Good point, a reasonable one. Smit definitely adds more solidity to the Boks scrum at hooker than he ever did at prop. Not sure about J.DuP tho, looks rather average. Saw him dismantled by Crusaders this season and struggled elsewhere too (Highlanders). Steenkamp has certainly come on this season, and Franks is still a work in progress for ABs. So should be an interesting battle up front.

Given Bok dominance at lineout last season, it will only take a small improvement there from NZ to unsettle them a bit. ABs now have Kaino and Read supplementing Donnelly so more options there, albeit no Matfield as a go-to man.

What Boks gain with Smit at 2 they certainly lose in the loose without Biz, who was sensational throughout TriN’09. If I was as disrespectful as the pieces-of-***** here (hi, HG !) I would even call him Suarez given his repeated offending. But you wont find hypocrites like that on my watch.

So we will now have two set pieces which we can launch our attacks from.

I also hope that we can utilize our rolling maul to better effect which sometimes we just don’t use enough.

Keep HOPING…

If that happened, Eden Park would go mo fo crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrazy !

Sorry who is Andrew Sharridan when he is at home?

Charmer.

Y’know what, Ive been less interested about rugby. Just completely immersed in the football, lovin it. My daughter is an anorak (just selected for a county team too) and my youngest on his way there, so great times watching sport with yr kids.

Your homeland has put on a great spectacle, you can be rightly proud. Colourful, awesome stadia, has put SA in a good light. I was hoping Bafana Bafana would go all the way, dreams are free, and more proud of the All Whites than I have been of any NZ team in memory (altho NZ rowing 8 in ’72 still springs a tear).

And now a really interesting Final. Everyone seems to have fallen for the Matadors but Im not so sure, those Dutch have a real hard edge to them. They will take in a win-at-all-costs attitude. Strange how prevalent and strong that gene has been in the blood….

As to EP on Saturday ? Not so sure. At this stage Im happy the way NZ is slowly building. Im sure it will still be an up’n'down season results wise – atleast Im, sorta, ‘hoping’ it will be. The attitude is essential. The last thing we Kiwis want now is an unbeaten season going in to the RWC, happy for your boys to continue beating their chests (look around…..). Lots of that about here, crikey. The Boks look strong and have had great seasons for their clubs so must be brimming with confidence, and rightly so. People tell me this ‘rivalry is back’ but Im not sure it ever left ?! Im just hoping for a good match but my real attention with be ON Sth Africa come Sunday, not Saturday. Lets worry about that later.

Just back from 4 days of golf in Madrid. Great to be there for Spains QterF and then Rafas victory at SW19. The palce was going nutssss – VAMOS !!! They sure do love their sport those Madristas. Great town, 1 of my very favourites.

Im off to see Pat Metheny on Sat pm, my boss is shouting me (we have a shared passion for rock). Lovin the I Am Kllot new album, could be their commercial breakthru. Got the Crowded House out of national obligation. Not sure it pulls my strings. Favourite album of the year remains the Black Keys, damn hot. You ?

That VIto and Kaino both disappear when the going gets tough,Henry made a big boob when he let Jerry Collins go

But still ….

If Bakkies gets fkn sent off or binned or whatever again I will personally shoot the doos.