wales have only beaten the Boks once in 100 years, but they’ve come bloody close on a couple of occasions, and the 20-15 Bok win in Cardiff in 2008 could very easily have been a Welsh victory.

Both teams are missing regulars, but it is by no means the best of Wales against a second string Bok team. It is the best available Welsh team and it isn’t that far off the best Bok team, especially now that Fourie du Preez is out for the year.

The Bok tight five is the best that currently can be selected and while I’d always select Schalk Burger and Juan Smith to start at next year’s World Cup, Francois Louw and Dewald Potgieter were the form South African loose-forwards in the Super 14. Joe van Niekerk has been outstanding at flank and No 8 for Toulon for the last two years and there isn’t much to choose between an in-form Van Niekerk and a firing Pierre Spies.

At halfback one of Ricky Januarie or Ruan Pienaar will start for the Boks this season and how they perform against Wales will have a huge bearing on the Boks’ season. The Springboks cannot play the same quality kicking game without Du Preez and his unavailability is a leveller because it forces the Boks to adjust their attack.

Butch James should have played and the intention was always to move Pienaar to halfback in the second half and James to flyhalf. Hypocrisy and greed, in terms of Player Welfare and remuneration, means James has to watch from the stands. It is an opportunity lost.

Jaque Fourie is the best outside centre in South Africa, Francois Steyn is the best selection at fullback and Juan de Jongh has been on the rise all season and would have been in an extended Bok squad, regardless of Jean de Villiers’s availability and that of Bulls centre Wynand Olivier.

Gio Aplon and Francois Hougaard were the most exciting of the wingers in the competition and are fighting it out for one place with JP Pietersen and Lionel Mapoe injured. So when you consider a match 22 of who is fit to play for the Boks in the next two months, the players missing for Cardiff are Bakkies Botha, Burger, Spies, Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana and one of De Villiers or Olivier at inside centre.

This team isn’t as second rate as some have made out, and 10 of those starting in Cardiff would always start.

The preparation for the Boks has not been easy because of the chaos around James’s selection and withdrawal three times in three days. What is important in the context of the Test is the presence of John Smit and Victor Matfield, the two most experienced tight forwards currently playing international rugby.

Wales, since Warren Gatland became coach, have closed the gap on the Boks in every Test, and there is a belief within the Welsh squad that Saturday will be the occasion they actually close it completely and win.

I would not bet my house against it happening. Victory for the Boks will show this side can win without the halfback kicking game of Du Preez and (Morne) Steyn, which as a combination has no equal in rugby.

Defeat will give every one of the chasing pack belief that there is a vulnerability to the Boks when Du Preez isn’t wearing No 9.

I don’t buy the dismissive attitude some have to this Test. I think it is massively significant in terms of the World Cup and because of the nature of the build-up trying to pick a winner would be the equal of picking a lotto number.

You’ll know within the first five minutes who is going to come out on top, but on a Friday afternoon trying to call this one would be like taking a leak in the dark. You may think you know which way it is going, but there can’t be any certainty.

If the Boks win this Test it has to be acknowledged what a good win it is. If they lose, there has to be a similar acknowledgement that the defeat will have an impact on their season and especially their pysche with respect to Wales at next year’s World Cup.


294 Comments

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  • 51.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:53 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Stegmannenov)-49: Yeah, but with more brains and less of an anger short-circuit…

  • 52.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:53 pm

    Keo, do you seriously think that an in-form Joe is on a par with Spies? I must admit that I have not seen Joe play for the last couple of seasons, but it will be interesting to see if he can match Spies’ speed, strength and anticipation

  • 53.gunther: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:54 pm

    Grantie

    Are the stormers playing in gugs next year?

    What stadium would that be?

  • 54.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:54 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-51: Forgive me I was thinking AJ Venter. I give myself a huge biff. There is only ONE Andre Venter… Farksakes. Apologies muchos…

  • 55.AlterEgo: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:54 pm

    @grant10(grant10)-35: Hey buddy, that was a little rude!

