South Africa face Wales in the second round of the elusive Grand Slam in Wales this afternoon and we will all be hoping to see a similar performance we saw last weekend.
Mercurial Frans Steyn is the only change to the starting line up, and the team should be able to build on the win over the Irish and build momentum to complete a win over all four home nations.
Wales have called up teenage sensation George North, and it will be interesting to see how he fares against a rejuvenated Bryan Habana, who has been around the block a few times.
The Millennium Stadium with its closing roof will make matters on the field nice and easy as they will not have to deal with rain or mud, but one has to wonder whether this will play into South Africa’s favour or not?
If last weekend is anything to go by, this weekend’s match has the ingredients for a great battle. The Springbok pack outplayed the Irish all over the place while the Welsh pack destroyed the Wallabies’ scrum but lost everywhere else. The contest between the two packs will be an interesting one at scrum time. Last weekend the Wallabies won the line-outs in Cardiff, as did the Springboks in Dublin. That suggests that the battle for primary possession could be even.
Teams:
Wales: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 George North, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 James Hook, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Jonathan Thomas, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees (captain), 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Paul James, 18 Ryan Jones, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Andrew Bishop, 22 Chris Czekaj.
South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Frans Steyn, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Zane Kirchner, 22 Patrick Lambie.
Date: Saturday, 13 November 2010
Kick-off: 16.00 (16.00 GMT)
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Expected weather: They do not matter if the roof is closed, not once you are inside. Outside it looks as if it will be cold and wet.
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Boks by plenty.
Habana to finally make the try scoring record his own.
I like your style MLovin.
Do you have any single sisters?
So are the gonna close the roof or not?????
@Big Fish (Comment 3) : Yes. Be afraid, be very afraid.
@Ben (Comment 4) : They are. Maybe.
@McLovin (Comment 6) : haha that doesn’t help now does it?
@McLovin (Comment 5) :
@Ben (Comment 7) : I’m 99.9% sure that the roof will be closed.
McL… Did you ever reply to my comment about organising a sharksworld christmas party?
@robdylan (Comment 10) : Yes, but in a very evasive non committal type of way.
Things a bit too uncertain on the work front at the moment to commit to anything unfortunately.
But should you organise anything let me know. You never know.
Apparently there are likely to be 20,000 empty seats at the game today.
@Ben (Comment 4) :
If they are it would have been closed during the week already, the keep the pitch dry.
A little pointless to only close it on the day I think.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) : will have to wait for the game and see I guess
“The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) have confirmed that the roof will be closed, which is what we requested as well,” said Springbok spokesperson Andy Colquhoun.
@McLovin (Comment 15) : Great news if indeed true!
Mystery McLovin
@McLovin (Comment 15) : Only news that could be better is if m.steyn got injured in the 5the minute and lambie came on! If juan smith could go off and alberts come on early it could be a bonus as well!
@Ben (Comment 18) : Carefull what you wish for.
@McLovin (Comment 19) : Not wishing just hoping!
I see stefan is waxed for when he retires! In the supersport studio!
Go Bokke
hey hey Sharksworldians…. ready for a Bok attack?
My Weekend Picks:
Argentina by 12
Australia by 6
South Africa by 13
Ireland by 6
France by 9
New Zeeland by 23
Current log position out of 76 members: 6th
Roof is closed.
2 late changes for Wales. Gethin Jenkins and Dan Lydiate are out
Game 5: Italy v Argentina: Argentina by 14
Game 6: England v Australia: Australia by 9
Game 7: Wales v South Africa: South Africa by 14
Game 8: Ireland v Samoa: Ireland by 8
Game 9: France v Fiji: France by 23
Game 10: Scotland v New Zealand: New Zealand by 19
Vic becomes most capped Bok of all time today. Congrats chap
Good luck Boks.
@robdylan (Comment 28) : Is that little Vic
Must say it is very good to have Stefan in the studio. Really good to listen too.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 30) : Little Vic, yes
Big Vic is on the bench!
Why is Bakkies lined up next to Victor? Is he vice-captain?
Got my 1st SB honours for the EOYT 2009, can I manage another
3-0
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) : it’s the blood brothers thing, I reckon
oooh – pretty bad defensive communication between the centres there… 7-3 Wales
Frans you idiot! That was your man!!
Ruan = Traffic officer.
Walsh is a moron. What is he DOING?
WTF????? These guys are making it up as they go along.
Stegmann gets caught with the ball “#7 Juan Smith under pressure” It was #6 and it was Stegmann
awesome start
Morne STeyn – what a tool
This lisping prick of a Welshman is so biased – we better win so that I dont have to listen to his shit.
How was the Wales try not crossing?
How was this JDV penalty justified?
What a knob.
Our midfield plays like palookas
Another try to Wales!! Oh goodie!!
