Springboks vs England – 1st Test preview
8 Jun 2012
RYAN VREDE analyses the key match-ups and picks the winner in Saturday’s match at Kings Park.
It has been 12 years since England beat the Springboks in South Africa, but you get the sense they strongly believe they can snap that streak. Their quiet confidence is likely rooted primarily in this new-look group having had a strong Six Nations campaign, in which they beat France away, extended preparation time and the Springboks’ limitations in this regard.
They also give you the impression they think that is their most gifted squad in years. However, while they have some players of high promise in their back division, I have reservations about their pack’s ability to match the Springboks’ physicality.
The gainline battle is unfailingly key to victory in Test matches and with the the Springboks’ key strike runners all boasting appreciable bulk, they will be expected to boss this facet of play on attack. England’s 10-12 axis of Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt will be targeted, with Frans Steyn in particular asked to test their defensive resolve, a battle I believe he will win.
England, however, will encounter an opponent high on defensive aggression, but, given the aforementioned preparation time, relatively low on synergy. If they can get the likes of Manu Tuilagi into space, the midfielder could ask some stern questions, especially if he isolates counterpart Jean de Villiers, who isn’t accustomed to the defensive demands of a position coaches agree is the hardest to defend in.
South Africa will hope to limit Tuilagi and co’s attacking opportunities to deep in their own territory through a kick-chase tactic. Here’s where there are some concerns. Scrumhalf Francois Hougaard will be asked to kick regularly, but this facet of his game hasn’t been strong in Super Rugby. England, if granted broken-field opportunities through poor kicks England have the personnel to punish their hosts. Hougaard must deliver a kicking performance that surpasses anything he has produced this season. His showing in this facet of play at Soccer City in 2010 suggests he has it in him. Here’s hoping he replicates that performance.
The other area of interest is the lineouts, where debutant Juandre Kruger will take command. The Bulls man has been central to the their success at the set piece (no team has stolen more balls, or is own secure on their own feed) and by all accounts has a Matfield-like dedication to studying the opposition’s lineout. Given that the majority of tries in Test rugby in the last two years have been birthed from lineout feeds in or just outside the opposition’s 22, Kruger will be absolutely key to the Springboks’ success. England have a relatively new second-row combination as well, so they may not have the experience and tactical intelligence to exploit vulnerabilities here. I sense Kruger will step up.
Despite Hougaard’s aforementioned kicking concerns, in Morne Steyn, Zane Kirchner and Frans Steyn they have enough tactical kickers to limit England to launches from unfavourable field positions. I expect them to succeed in their bid to pressure England into infringements and turnovers in their territory. Morne Steyn’s goal kicking will again be decisive and, with Frans Steyn’s gun boot, England will also be acutely aware of ill-discipline in positions that would not usually be kickable ones.
The Boks also have a far superior bench that will galvanise them as the second half wears on. All this points to towards a successful start to Heyneke Meyer’s reign and an important psychological blow in the three-Test series.
VREDE’S CALL: Springboks by 9
Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Pat Lambie, 22 Wynand Olivier.
England – 15 Mike Brown, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Ben Foden, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.
Subs: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Paul Doran Jones, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Jonathan Joseph
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298 Comments
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8 Jun 2012, 13:42 pm
Rugby = for the Afrikaans ppl (white & brown)
Cricket = for the rooi nekke
Soccer = for the Xhosas & Zulu’s
8 Jun 2012, 13:43 pm
@grant10(grant100)-101:
Simplistic bulls*h*i*t like this = for idiots like yourself
8 Jun 2012, 13:44 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-100: Don’t sugarcoat it.
8 Jun 2012, 13:45 pm
Must be an incredible collection of rugby academics on this blog. People who know that genetically Afrikaners are doomed to failure as coaches (unless they cleverly conceal their roots with an English name), certain players chosen for the greatest honours will never make the grade because of their affiliation to a certain Super 15 franchise, and best kept secret, new England lock is actually a wannabe Afrikaans coach who is going to derail England’s efforts through genetic engineering (was placed there by well known Jewish philanthropist and academic Errol Tobias).
8 Jun 2012, 13:48 pm
Most players in starting 15 arent Bulls, so why all the uproar?
8 Jun 2012, 13:48 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-103: That wasnt my intention kat – I was just saying listen to what Xhoas kis is actually saying before we all get hysterical. The truth might set us all free
8 Jun 2012, 13:48 pm
@willievz(willievz)-79: Nee die nerds gaan Eendrag toe, hoofseuns na Dagbreek
Die BB ondersteuners is seker a.g.v. al die ryk transvaalse pappies wat hulle bloedjies na die “Afrikaanse” universiteit toe wil stuur.
