Preview: Springboks vs Wallabies
3 Sep 2010
GRANT BALL says Australia blew their chance at breaking the highveld drought and another loss in Bloem will follow.
The contest to avoid the wooden spoon produced a loose affair last week, a game that suited the visitors in their quest to break a 47-year losing streak at altitude. They dominated possession in the last half hour, especially, but still botched it.
The tourists have spoken about the self-belief gained from their start, but it’s more likely that lost opportunity will haunt them and only serve up more mental demons. Reversing the result this Saturday after the nature of the Loftus blowout will take massive character from this Aussie unit, but they don’t appear to have the necessary mental fortitude to win in tough conditions, or when they’ve got themselves into commanding positions (for example, 21-7).
If the Boks allow the Wallabies a similar buffer in Bloem it will only highlight their defensive and tactical frailties, but as poor as the Boks have been throughout the competition, you can’t see that happening again.
Robbie Deans’ response has been to make three changes to his pack, two of them clear acts of desperation. Ben McCalman is selected to bring some physicality, but picking a lock at No 8 for his first Test start is a gamble at altitude. The Boks will adopt their kick-chase approach, and McCalman’s tactical nous at the back and his covering skills will be tested to the limit. Mark Chisholm displaces Dean Mumm in the second row, but whether Chisholm is the answer is highly debatable – he’ll play his first Tri-Nations Test this year after last featuring in Australia’s unconvincing win over Ireland in June.
The elevation of hooker Stephen Moore is no surprise, but it again highlights how big an opportunity the Wallabies wasted in Pretoria. Saia Fainga’a's lineout throwing faltered and he didn’t offer much in the loose, but Deans failed to bring on Moore and other substitutes when individuals were tiring.
The Boks have neglected the opportunity to blood new players and have made just one change – promoting Danie Rossouw – before the majority of the players undergo a conditioning camp. Whether their minds are on the break or what will be the final Test of the year for some will go a long way to determining the performance.
The standard of their showing is important in gauging whether the Boks have stagnated or regressed over the past six internationals, while their competitors have advanced. If the Boks can re-produce a similar set piece display as Loftus, and then replicate the team breakdown performance, they’ll have the quality possession needed to dominate the fragile Aussie defence.
It’s no surprise Morne Steyn had his best Test of the year, as did Jean de Villiers, against an Aussie midfield of Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper. As dangerous as that trio are with ball in hand, if the Boks get front foot ball, they should look no further than attacking No’s 10, 12, and 13.
A possible second win out of six will get De Villiers crowing once more (who knows what he could say post-match), but it may just serve to lead to complacency and unfounded confidence that the Boks are on the right track under their eccentric coach.
Prediction: Boks by 10
Springboks – 15 Frans 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 Danie Rossouw, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Gio Aplon.
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 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Fainga’a.
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135 Comments
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3 Sep 2010, 09:03 am
@BuckT(BuckTrendy)-49: 4 or 5 years ago I wasnt on this blog, and I have never set foot in SA.. so must have been someone else..
as for bad mouthing the boks, well it is a SA blog, but the continual diatribe directed at anyone of foreign heritage in this site really does give one an indication of the SA psyche..
case in point, the time from the end of last years 3Ns to the start of this years…
so if people cant handle it now the shoes on the other foot, thats not my problem..
3 Sep 2010, 09:11 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-50: You havent negated the point I was making. The All Blacks are always installed as favorites what ever has preceded before. they will be favorites again next year regardless.
Great compliment to the ABs
3 Sep 2010, 09:20 am
@BuckT(BuckTrendy)-49: now thats a faux pax if ever i saw one – how dare you confuse a revenge-obsessed, small-minded, Ozzie provincial Kiwi with a noble Bok supporter
3 Sep 2010, 09:27 am
The seven dwarves are down in the mines when there is a cave-in. Snow White runs to the entrance and yells down to them. In the distance a voice shouts out “Sth Africa are good enough to win the World Cup.” Snow White says “Well at least Dopey’s alive!”