We’re playing worse than we did during the Tri Nations!
@Charlie (Comment 46) :
And then our outside backs let us down.
First Habana chases up to quickly and messes up the defensive line and then Basson dive at fresh air.
Brilliant play by Basson!!
supersport’s site sucks ass again
Penalty by Steyn OVER!
Wales 14 Bokke 6
Ag come on Bokke
geez, this sucks!
The Springboks are set to abandon the past weekend’s winning recipe against Ireland in favour of a ball-in-hand approach as they look to beat Wales under a closed roof at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
“We hope the roof is closed because it will offer more opportunities to move the ball around. We’d like to play more expansively and keep the ball in hand. The rain did not allow that at the weekend, but we are satisfied with some of the phases we built against Ireland,” said South African backline coach Dick Muir.
I knew it was wrong when I read it on Monday.
Jitte but we are being outplayed. I can’t see us coming back to win this.
Frans Steyn just passed to Tendai’s feet.
Well done Mr Overrated!!
@wpw (Comment 55) :
This is the Boks not WP. They can comeback from anywhere.
Wal 17 – 6 SA
30min
We seriously need alberts on the field right now!
Wales vs South Africa
Played – Plenty
Won – 2
Draw – 1
Lost – A lot
Steve Walsh shouldn’t be allowed near a rugby field.
Welsh forwards diving over the top at ruck time and he’s not even close to the action.
Aplon lucky there was a knock by Wales or he would have been nailed for pulling the player back without the ball.
Pass the ball Bismarck!!
Damn but the Sharks players are crap today!!
Sub Pienaar or M Steyn; kicking all the freaking ball away!
@wpw (Comment 62) : 3 sharks on the fiels so what’s your problem?
Damn but Ruan is crap!!
Penalty SA!
Habana you D@@S. Pass the ball OUTSIDE when you have an overlap.
Habana fooked that one up by being selfish!
Why don’t they just play the Sharks team,this is pathetic!
Wales 17 – 9 SA
HALF TIME
KSA Shark
I agree that Habs should have passed but Jean should never have skip passed.
We had a 2 man overlap!
@wpw (Comment 62) :
NOTHING can be worse than Crapana’s choice to try and go inside with a clear unmarked man outside him.
@wpw (Comment 70) :
The skip didn’t cost us the try, it was still on even after the skip by JdV. Crapana cost us the try.
selfishly trying to prove that his form is back and then not doing anything of the sort.
So Wales are playing Sharks rugby and we´re playing Bulls rugby. No prizes for guessing what happened the last time these to styles met.
Time to bring on Hougaard, Lambie, Alberts and telling the guys to stop kicking every fucking ball away.
Boks are playing idiot rugby! IDIOT RUGBY!
But JDV messed it up with the skip pass, that eliminates the overlap
@rhineshark (Comment 73) :
@robdylan (Comment 74) : @robdylan (Comment 74) :
See:@KSA Shark © (Comment 54) :
I’m not a happy chappie right now
Mvovo to wear 11 for the rest of the tour. Habana is a tool
@Charlie (Comment 75) :
Crap, the overlap was still there when Habana got taken by the LAST defender and decided not to pass it to the free unmarked Aplon on the outside.
@robdylan (Comment 78) :
He can’t be a tool. Tools are useful things.
@ KSA, the basic principle when it comes to a overlap, is to never ever give a skip pass
@Charlie (Comment 81) :
Yes but even with the skip pass the overlap was STILL THERE!!!!!!!
A basic principle of an overlap is use the man who is unmarked and open on the outside BECAUSE of the overlap.
It is NOT try and score the try yourself so that you can break the try scoring record.
@Charlie (Comment 81) : Nope, dont agree, not never
@robdylan (Comment 78) : Agree totally Rob. Habs must be dropped and Mvovo must play for the rest of the tour. Should have been a try had Habana passed. Still feel so damn annoyed at him for not passing.
Crapana is interested in one thing only, trying to make the most tries scored his individual record and stop sharing it with Joost.
he cares little for the team.
Wales 20 – 9 SA
43min
@wpw (Comment 60) : Possibly he potted a few before the game.
Penalty Boks in front of the posts!
@Charlie (Comment 81) :
Charlie, the try was still on. Habana messed it up – how can anybody dispute that?
Steyn PK
Wales 20 – 12 SA
47min
ALBERTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on for Stegman
@robdylan (Comment 74) :
@robdylan (Comment 78) :
I don’t even have to comment,because I agree 100000000%
Spies having a very good game!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : It’s about damn time.
Can Ruan please stop waving his arms?? Damn!!
unlucky slip for Basson there.
Get Pat on the field!
Morne can only kick!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 91) : Thought he scored a try there
@Honey Badger (Comment 97) :
NOPE the last few balls he’s got he’s taken up VERY nicely.
