Preview: Scotland vs Springboks
16 Nov 2012
RYAN VREDE, in Edinburgh, analyses the key match ups and picks the winner in Saturday’s Test at Murrayfield.
I’ve written extensively about the importance of the victory over Ireland in Dublin last week from Heyneke Meyer’s perspective and what it would have done for the mental growth of the collective. However, the quality of the performance needs to improve against a determined Scotland side who come into the Test with confidence gained from having beaten the Springboks recently and indeed tested the world champion All Blacks last Sunday.
I think there will be three key areas the Springboks have to master if they are to win: The gainline and breakdown on attack (I’m confident they’ll do so on defence), the lineout and goal-kicking.
Scotland have great belief that their rush defence system will blunt the Springboks’ aerial assault, cutting down the tourist’s primary strike runners’ space and time and consequently creating broken-field opportunities from poor punts. The tourists’ strike runners were poor in the first half at Lansdowne Road but upped the ante after the break which saw a drastic change in the Test’s attacking complexion. They have to be on point, not only for the efficiency of their kicking game, but also the fluency of their ball-in-hand attack, with Scotland exhibiting an appetite for spoiling play at the breakdown. It is therefore imperative that they win the collisions and clean well if they hope to ease their attacking task.
With their attack in what Meyer called the ‘goal zone’ (between the 22m and opposition tryline) unlikely to show marked improvement, they will rely heavily on their lineout mauling as a try-scoring weapon. Territory is key in this regard and if they are able to set up drives close to the aforementioned zone I cannot see Scotland’s pack denying them regularly. Expect them to crumble under the force of the Springboks’ shove or concede penalties, which then heightens the importance of goal kicker Pat Lambie.
The Springbok flyhalf kicked relatively well last week, but with his side’s now chronic struggles to cross the chalk, he will be acutely aware of how critical it is that he contributes with the boot.
The forecast is for heavy rain on Saturday, which will demand a tight approach from both teams. In a war of attrition, the Springboks have an edge but Scotland will be combative for at least three quarters of the match. The vistors’ bench boasts some strong impact players and they could prove to be a determining factor in the result, but they must have a platform on which to build, as I suspect that chasing the game with the Scots galvanised by the prospect of another Springboks scalp and passionate home crowd roused, could be terminal to the Springboks’ cause.
There has been a patent determination about the Springboks this week and their supporters will hope that translates into a clinical performance. Victory is non-negotiable.
VREDE’S CALL: Springboks by 10
Scotland – 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Laidlaw, 9 Mike Blair, 8 David Denton, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown (c), 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Ryan Grant.
Subs: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Alastair Kellock, 20 Stuart McInally, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Peter Murchie.
Springboks – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermuelen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 CJ van der Linde, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Jaco Taute, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
272 Comments
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17 Nov 2012, 10:21 am
@wnbb-230: well said.Good morning
17 Nov 2012, 10:39 am
@wnbb-191: Damaged brown racist
17 Nov 2012, 10:46 am
@phil72-250: he was too small in his playing days
size does matter unfortunately
17 Nov 2012, 11:18 am
@ryecatcher-251: Good morning Rye.You are such a gentleman.
17 Nov 2012, 12:00 pm
I know its a sin not to know but when one is working a seriously busy and tiresome job would it not be so much as to ask for
Ur Game previews to show the kickoff time as every other normal preview tends to do.. Basics!!
I know what time it is now but I like the security to be able to Check a couple times
17 Nov 2012, 12:09 pm
@Guns-255:
Ha, believe it or not, but I came here to check on the kick off time also. You’d think it would be one of the essentials on a preview of the game.
17 Nov 2012, 12:26 pm
@Guns-255: @JockBok-256:
14.30 Jocktime.
Not sure what that is in Time Zone of the Gougers.
17 Nov 2012, 12:31 pm
@cane-257: 16:30 = Beer time! Or whatever you fancy – a Savannah (‘cider’) would be good to start with today methinks…
17 Nov 2012, 12:39 pm
England 42 – aus 9
17 Nov 2012, 12:53 pm
@Guns-255: on you dstv remote push the ok button click on something attractions then click rugby and it will show on the screen the games and what time and what channel they are on.
17 Nov 2012, 13:01 pm
@cane-257:
Yar, thanks bud. 14.30 my time also then. But guess who’s at work now ffs? Yesterday my afternoon was clear, but today……………..arghhhhhhhhhhhh
I’ll be looking for some nice commentary on this site and of course some cursing from the Saffers as the Jocks put them to the sword
17 Nov 2012, 13:02 pm
@suffer_guy-259: Noted & filed.
17 Nov 2012, 13:07 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-258:
Bill Tong and SA Sav Blanc here BB.
17 Nov 2012, 13:14 pm
@JockBok-261:
I have been watching a most excellent TV documentary over the last month or so.
“The History of Scotland”.
I never realised what a bunch of pricks your Nobles were in days gone bye.
I have turned to side with the Jacobite’s.
17 Nov 2012, 13:15 pm
@cane-263: My word, I’ll do the Highland Fling if Jock manages to pull it off!
Plenty of Scots blood in me.
17 Nov 2012, 13:59 pm
Weather condition seemed favourable for the Boks, not much rain last few days!
The Jocks must keep Steenkamp and De Jung on the field as long as they can if they stand a chance, it worked that way in 2010 (Beast in for Steenkamp, Aplon in for JdJ)
17 Nov 2012, 14:08 pm
@Hondo-266:
And not a word about the ref! That’s a first.
Have you decided to raise your standards?
17 Nov 2012, 15:26 pm
@cane-264:
Sold to the poms for a bottle of whisky and a half eaten haggis.
FREEEDOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lol, I need to see that doccie, will keep an eye out for it. And as Robert Burns said about said ‘nobles’…
O would, ere I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My auld grey head had lien in clay,
Wi’ Bruce and loyal Wallace!
But pith and power, till my last hour,
I’ll mak this declaration;
We’re bought and sold for English gold-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
17 Nov 2012, 15:34 pm
@JockBok-268: Poms probably demanded change too.
17 Nov 2012, 15:38 pm
@katman-269:
17 Nov 2012, 16:04 pm
I gave up checking on Keo for kick off times long time ago. Found supersport site very good for it. And actually started enjoying the articles too.
Keo’s site is like &e Laan. K@k acting/story line. But complete escapism
17 Nov 2012, 17:42 pm
This is the worst coached book team in history. I don’t think I can handle another year of this.
Please be bold and bring back mallet before Meyer does too much damage
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