    I suppose th comment is deserved and your point is exactly what I’m trying to illustrate… :)

    As for the Stormers I will at least give you guys credit for being eternally optimistic!!! :) We’ll cross that bridge next year in the S15, in the mean time let me say, welcome back to the Stormers, about time you guys came to the party! Let’s use that to make the BOKKE top of the world!!! :)

  • 56.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:54 pm

    @keo(keo)-19: who is we paleface?

    first you claim that you are a bulls supporter and that your crit of C. Joubert was based on “fair play” blah blah blah and that you were “wearing your bulls jersey proudly”.

    then you say “only difference is next year WE will host the final in gugulethu against the bulls”

    haha, i guess you just confirmed that you are just another bad loser.

  • 57.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:54 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-51:

    :)

    Don’t confuse anger-management issues with sterness.

  • 58.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:56 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-50: I think G Botha has a lot to do with his rise to form this year. Wonder how he will fare with another hooker in the Bok jersey? Although Smit and Bismarck do not give much away to Botha as scrummagers

  • 59.AlterEgo: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:56 pm

    @grant10(grant10)-35: tounge firmly in cheek obviosuly!!! :)

  • 60.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:56 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Stegmannenov)-57: Of course not – I hurriedly posted to correct…

  • 61.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:57 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-58: He can’t do worse with Smit as his hooker on the scrumming front.

  • 62.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:58 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-58: smit is the top scrummaging hooker in sa.

    ask tiaan liebenberg.

  • 63.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:58 pm

    @gunther(gunther)-53:

    Ja, and don’t expect any porta-potties either. ANCYL will confiscate ‘em.

  • 64.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:59 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-60:

    See 6 or 7 comments came down at once like a torrent

  • 65.Yetirat: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 15:59 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-56:

    Ranger you haven’t by any chance been gored by a Buffalo today have you?

  • 66.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:00 pm

    Let me say it loud and clear and then you can say that you heard it here first: Saturday will see the rise of a Springbok star – Francois Louw.

  • 67.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:01 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-62:

    In all fairness, Smit didn’t have Mollig and Brok’n next to him.

  • 68.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:01 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-62: Yeah, I will concede that any day. We should not judge Tiaan on that one performance, though. He was up against the best scrumming no 2 in the world. I think he has a future as a Bok.

  • 69.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:02 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-62:

    I think this Keo is an imposter.

  • 70.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:02 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-66:

    Nah…we’ve heard it before. And read it too.

  • 71.gunther: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:02 pm

    HG

    Juan Smith and Bakkies are the heart and soul of the bok pack.

    Ask keo to tell you about Juans boxing performance at camp staaldrad…

  • 72.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:02 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-52: Big Joe has been playing at 6 for most of the season for Toulon. Their number 8 is Fernandez-Lobbe… So a bit of a selection for Joe made on past reputation at 8 for the Boks.

  • 73.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:03 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-69:

    Did you receive my up-to-date apology on the other thread, Dawn?

  • 74.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:03 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-68:

    Tiaan will always be an “emerging Bok”

  • 75.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:04 pm

    @gunther(gunther)-71: I heard about Bakkies performance with Selbourne Boome… Juan Smith’s will be an interesting story…

  • 76.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:04 pm

    @gunther(gunther)-71:

    He was a Bloem bouncer too years ago. Can dish out a real outydse Vrystaatse PK.

  • 77.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:05 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Stegmannenov)-67: You took the words right out of my mouth. It is damn nice to have so many good hookers to choose from and suddenly the prop situation is looking up as well

    1. Gurthro
    2. J Smit
    3. BJ

    1. Beast
    2. T Liebenberg
    3. W Kruger

    Gary Botha, Bismarck, Jannie, CJ, Coenie Oosthuizen (rate him highly)

  • 78.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:05 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-62: And as such he makes his props look good. If only he had a top scrummaging hooker playing alongside when he was TH ;-)

  • 79.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:06 pm

    @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-72:

    Indeed. but Vermuelen is in all likelihood already settled in Pdiv’s heart as 8thman backup for Spies this yr?