8 Jun 2012, 13:49 pm
@Frenkly(FrenklyMuDeah)-104: hahaha – I think you mean Philip not Errol
8 Jun 2012, 13:50 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-106: I read what he wrote, over several posts. There was no ambiguity.
8 Jun 2012, 13:51 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-109: OK Point taken – I still think there might just be a reason why English speakers have been successful coaches. Perhaps a more cosmopolitan culture? Just a suggestion – I’d like to see a proper study made of this topic.
8 Jun 2012, 13:52 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-75: Loved it, what a t wat! I truly hope he tries his tough-guy act with Alberts or Etsebeth…This is what he looks like after a fight …. http://bit.ly/Lsf5oL
Rubbish punch though….If Tuilagi learned to **** his wrist he would have KO’d him.
Here’s a cool clip of the d oos getting smashed by Bobo (around the 1:08 mark) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ00btQiqdU&feature=related
8 Jun 2012, 13:52 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-108: No, he’s talking about the dark skinned Jewish philantropist who ran out at 10 for the Boks the last time we put these Poms to the sword at Ellis Park
8 Jun 2012, 13:53 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-112: dman these jews are clever!
8 Jun 2012, 13:55 pm
In the ideal world I would have given the Poms a slight advantage playing at Durban
In the real world however, Steve Walsh is confirmed a referee on the taking, could be that the Poms – who themselves no stranger to ‘influence’ test referee – already took a counter measure but I doubt it
Most pundits believe Walsh will swing it in favour of the Boks, a 10-13 margin is reasonable to expect.
8 Jun 2012, 13:56 pm
Tobias? So quotas started in the 1980′s ??
8 Jun 2012, 13:58 pm
@Frenkly(FrenklyMuDeah)-104:
One of the best ever!
8 Jun 2012, 13:59 pm
@grant10(grant100)-115: Yeah man, he was the first, although he was quite good though.
8 Jun 2012, 14:03 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-63: Does it pain me as much as it pains Afrikaner to know that they have been useless at Bok management?, that must really hurt.
8 Jun 2012, 14:04 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-114: Is there a ref about whom you don’t have a conspiracy theory?
8 Jun 2012, 14:04 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-118: Piss off, kid. Take your tendencies elsewhere.
8 Jun 2012, 14:05 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-118: Useless is a very strong word Xk – Id still rather have Strauli than PDivvy any day
8 Jun 2012, 14:06 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-112:
June 1884?
Avril Williams had no business being there, Neil Burger was far better
But Tobias was more than just a good sub for Naas, unless you meant to Prof Tobias from the Wits Medical School who was in genetics and pathology?
8 Jun 2012, 14:07 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-66: Didn’t mean no for no racial undertones, just merely pointing out the elephant in the room.
8 Jun 2012, 14:09 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-122: I was there, 11 years old. My first test. My dad, my brother and I sat up on the second level behind the posts on the north stand. I think the score was big – thirty something to 9. Awesome.
8 Jun 2012, 14:13 pm
I love it
team has mostly Sharks in and the BUlls okes taking the flack, sounds right to me 
8 Jun 2012, 14:14 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-110:
Basil Kenyon, Ceccil Moss, Ian Mc, Kitch Christie, Mallett, JW
As opposed to:
N. Smith, John Williams, Carl Dup, Harry Viljon, PdV
(Strauli is a Swiss person, got to rule him out)
But then where would you place Dr Craven?
8 Jun 2012, 14:14 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-121:
Yoh, that’s a kakkest post I’ve ever read on Keo.
8 Jun 2012, 14:15 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-123:
Have you been to the bush yet?
8 Jun 2012, 14:17 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-121: You must be out of your mind? Strauli was the biggest and I mean the biggest embarrassment in bok history.
PDV won us a lions tour and tri nations. I blame Hoskins for setting PDV up for failure, calling him a token appointment at the announcement! Hoskins should have been fired for that, even when it was true, PDV did not need that being said by his own boss!!!
I’ve already forgotten what PDV said during his rain, but I will never forget that Kamp Staaldraat saga.
8 Jun 2012, 14:18 pm
Xhosakid, the boks don’t need supporters like you.. go watch banana bafana play and get moered by Somalia or something …
8 Jun 2012, 14:20 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-124:
3 Gerbers’ tries, that was magic
I was home back on a end of the year university break from overseas, watched it on the TV
There is no such talent anymore in thec ontemporary Bok teams,
8 Jun 2012, 14:22 pm
@capebull(capebull)-95: Clearly you are challenged man, I didn’t say I wasn’t interested in rugby prior to 1992, quite the contrary for that matter, its just that its difficult to measure real worth of a player or manager prior to re-admission, my old man, bless his soul, died still convinced that Peter Mkata was peerless as a flyhalf, Naas Botha wasn’t fit to shine his boots
8 Jun 2012, 14:22 pm
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-129:
Wrong!