3 Sep 2010, 09:27 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-53:
Are you giving Pops a back handed compliment
3 Sep 2010, 09:30 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-55: its this myth of a “noble bok supporter” …considering conspiracy and Paddy Obrien have suddenly become the most popular words in the Seth Afrikaan vernacular
I thought noble was a very strange choice…
3 Sep 2010, 09:31 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-55: you know what, the worst insult will prolly be a complement to that sheepshagging whale whisperer…
3 Sep 2010, 09:32 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-56: As I said, ” back handed compliment.”
3 Sep 2010, 09:33 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-57: Nice to see the spirit between us all. I don’t think it gets any better.
3 Sep 2010, 09:34 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-57: hehehe the fact youre talking about me is its own reward… seems a lot of you ahem noble Saffas take the bait every time I post… its funny to watch, and amazing that lil ole me can illicit such a range of responses and emotions..
but you could always hide away in France for a few weeks and not have to put up with my posts.. oh hang on
3 Sep 2010, 09:36 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-59: talking about confused identity – i was watching the womans world cup on wed… I saw the kiwi woman’s prop, a head shepherd by profession, and I sh.it you not, her team mates called her poppa
3 Sep 2010, 09:39 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-61:
Ons kan nie bekostig om verskoning wanneer die huis is aan die brand gesteek….
and guess who started the fire, seems someone was clowning around with matches…
3 Sep 2010, 09:41 am
hoe kan ek, hemel spel, raak ontslae van hierdie voortdurende duim druk…
3 Sep 2010, 09:41 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-47: hey Popps, how’s the pressure, ur shoulders weary?
3 Sep 2010, 09:41 am
@lapoftherugbygods(lapoftherugbygods)-52: Well actually you were making a point about everyone hoping the AB’s will lose a WC, rather than someone winning it. I was pointing out that we have won it. Twice. But yes, you will be favourites next year, and good luck to your team.
3 Sep 2010, 09:42 am
Grant
McCalman is not a lock. He is a No8 or No 6. He occassionally plays at lock.
3 Sep 2010, 09:42 am
Testing3 Sep 2010, 09:43 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-60: anytime you finish pounding the english girls in the final, you come find HG in Barnes and he’ll take you out on the town – from the white hart on the thames to the orange tree in richmond – we’ll find you a welsh bloke or something who’ll treat you right. You can talk about sheep together…
3 Sep 2010, 09:44 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-64: what pressure Trans? you mean the type of pressure thats on SA shoulders in trying to avoid ANOTHER wooden spoon… how many is that now?
3 Sep 2010, 09:44 am
HeavensGame3 Sep 2010, 09:44 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-61: I am not at all into women playing, but to each their own. Anyways, my husband was channel flicking the other day and came across the Aussie girls playing the English. The English team had one of their flankers sin-binned. As she begrudgingly walked to the side she removed her head-gear. My god she was bald!
I also noted that one of the Aussie girls is Matt Giteau’s sister. I honestly must be a dinosaur… girls look far better with pom poms.
3 Sep 2010, 09:45 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-61: are women allowed to head anything in new zealand? i guess there are always exceptions, especially in poppa’s case.
3 Sep 2010, 09:45 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-62: jy kry lekker tweetalig, ne, my verliefste fokk.en doudruppeltjie…
3 Sep 2010, 09:45 am
@Mighty Horua(Mighty Horua)-70: are you experimenting with the lineout again?
3 Sep 2010, 09:46 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-68: sounds like a night, but wont you have to get permission to be allowed to go out? isnt your missus rather strict like that?
vatso katvis!
3 Sep 2010, 09:47 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-71: apparently Deans is considering drafting her into the squad at Matt’s expence
3 Sep 2010, 09:50 am
@BuckT(BuckTrendy)-76: Damn, just what we need… another set of twins
3 Sep 2010, 09:51 am
3 Sep 2010, 09:52 am
that would be dreadful
3 Sep 2010, 09:52 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-4:
20 points I am not sure, but if Boks win you will disappear or make some disingenuous remark.
