The Springboks start their home leg of the Tri Nations campaign against the Australians in Durban today, with the Boks desperately needing a win to get some points on the log and stop a losing culture that has come over them in recent times.
The Springboks field a side that shows almost no resemblance to the side that lost both away encounters last month, with so called A team players back from their injuries and ready to do duty. This influx of returning players can be seen in every area of this team, with first choice props Beast Mtawarira and Jannie du Plessis adding much needed stability to the forward pack, and Matfield and Botha able to win us a few line outs, the Boks will have plenty more go forward ball.
The Australians, the only team who have not falling into the trap of resting their players, field almost exactly the same side that beat them in Sydney a few weeks ago, with their top combinations playing together week in and week out. This has its positives and of course negatives, as players could quite easily get injured.
I look forward to seeing some of the great Springboks play in what could be their penultimate home game in the Green and Gold, and I have the privilege of being able to attend this game and see them in action. Come on boys, let’s do this thing!
South Africa: 15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Gio Aplon.
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 Scott Higginbotham, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 James Horwill, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Salesi Ma’afu, 18 Sitaleki Timani, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Radike Samo, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Anthony Fainga’a.
Date: Saturday, 13 August 2001
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Venue: Mr Price Kings Park, Durban
Expected weather: There is a 40 percent chance of rain with a high of 20°C, dropping to 13°C.
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Radike samo?? Was he on the bench last time sa vs aus?how old is he now?35,36?but he is still a big fijian,oops,aussie.
Bout 1.97m 119kg.good size to join the fray in 2nd half.
…Bryce lawrence..hmmm?
go BOKKE
Guthro steenkamp on the bench- almost forgot about him.hope he shows nice form,being a long lay off.but he is quality.
Looking forward to the battle of the wingers here.
Bit uncertain bout frans steyn at 15..how many times dsid he play at 15 for racing metro this past season?
Bit uncertain bout frans steyn at 15..how many times did he play at 15 for racing metro this past season?
Butchie must keep his tackles lower than shoulder level but compensate for height with delivering even more “punch”in the hit (evil). Here is hoping his shoulder and quade cooper’s arrogance meet ..(evil)
And the scrums..hmm?
Need to put pressure in genia.
@bergshark (Comment 11) : you about covered the hole spectrum there, just as bored waiting for the game as me?
Looking forward to the game…
@fransshark:haha yes ,I was just bout to comment: anyone else want to write/add something?yes,can’t wait:hope bokke do it today.
So its the speedy youngsters vs the slow experienced campaigners…
The biggest ask for the boks is to get going quickly, long time since this group played together…
Well at least habana sounded keen .said on tv news how he knows you have to make each moment count in bok jersey.dunnno when you will pull the jersey over your head again.but that aus back 3 ,even though they quite small,looms large..big threat.
@franshark: brussow vs pocock..massive contest right there.
With Butch playing hope to see some planned moves other that just kick and chase…
I dearly wish for the boks to play us into a state of awe…
Second that.would be nice to see exciting backline play from the boks.also for pierre spies to start performing in a bok jersey.showcase his athleticism runnning with the ball.
How will fdp go?
I’m outta here.go bokke!!!!
Hope the Boks play better then SA Academy
@Mutley (Comment 23) : I think the poor Academy (under 18) side that only got together on Tuesday are up against an under 19 French team.
50 min SA Academy 17 Frace o/18 31
The academy team in pathetic
Interver Rugby Halftime Pukke 29 Kovsies 13
60 min SA Academy 17 France o/18 31
Academy scores 66min 24-31
And the French score 36-24 68 min
Fulltime SA Academy 24 France o/18 36
R@Mutley (Comment 31) : respectable score considering the one-sided nature of the game
@beet
The French stopped playing they knew the won. The academy couldn’t even get the basics right
Interver Rugby Fulltime Pukke 41 Kovsies 18
I think this one is going to be a cracker! Go Bokke!!!
Boks goal kickers: In Super15 James 88% (7 from 8); In 2011 Steyn 79% (82/104).
Wallabies goal kickers in 2011: O’Connor 70% (60 from 86) Cooper 68% (76/112) Beale 72% (59/82)
In case you missed it, Boks starting line-up boasts 810 caps, previous record of 750 caps, v Australia Bloemfontein 2010
2011 Boks on average per game: 26 lost possessions/turnovers, missing 1 out 3 tackle attempts, 9.5 hand errs, 9.5 pens
2011 Wallabies on average per game: 22 lost possessions/turnovers, missing 1 out 5 tackle attempts, 9.7 hand errs, 7.7 pens
Ref stats: Lawrence in Super15 forced to award, per game average 18.3 pens (10.3 at ruck) 4.2 scrum resets & 3.5 scrum infringes. Lawrence in Super15: 16 (1=most/highest) from 17 refs to award pens, 14th in ruck pens 12th ruck pens 4th scrum resets.
Back at halftime now that they have 12 minute breaks instead on 10 minutes.
Very windy at Kingpark and pretty overcast
@beet (Comment 37) : Hope the rain stays away.
Go Bokke
Kick off
Steyn to kick at goal and over
Bokke 3-0
Ausies putting in big tackles
Butch just floored Genia
Penelty Butch Bokke 6-0
Penelty Butch misses
TMO for a try
No try
Brossow is back
O’Conner first go at goal after 38 min
Penelty O’Conner and misses
Halftime
Bokke 6
Wallebies 0
That was about the most exiting 2min (after the siren has gone) of the game yet, a real grinding test….
Haha yes more happened after the siren
The Boks need a try or two quickly after half time. A dominant first half but only six points ahead.
