McCabe, Vickerman front Boks
7 Oct 2011
Pat McCabe is preferred to Berrick Barnes at inside centre, while Dan Vickerman has been deployed to stop Victor Matfield’s influence in the quarter-final in Wellington.
McCabe seriously injured his shoulder two weeks ago but has made an unexpectedly quick recovery to start. He will test the defence in the Springboks’ 10-12 channel with his direct style. Barnes drops to the bench and joins centre Anthony Fainga’a, who returns from injury.
Other changes in the back division sees Digby Ioane return to wing after an injury sustained in their opening pool match. He replaces Drew Mitchell, who was forced to fly home after tearing his hamstring. The run-on backline is the same one that beat the Springboks 14-9 in the Tri-Nations match in Durban in August.
Meanwhile, the South African born Vickerman has edged out Nathan Sharpe in the second row. ‘There wasn’t a lot in that call,’ head coach Robbie Deans said. ‘They are both experienced and both understand the importance and composure in matches of this magnitude.’
Vickerman is one of five changes in the heavies, with Radike Samo, Ben Alexander, Rocky Elsom, Sekope Kepu reinstated.
Scott Higginbotham is omitted with Ben McCalman asked to cover all three loose forward positions.
Deans said their recent dominance over the Springboks (they’ve won five of their last six Tests) counted for nothing. ‘That stat is irrelevant now. History reflects sides who have done well leading into the tournament haven’t won it,’ he said. ‘It’s whether we an do it on Sunday. That’s all that matters.’
He added that their pool-phase defeat to Ireland would have offered the Springboks clues in how to nullifying them – ‘what Ireland did, the Springboks’ are also equipped to do’ – but stressed that his team has improved since then.
The Wallabies have been heavily penalised by referee Bryce Lawrence in the three pool matches he has handled (33-18 penalties in favour of their opposition) and Deans explained that discipline was a theme this week.
‘There has been a lot of dialogue about it and we’re very concious of it, particularly since the Springboks’ philosophy is to prey on the opposition’s errors.’
Australia - 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill, 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Subs: 16 Tatafu Polota Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Luke Burgess , 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Fainga’a.
By Ryan Vrede, in Wellington.
Follow Ryan’s World Cup coverage on Twitter
29 Comments
7 Oct 2011, 03:29 am
Kurtley, will be the key man on attack, from broken play; he will
put through O’Connor and worst of all Digby. our up and unders must be
chased by at least 2 players. Beale has the ability to punish lethargic defence,
in fact he thrives of it.
7 Oct 2011, 03:33 am
oh!
uxham ovuthela umlilio.
7 Oct 2011, 03:40 am
Some weird selections by Dingo Deans, both Digby and McCabe rushed back from injury and it may well backfire. As for dropping Higgenbotham for the carthorse, just don’t get it. Higgenbotham made an impact in every single game he came on for the Wobblies…
Anyway, pressure Genia and it is half the batlle won.
7 Oct 2011, 03:42 am
And that’s their “injury-ravaged” team.
7 Oct 2011, 03:46 am
@SHARKattack(mabu)-1:
And on a side note, miss another DRAGON in the first post up and you will have to spend some time in the corner!
7 Oct 2011, 03:52 am
Don’t understand the dropping of Higginbotham. Would have thought he is close to the perfect impact loosie off the bench.
7 Oct 2011, 04:06 am
@Eight Ace(Eight Ace)-6:
Higginbotham makes a couple of good ball-carries a game, but he’s nothing special. Personally think McCalman brings more energy.
Glad they’re playing McCabe… playing right into our hands. Berrick Barnes did an excellent job of opening things up last week, whereas McCabe lines up the closest player and tries to have a sort of one-on-one duel. Only part of his game where I could find fault would be his (Barnes) defense, where he ALWAYS goes low. That’d be fine in some circumstances, but for a 12 you should be making ball-and-all tackles.
7 Oct 2011, 04:11 am
I’m suddenly feeling more confident about this game.
Berrick Barnes would have been a far more difficult prospect to deal with, particularly in tandem with Cooper. Obviously they’re trying to target Morne Steyn with McCabe’s “direct” style but I can’t see this working as he’s no Jamie Roberts or Nonu. This is definitely advantage Boks.
McCalman on the bench is also a mistake IMO. He’s been found wanting when covering for Pocock so if Pocock comes off early with another injury flare-up, the Wallabies will be in groot kak.
7 Oct 2011, 04:29 am
Deans is trading mongrel for guile in the forwards and guile for mongrel in midfield. I believe this is the wrong way around. JdV to eat up McCabe and the forwards to have an easier time without Sharpe.
7 Oct 2011, 04:36 am
Nah Teacup, Vickers is a much more rounded player than Sharpe. that is one pick he got right.
7 Oct 2011, 05:23 am
Apparently Paddy O’Brien and Bryce Lawrence met up after the OZ vs Ireland game. Reviewed match-footage, and Bryce Lawrence was then made to come forward saying that he was far too harsh on Australia, and at least 3 scrum penalties should’ve gone the other way.