@poppa69(poppa69)-47:
To be fair on people who makes these comments, it has happened enough times to justify them saying it
3 Sep 2010, 09:53 am
SHOULD THE BOKS WIN???
I will never wish a loss on our National Team but this might be the best for the boks in the long term. Div is walking on thin ice and if coaches are going to change. this would be the opportune time.
3 Sep 2010, 09:54 am
NZ’ers invented the condom in 1812 by using a sheep’s bladder. South Africans perfected it in 1813 by removing the bladder from the sheep
3 Sep 2010, 09:55 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-71: I tell you what, some of the women are immensely athletic and the atmosphere of the WC is reminiscent of the best of the amateur bygone era.
i was walking to a game on saturday, with the banshee – who likes the game, and saw a group of blonde women walking our way. one woman had an ugly shiner – normally you would think, jeez i’d love to get my hands on the bloke that did that to her – but, this time it was the Sweden womans rugby team….
Some of the women are not bad looking – in a robust, hockey player way. Lots to admire about their commitment – stories of some taking months of unpaid leave to take part… makes a change from some of the spoilt brats in the pro era…
3 Sep 2010, 09:59 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-75: the banshee enjoys a bit of “boys will be boys” for yours truly…. in your case its more like “girls will be boys”… good luck for the weekend, and don’t forget to tie those locks in a tight braid – that english policewoman in the front row is mighty fierce – head shepherd or no head shepherd – she don’t care…
3 Sep 2010, 10:00 am
Sing us another one, Boy George !
3 Sep 2010, 10:03 am
I agree with the journo this time around. Aussies blew their chance at a victory at Loftus, 14 pt lead should have been enough to strangle the Bokke but they let them back in instead. Theres a potential bloodbath awaiting the Wallabies this w/e. Which will be great – the Aussies and Boks still fighting out for the Wooden Spoon and, yet, the Safas will kid themselves that all is right yet again and that they only lost 0-3 because of some refereeing conspiracy.
Long Live Krusty !
3 Sep 2010, 10:04 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-61:
only in NZ would they be proud that there women are good at rugby. urgh.
3 Sep 2010, 10:07 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-86: I would love it to be a blood bath – will be in the stands to see it!!!
Seriously, I think Giteau’s sister would most certainly do better than he does. I find it interesting that his slump in form coincided with Deans’ arrival in Aus. Don’t think Gits likes the discipline that Deans is trying to instill in the team.
Barnes at 12 would have been a far better bet.
3 Sep 2010, 10:08 am
@munkiboi(munkiboi)-87: It is silly to assume only NZ being proud of their womens team. If that were true there would be no opposition
3 Sep 2010, 10:08 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-84:
3-0
doot doot doodle oodle oot doot do do
3 Sep 2010, 10:11 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-69:
Carter: World Cup pressure too much
</strong
Dan Carter says the pressure of winning the
World Cup is responsible for the mass
exodus of All Blacks to Europe.
A host of top players, including Carl Hayman
and Luke McAlister, have decided to sacrifice
their Test careers for the opportunity to
play in the relatively pressure free club
scene in Europe.
Carter said moving overseas was appealing
to those players because the weight of
expectation of winning the World Cup was
just to much.
“Since winning in ‘87, we have been
expected to win every other World Cup,”
Carter, who confirmed that he would look to
move to Europe next year, told the NZPA.
“That becomes quite a burden, a real weight
on your shoulders. There’s always that
pressure and it is part of the reason some
of the guys come over here [Europe]. They
play over here for a club. You might play
more games than you would play in a New
Zealand season, but it is more structured.
“You play for one team, week in, week out,
and you are allowed to concentrate on that.
In New Zealand, you play for three or four
teams, the standard changes but you must
always play well. ”
Reflecting on the All Blacks’ World Cup
quarter-final defeat, Carter lamented the fact
that they opted to play a forward
orientated game when centre McAlister was
yellow carded.
“Because we did that, we made it easier for
the French to defend against us. Luke came
back on and we didn ’t change our game
plan,” Carter said. – so france didn’t play well, New Zealand made it EASY for them
“We got our second try from a series of
close-in drives but the French defended a
lot tighter after that and we needed to
change it, but we didn ’t.