TRY Alberts!!
Alberts looks weird in the jersey.niiiiiiiiicccccceeeeeeeeeeee trrrrryyyyyy
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 98) :
He Has now.
ALBERTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TRY!!!!!!!!!!!
SHIt, but Vic is a legend!
Willem you beauty!!!
Converted by Steyn!!
Walws 20 Boks 19
SA on the attack now!!
Can someone tell me what is up with wilkinson?
YEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
Take that you swamp-dwelling lyrical mofos!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 102) :
Let’s try it with the next sub
Try Matfield!!
Shame on you Habana,how is Matfield strike rate.Is it good or bad?
Matfields try converted
Wales 20 – 26 SA
55min
Oh Lord…
Habana screws up again…
Dude, you are making your name gat!
Wales score!!
It’s all about the Vics
Conversion missed by Wales
Wales 25 – 26 SA
58min
@wpw (Comment 114) : @Big Fish (Comment 113) :
@Big Fish (Comment 113) : Mvovo for Banana,anytime for me.
Good tackle by Habs!!
Alberts tackle after tackle. working hard.
FLIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on for Bakkies.
Hougaard on for Ruan. Thank goodness!!
Leave your hair alone and play rugby Hougaard
Hougaard on for Ruan.
Think Hougaard may just spark us now – maybe time for Lambie too.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 121) : Thought he scored a try there
@wpw (Comment 122) :
He was kak today.
This knob of a commentator is freaking annoying.
@Big Fish (Comment 125) : Yes,I would have liked that @ 60 min
And Habana screws it up YET again.
WTF? We know you have the talent – is the Missus knobbing you to death?
Habana knocks on a sitter of a pass and gifts the ball to Wales.
He can thank his crap arse that we had advantage or else they would have scored.
Steyn slots a PK and Lambies comes on to replace him
Wales 25 – 29 SA
65min
score update please someone…also how much time left
Kirchner and Ralepele on for Habana and Du Plessis
I’m listening to this prick Welshman in the hope that I can gloat in his bleating when they lose.
Wales 25 – 29 SA
74:39 on the clock
@Big Fish (Comment 135) : It’s a pity supersport was too cheap to send over our own commentators.
thanks…nails are no more…
Is it over??
FULL TIME
Wales 25 – 29 Springboks
Come on… Post it already
Ag come on!!
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 139) :
final whistle blew at 83:19 on the clock. All Wales on attack in our 22 in the last 4min.
AWESOME DEFENCE BOKS
WELL DONE BOKKE!!!
That was all balls, and very little skill.
Well done boys.
Give Pienaar, Steyn, Habana and a few of the non-tackling forwards a mirror.
Awesome games by Spies, Beast and Aplon.
Mvovo must have a start next week.
Okay don’t all fall down.
I’m chuffed for Matfield that he had the pleasure of captaining and scoring a try in his record breaking match.
Well Done.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 143) : Oh
, I thought a UK minute was 120 seconds long 
what a great comeback. Bic Vic spearheaded it
@Big Fish (Comment 135) : Also Brian Moore is a real tit.
@McLovin (Comment 149) :
Yeah if he comments like that as a neutral i wouldn’t want to hear him if England are playing.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 150) : Fortunately for the rest of humanity he doesn’t get to do that.
If we play like this against england we are gonna be crushed!
@lostfish (Comment 137) : why do you want our commentators there? It gives you a nice feel of an away game if its their commentators! I like it! I hate the fact that our commentators were commentating in the tri-nations away games! Most of our commentators suck @ss!
The first Wales try was obstruction/crossing of the highest order.
Why do we get the drunk ref?
@McLovin (Comment 149) : I can’t stand him. He is so one eyed it is unbelievable and annoying to listen to. Include the Welsh Pygmy commentator and it is unbearable.
The BBC really should try to get more unbiased commentators.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 25) : Down to 21st
. Kiwis and the French better get me bonus points 
@Ben (Comment 152) : It is mainly Brian Moore and the Welsh Pygmy. BM does not disguise his hatred for the Boks.
@lostfish (Comment 154) :
It was really poor form; beyond normal parochial home commentating. Agonising to listen to.
At least we downed the bog-dwellers. Knowing they felt they shoulda won makes it even more sweet.
This uncoached, exhausted, Bok B-team doing quite well.
@lostfish (Comment 154) :
Who’s the Welsh pygmy?
no delayed game on sabc 2 *lots of tears*
@McLovin (Comment 159) : I had his name a minutes ago, but now it’s gone
@robdylan (Comment 161) :
Mr Jones mayahap?
Damn.
@McLovin (Comment 159) : I think his name is Jonathan Davies. He is the high pitched one who says everything 3 times.
Well done Bokke ! Keep it up PDV !!!