Then they hand him another Australia game?!?! Of course he’s going to be far too hesitant in penalizing them now. Has probably been part of the NRZU’s plans all along.
2 things that have most annoyed me this year:
- Melodie Robinson. Horrible analyst. Not sure what they were thinking. Give the job to Ian Smith, or Ian Jones even.
- Paddy O’Brien being a cheat. Complained about not being awarded a try from a blatant forward-pass. Happy to complain when those decisions decide games, but then also complains when the referee makes a sensible call to go to the TMO. Obviously just wants to see the AB’s win, no matter what. Give his job to someone who has the games best interests in mind, not what’s best for the All Blacks.
7 Oct 2011, 05:27 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-5:
What is the dragons thing about by the way? Been reading the blogs on this site for a while and often wondered. I love the passion and knowledge you blokes have for the best game in the world, and there’s much less **** spouted. Even the **** stirrers are funny!!
Anyway, really looking forward to Sundays game, and I have no idea which way it will go, but I do reckon the winner of OZ v SA will go on to win the whole thing, taking out a weakened NZ in the semi, and then destroying an exhausted Wales or Ireland in the final. (Bold prediction eh?).
Here’s hoping for a good hard game (hopefully with a few tries scored) and that the ref doesn’t ruin it!
Good luck, but not too much…..
7 Oct 2011, 07:26 am
I’m so damn excited!
Our forwards are going to go BOS in this game!
7 Oct 2011, 08:07 am
@scrumfan(scrumfan)-13:
oz will get to look deep in their souls and touch the abyss big time on sunday.
7 Oct 2011, 08:15 am
Errr Ryan did Benn Robinson make a miracle recovery that we dont know of??
7 Oct 2011, 08:21 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-11:
I there anything else you want to moan about, you just dont stop do you.
7 Oct 2011, 08:22 am
@scrumfan(scrumfan)-13:
Can’t see it you didn’t boss Wales or Samoa so why do you think you’ll boss Australia?
7 Oct 2011, 08:27 am
The best team to tackle the Boks.
Australia never encounters any problems with the Bok scrum, so that wont be a problem
Vickerman will add some grunt upfront!
It will certainly be a contest at the lineout…
Pocock will rule and reign
Elsom needs a big one!
Genia and Cooper….well all depends on the forwards
Welcome back Digby and Nalla
7 Oct 2011, 08:30 am
I am really very nervous for this game, but feel a LOT better having seen the Aussie side. Sharp and Barnes not starting and no Higginbottom in the whole 22. Surely these are bad calls. Maybe Deans wants to introduce Sharpe when Danie and Spies are off, so our lineout is under more pressure?
McCalam and Samo not the player Higginbottom is. Barnes much better than McCabe and would add an educated boot. Their front-row back-up can’t compete with ours.
7 Oct 2011, 08:36 am
Guys think we’ve got problems with John starting. Imagine having to start Horwill??? Its clear Vickerman and Sharpe together would be a harder prospect.
7 Oct 2011, 08:39 am
i expect bryce_in_oz to be all over this thread telling us how kwaai the aussie bench looks like he did before the oirish game
7 Oct 2011, 08:49 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-17: He means “bos” as in bush (saying that means mental in SA) not boss.
7 Oct 2011, 08:53 am
@Eight Ace(Eight Ace)-22:
oh well that explains it then
7 Oct 2011, 08:55 am
ozzies seem the only team able to pick their first choice team completely negating their main weakness – lack of depth!
a very strong team – boks going to need to play very well to knock ozzies out. not as confident as i’d like to be for this one.
7 Oct 2011, 08:59 am
Unreal backline – but the battle will be won up front, and the Aussie pack is A V E R A G E!!
Pocock is the only dangerman up front, so we keep hi quiet, game is in our hands!
Cooper, well I just hope someone stands on his face, what a chop.
7 Oct 2011, 09:03 am
@weaselfb(weaselfb)-25: No we need Cooper on for the whole game!!!
Aussies dangermen are Pocock and Digby. Genia also great. Sharpe too, but on bench. I rate Higginbottom, glad he’s not there.
7 Oct 2011, 11:10 am
Good call on Vickerman, he will help crack the afrikaans call’s too.
7 Oct 2011, 14:05 pm
Higginbotham not on bench is a huge mistake. McAlman is as avg as they come.Rest of the bench is mediocre barring Barnes who Im glad isnt starting.
7 Oct 2011, 14:41 pm
Bokkie this is a very good Aussie side – the boks are going to have to play out of their skins and have to play the full 80 mins – if the game is drawn at half time my feelin is the Aussies will take it in the last 15 just like Durbs ……….. Look this could be the last game many of the current Springbok team ever play for SA so i hope they give it horns …. but 2 more hard clashes after this one , maybe a bridge too far
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