Carter, who limped off with a knee injury in
the latter stages of that match, added that
they should have attempted a drop goal late
in the game.
“This is something we could learn from the
England side, and other teams over here.
They have set plays for drop goals, ” he said.
“That’s a big part of the game over here,
whereas you go to the Super 14 and you
will probably see two drop goals in the
whole competition.
“We practise drop-goal routines but it’s not
part of our culture. In the situation we were
in, it would have been the most appropriate
thing to do. ”
Carter said he had taken valuable lessons
from the loss.
“I thought it would continue to be plain
sailing but it didn’t. Looking back, I can see I
was vulnerable. Not having had a bad
experience in my career beforehand, I
hadn ’t a chance to learn from it,” Carter said.
“It wasn’t arrogance, it was just that I hadn’t
the benefit of what comes from a huge loss.
I hadn ’t played in the 2003 semifinal (loss to
Australia).
“As long as I learn from this, I think things
will be fine.”
This entry was posted on Monday,
November 26th, 2007
3 Sep 2010, 10:13 am
Move over aussies for the pietandbarney bokbefok. the boks are back on track and the “legendary” dingo deans (a right kissing cousin if you ever saw one – overhyped, but thats not out of the ordinary for a kiwi) and his marsupial charges are going to have a good rugby lesson taught to them on Vrystaat turf.
no “reconciliation” from Oneill is going to help here, ’cause plainly there isn’t an aussie provincial kiwi in sight to do the classic Tew ben dover… other than deans of course who may finally get his DCM (don’t come monday) after this blood river…
barney and his front row will scrum these ozzies into the vrystaat earth with f16 air superiority from matfield paving the way for the loosie storm troopers to blitzkrieg the marsupial midfield. after that even donkey de villiers will look half decent walking his way through to the tryline. Mossie and the outside backs are going to run right with hot stuff habanero coming back with a hat trick bang.
yup, many sad tears this saturday for oneill and his kissing cousin dingo… Schweet.
3 Sep 2010, 10:13 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-84: And how good is the English openside flanker? Reminds me of Serge Betsen in his pomp. But a female version. Full of mongrel.
3 Sep 2010, 10:17 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-91: Suddenly my coffee tastes a little sweeter..
3 Sep 2010, 10:18 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-86: @poppa69(poppa69)-90: nice boys, keep that bubble going – like a subprime mortgage, this is one bubble guaranteed to pop…
the abs fannie mae is going to arrive just in time for Oct 2011…
3 Sep 2010, 10:21 am
@RedMan(RedMan)-93: as athletic as… betsen is a good comparison – she does play like him… must say the kiwi 14 wing is bloody good – jeez she could show many a male wing how to play the game…
3 Sep 2010, 10:30 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-91: Am I Dan Carter trans?? so why would I feel pressure?
really, if thats the best you can do youd be better off sitting in the corner of a nightclub blogging on keo while your missus is on the dancefloor, at least liquored up you made some sense..
eish…
3 Sep 2010, 10:42 am
I don’t think any of the Trination coaches are feeling the pressure.
GH is winning = zero pressure
RD is building depth = zero pressure
PDV has won 1 from 5, gag order is nonsensical = zero pressure
All that is on offer tomorrow is a world ranking. If the Boks can play half decent rugby they will maintain their 2nd status and if they do not then they will fall to 3rd sooner than later.
Cold hard fact. Now or EOYT.
3 Sep 2010, 10:43 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-86: You wish, every SA knows we lost 0-4 not 0-3 because we were shite. I really think it’s the best thing that could ever happen to our team, imagine if we were 5-0 up now.
3 Sep 2010, 10:44 am
Well, the odds are that the ozzies have got a foot on the plane already…i hate these games because we all know that it just doesn’t mean as much when you’re 2 and 3. We’ll probably put in one of those 30 pointers or something and have divvy and the matfield/smit kring telling us all there was nothing to worry about
The “tests” for us were in NZ this year. And we failed them badly. Sorry to be so negative but we must face reality.
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