Great atmosphere. Exciting game. Loving the Brussow / Pocock play at the breakdown. Not loving Butch’s tackling technique so much. Or Habana breaking the d-line in the hope of getting an intercept, altho I can see another merit to it in terms of unsettling the Oz passing game. Go Bokke.
good start boys.now come and kick some aussie arse
Beast is having a realy good game
The 2nd half begins
Penelty o’Conner 6-3
Try McCabe
Aus 8
Bokke 6
49 min
Bismark on for Jannie
Aplon on for Steyn
Wallabies at our 5m.
Like the new Supersport strap!
Deysel on for Brussow
du Preez charged down…
Who got red carded and when??
Oh it’s just a graphics detail.
I can’t watch the game. How are the Boks playing?
@lostfish (Comment 70) : NOt sure. Missed the first half.
Bis showing the Wallabies who’s boss.
Penelty Butch Bokke lead 9-8
Penalty Boks after a Wallaby went offside right in front.
Boks 9 – 8 Wallabies
58 mins
Hougaard on for Habana blood
Ag man.
The Boks managed to phase the ball up to the 5m line from inside their own 22 and Wolla loses it forward in the tackle.
60 mins
Aus 8
Bokke 9
60 min
Hougaards gets a great little ankle tap in on O’Connor
Mostert on for Bakkies
Penalty Wallabies after JP played the ball on the ground.
O’Connor from 38m out, 15m from right hand touch.
Penelty o’Conner Aus lead 11-9
Through.
Boks 9 – 11 Wallabies
66 mins
Wallabies turn the ball over after disrupting a Bok maul.
Steyn is on for Butch.
M Steyn on for Butch
Steenkamp on for Beast
And its raining
Bryce Lawrence is such a ponce.
The Boks starting to lose it
Aus 11
Bokke 9
70 min
John Smit is being murdered in the scrums!
The Aussies DESTROY the Bok scrum.
@Ben (Comment 89) : along side with Steenkamp…
O’Connor chips the resulting penalty over.
Boks 9 – 14 Wallabies
74 mins
Penelty o’Conner Aus lead 14-9
Boks are not good enough. Disappointing.
@Franshark (Comment 91) : Its the tighthead side that’s going backwards.
When did Ashley Johnson sign for the Wallabies?
Boks have a lineout on the left hand side, about 23m out.
79 mins
Kom Bokke
They win a penalty off the lineout and go for another closer to the line. Lineout is 8m out
Siren goes.
Aus win it 14-9
And Rossouw spills it forward.
FT Boks 9 – 14 Wallabies
The Boks were rusty, lacking match fitness
How’s that hamie of stein, LAMBI for fullback next week?
@klempie (Comment 102) : you look happy?
One more game for Div to become the first coach to coach a Bok team to losing every single game in a Trinations.
Flat. No game plan evident. Poor but not hopeless.
@Franshark (Comment 105) : Yes, I’m quite pleased. Post 106 refers.
@Ben (Comment 107) : and that’s what I wanted to see more than get the win, and now we lost and did not show any signs of a WC winning game plan…
@Franshark (Comment 109) : It’s almost like you sound surprised.
@klempie (Comment 110) : Am a bid, thought a surprise was on the table after camp-Rustenburg.
Peter Helium has now won 8 of 21 tri nation matches 38%
@Mutley (Comment 112) : ouch
Jake White had 8/18 44%
Lets just get a congratulations in order for meneer snor..not only are we the laughing stock of world rugby..we have no plan b and by the looks of none of the boks wanna play under him..
Such a close game stats wise
, so RSA first: Rucks 70 v 76; Lost possessions/turnovers 21 v 20; missed tackles on average 1 in 4, v 1 in 5; tactical kicks from the hand 27 v 27;
Australia conceded 12 penalties to South Africa’s 6. Both side conceded 2 penalties inside their 22.
South Africa made 4 critical handling errors inside the Australian’s 22. This was 4 of the 12 they made. Australia made 9 handling errors in the match.
An unusual, well for me anyway amount of charge downs in the match. South Africa charged down 1 and Australia 2.
@Mutley (Comment 112) : It’s only going to get worse.
Disappointment once more
Bit unfair of pdivvy to have expected of smit to play @3 after 55min or so of effort at 2.
But who else can play at 3 from the bench?certainly not greyling or cj.
Beast was awesome today- guess only flaw was not passing inside after his charge down the line near end of first half.but was allover the field it seemed.making tackles,carrying the ball up.hitting rucks.
Boks also didn’t play advantage well when they had pen in 57min of the game.fourie dp just kicked aimless outside of the boot chip kick a la carlos spencer-couldve played the advantage a bit there.
Not a bad comeback game for several rusty Boks.
Would have liked better tactical kicking and handling in contact (Danie was very bad today), but I’ll take it as a loosener.
Hey Rich – you were right, Oz did win, but just by a whisker.
Hope the Boks come back against NZ thou it won’t be much considering NZ sent a B team
@Mutley (Comment 121) : I´m afraid NZ´s “B” team will be far too good for this lot.
Firstly, they´ll actually have a game plan that doesn´t consist either of bash-it-up or kick-it-away.
Secondly, when on our tryline, after numerous phases and with our defense in disarray, they will spread the ball and score and not mindlessly keep going with a forward onslaught ending in the inevitable spilled ball. They also won´t have locks and flankers who cough up the ball just about every time they go into contact.
And finally, they are not going to put their hooker at prop and give away the one thing going for them (a dominating scrum) and allow the opposition to gain the edge and win the game.
They simply won´t be THAT STUPID.