  • 80.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:07 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-74: I suppose so, after all, Chili is much better than he is

  • 81.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:07 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Stegmannenov)-73:

    Should I believe it?

  • 82.keo: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:08 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-56: we as in those of us based in Cape Town. Didn’t know you would need a geography lesson!

  • 83.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:08 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-77:

    IMO:

    best
    1 CJ
    2 Bismarck
    3 BJ

    2nd best
    1 Steenkamp
    2 Smit
    3 Kruger

    3rd best
    1 Beast
    2 G Botha
    3 J Dup

    ?

  • 84.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:09 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-80: Sorry, loggin off now to go and take my tablets. The shrink says the voices will stop eventually, but I feel special because they only talk to me

  • 85.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:09 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-81:

    Yes. not the one where I’m yanking your crank. the last one.
    And there’s a question added about my uncertainty.

  • 86.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:10 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Stegmannenov)-79: Maybe.

  • 87.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:10 pm

    @Yetirat(Yetirat)-65: :lol:

    no man, i actually forgot my smilie.

    i am peachy, the sea looks good and the boks play tomorrow.

    hows things with you?

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Stegmannenov)-67: @GI POT(GI POT)-68: i rate tiaan. he is a class act and imo he and bizness will be our two top hookers when JS retires.

    @Dawn(Dawn)-69: i agree. either that or he is related to the flip-flop fish. a brazen sea creature able to evade fishing nets due to the lack of spine.

  • 88.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:10 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-84:

    You don’t wanna know what they’ve been saying about you behind your back to me mate.

  • 89.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:11 pm

    @keo(keo)-82: The only place in the world where teh sun never sets hey Keo. It only disappears when Cape-Townians sit down. ;-)

  • 90.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:12 pm

    @bananaboy(bananaboy)-78: :lol:

    @keo(keo)-82: those of you based in capetown?

    AGAINST the bulls?

    :lol:

    will “those of you based in capetown” playing “against the bulls” be “wearing your bulls jersies proudly”?

    :lol:

  • 91.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:12 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Stegmannenov)-83: There is no way that CJ is a test level loosehead prop. He is a tighthead – finish and klaar. I saw him get hammered on that side of the scrum in the HC this year. He is good enough to start with and have BJ come on as replacement. Steenkamp is in a class of his own this year. There is not one tighthead that could handle him in the S14. I heard from WP Nel that he reckons that Gurthro is the one guy he was clueless against

  • 92.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:13 pm

    @bananaboy(bananaboy)-78: LOL. Well said!!!

  • 93.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:14 pm

    @bananaboy(bananaboy)-89: BWAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!

    was that a geography lesson or does it fit into the biology curriculum?

  • 94.WOLFMAN21: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:14 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-77: Which hooker most catches your eye?

  • 95.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:14 pm

    @rangerman(rangerman)-87:

    Jaaa, I prefer G Botha. I don’t like it when players have boeppies. It’s unnecessary.
    But Tiaan is a bit life-wire. The thing a always appreciate about him, is that he’s the guy that is always shouting, and I mean SHOUTING, encouragement and chriping.

    You ALWAYS need a guy like that in the team, often you develop an agenda on the field for some reason…and these guys just bring you right back down to earth and remind you of your place and that it’s just a game.

  • 96.GI POT: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:14 pm

    @Agile T*t-Tyrant(Stegmannenov)-88: Oh no – here comes the paranoia again…where the damn car keys

    Cheers everyone – have a great weekend and COME THE BOKS!!!!

  • 97.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:15 pm

    @bananaboy(bananaboy)-89: LOL.!!!

  • 98.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:15 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-91: funny that because wp nel took an almighty hammering from 80% of the looseheads he played this year.

  • 99.willievz: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:16 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-52: As an athlete, Joe is certainly not in Spies’ class.

    As a nr8, however, he is certainly on par.

  • 100.Agile T*t-Tyrant: Reply to this comment
    4 Jun 2010, 16:17 pm

    @GI POT(GI POT)-91:

    Perhaps, Beast and Gurthro are in line.

    I’d pick Heinkie vd Merwe anytime prior to his knee injury.

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Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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