Bryce Lawrence won us the Lions Series, swinging it for the Boks at the Durban test
give credit when it’s due
8 Jun 2012, 14:26 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-131: Ja, those tries were amazing. All scored in a 20 minute spell in the first half (and unfortunately for us, on the far side of the field). But that fcked the Poms up completely.
8 Jun 2012, 14:26 pm
Why for the love of god is Wynand Olivier back in the springbok team? He cannot produce at this level period
8 Jun 2012, 14:27 pm
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-129: “PDV won us a lions tour and tri nations.”
Bolloks about Lions series, PDV scr*wed up with his substitutions each time and 1st Test Bryce’s wizardry at the scrums gave Boks penlty of 3pointers and Smit cheating his way back to the pitch after being subbed steadied the fast sinking ship, while in the 2nd Test the Bryce Almighty saved Boks from playing whole damn game with 14 men.
Thank Bryce, ungrateful. 8)
8 Jun 2012, 14:28 pm
Xhosakid … Peter Mkata will look good in that mickey mouse standard rugby …. Its like Fourie Dup & J Fourie looking untouchable in Japan.
8 Jun 2012, 14:28 pm
@dquinn25(dquinn25)-135:
Which union does Wynand play for?
8 Jun 2012, 14:28 pm
@capebull(capebull)-95: Exactly the bonehead mentality I’m referring to, what makes you think Bafana Bafana is a domain for blacks and not you as an Afrikaner. Bafana Bafana is your team as much as the Springboks are my team, Bafana’s performance or lack thereof should concren you as much as Bok performance concerns you.
8 Jun 2012, 14:29 pm
The Afrikaners are previously disadvantaged by British oppression and are consequently not accountable for their actions or inactions. The English are currently disadvantaged by their limited claims to previous disadvantage. Female bok coaches have lost fewer games than either English or Afrikaans male coaches. Less talented players have been under-represented over the years and there should be a quota policy. Blind players are less common than blind refs – there has to be conspiracy.
No wait, here’s a crazy pattern worthy of study: Coaches with successful track records are generally more successful as national head coaches than those without. Strange.
8 Jun 2012, 14:30 pm
Greybeard.
You raise a difficult one here.
Why indeed since readmission have Souties had the better results by Far? And they have people.
Related to what Greybeard raised earlier, Craven was very much not a Broeder.
How many succesful Captains in a heavily Afrikaaner dominated playing comunity have their been since isolation.
Why do the Souties seem to take such predominant leadership roles within SA rugby. Most of the best players are boertjies by far. Their is definately a pattern here.
What do you think it illustrates?
8 Jun 2012, 14:30 pm
even A Coetzee looked like a awesome player in the SARU days … when he started playing for EP in the Currie Cup he was shocking to say the least!
8 Jun 2012, 14:30 pm
@dquinn25(dquinn25)-135: He has to score his 2nd try sometime – the first one vs the real rugby nation. Give him a few dozen more opportunitites, he’ll do it, just watch. 8)
8 Jun 2012, 14:32 pm
@XhosaKid(XhosaKid)-118: I always thought it was a pity stupidity doesn’t hurt, in your case thanks for proving me wrong
.
8 Jun 2012, 14:34 pm
@Frenkly(FrenklyMuDeah)-144: now THAT was a stupid comment
8 Jun 2012, 14:35 pm
@Frenkly(FrenklyMuDeah)-144: Cant disprove what he says logically so get personal – works for most 10 year olds in the playground too – A*r*s*e*h*o*l*e
8 Jun 2012, 14:36 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-145: Given time you’ll get it.
8 Jun 2012, 14:37 pm
@lockforward.com(lockforward.com)-140:
I’m busy reading Martin Meredith’s The State of Africa. He has an interesting theory that the brutal scorched earth policy and internment of women and children in concentration camps by the British during the Anglo-Boer helped foster a rampant and fierce Afrikaner nationalism that ultimately led to apartheid.
8 Jun 2012, 14:38 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-146: Please get your hands out your pockets you’re spending too much time at kiddies playgrounds and giving them far too much credit
8 Jun 2012, 14:38 pm
@Frenkly(FrenklyMuDeah)-147: Dont kid yourself – it really is patently obvious what you meant
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