A Super Saturday of rugby action kicks off with a double bill of Rugby Championship before heading straight into the Currie Cup action. To start us off is probably the most important match of the day as South Africa take on the Wallabies in Perth.
The Wallabies have made late changes to their team, Tatafu Polota Nau coming in for the injured Stephen Moore, with Saia Fainga’a coming onto the bench. There is also a debutant in the backline with Dominic Shipperley getting his first taste of international action. Australia have lost two matches against New Zealand so far and will be keen to get some points at home against the Springboks.
The Boks have had their fair share of criticism after their disappointing draw to Argentina two weeks ago and will look to make amends against Australia, a match that will all but certainly determine who finishes second to the All Blacks in the this year’s Championship. Ruan Pienaar will relish a start in the 9 jersey while Francois Hougaard will have to prove his many talents playing on the wing for the first time in a while. Juandré Kruger will also look to cement his place in the team following the dropping of Andries Bekker.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Dominic Shipperley, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (captain), 8 Radike Samo, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Scott Higginbotham, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Nick Phipps, 21 Mike Harris, 22 Anthony Fainga’a.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jean de Villiers (captain), 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Francois Louw, 20 Johan Goosen, 21 Patrick Lambie, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
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My feeling is Quade Cooper and Will Genia will tip the scales the Aussies way. Together against SA they have always been a tough mountain to climb in stopping their magic. I also think Morne may cost us this game by playing into the Aussies hands but HM won’t see it that way.
I reckon we will win this one by a bigger margin than most people are expecting.
Here´s to hoping like hell.
kom nou bokke!
All I really want is for Lambie to get a run.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : Same here…. @10 I would have preferred…
@Franshark (Comment 4) : I fear that ship has sailed. I’ll be happy if he just gets a run at 15
GAME TIME!!!!!!
Morne drop goal attempt miss
First penalty of the game… Aus hand in, Morne gets a chance to kick for goal…
Aus 0 – 3 Bokke
3min
Aus spills a chance….
Ausies kicking good ball away
And again…
Aus 3 – 3 Bokke
18min
SA defense is worrying. Dropping off tackles and being pushed behind the advantage line almost every time.
Idiotic rugby from both sides. Aus looking by far the better side, though.
And just as I say that we score a great try after going through the phases AND getting over the advantage line for a change.
Finally, thought they were going to butcher that!!
Habananananana!!!!
What great play….
Bokke
Aus 3 – 10 Bokke
20 min
Wohoooo!!!!
Frans what a kick…
Aus 3 – 13 Bokke
25min
Stupid penalty. Wasted ball and field position!
and 3 points given away
PK Aus
Aus 6 – 13 Bokke
28min
Morne Steyn provides nothing. Weak on defense and nothing on attack. What a waste
Beast gets a Yellow….
Bad to worse. Morne hands the convicts the ball, then beast gets a yellow.
Dumb by Tendai!!!
A great call to play Hougaart at wing ahead of Mvovo…
Hougaart making a good impact already….
In 2 minds about Ruan…
Play seems a lot quicker…but we also lost posession a few times with those ruck times where he shows every person around the ruck where to stand…
Aus 6 – 13 Bokke
HT
How have we been playing this week compared to the last two games? Hougie at 11??
Is JP injured?
@Hmmm (Comment 28) : I disagree, he has made one good grubber. Otherwise he hasnt touched the ball apart from being mashed by Samo. I dont blame him, bok tactics dont suite a player who likes the ball in his hands and doesnt want to chase up and unders all day.
@klempie (Comment 31) : Nothing too special. Took one of our two chances to score a try. Have kicked faultlessly at poles, but havent done anything to get excited about. If the convicts didnt keep kicking the ball away, they would be on top.
Kak rugby by both sides. Either team can lose this.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 32) :
He had a kick chase…
Ripped the ball from Will…
Had a few breaks…
And gotten around in def…
Def much better than Mvovo…
Neither are JPP though…will be greayt when he comers back from injury…
Will JPP be ready for the SA stint of the tourno?
SA made a few bad calls…should have scored twice more…
However Aus also missed a chance…
@Hmmm (Comment 35) : True, he is busier than Mvovo. Mvovo tends to wait for the ball. SA need to start having more faith in their backs, and coming up with some new moves. Its just too ponderous at the moment and Mornes decision making is slow. His first instinct is to look to kick, therefore when he doesnt he has delayed play by a split second thinking about it. At international level, thats effectively the end of the backlines advantage..
The stupidity of the Bok gameplan is matched by the dumb rugby the Aussies are playing.
@Hmmm (Comment 36) : Aus have missed lots. They are more guilty of kicking the ball away than SA. Now who would ever have thought you would say that!!
@Pokkel (Comment 38) : Words out of my mouth… The difference is SA are used to playing dumb, they are better at it, hence the scoreline.
Our backline is clueless. Great opportunity to score with the ball just having to go through the hands and F Steyn passes a long skip pass to Habana, who was standing still waiting for the ball and cover defense to get to him.
It´s hard to see the difference between a forward and back when they receive the ball in the phase play. The only exception Hougaard.
Thank goodness this aus team is sooooo bad
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 33) : Convicts kicking ball away?
Curiouser and curiouser…
I must just say Marcell Coetzee has been very good.
Convicts within 4. SA need to step up.
Steyn better make this count. opportunity to take 3 straight back
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 45) : Owens…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 46) :
Get steyn the F%&k off!!
I see the ABs struggled against Arg too. This Rugby Championship stuff is not living up to all the hype. SH rugby not looking very good right now.
Wow, poor skills from both sides.
Who wants to bet Morne gets a full 80 mins? Anyone?
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 52) : I’ll take that bet.
WTF!!! SA scrum crumbling to the Aussies?? Another great field position absolutely screwed.
@klempie (Comment 53) : You think he will or he wont?
That was a very Bok-like try, not Aussie. Good on them.
And there it is, aussies take the lead, SA fold. In one minute SA went from just outside aus 22 to standing under their posts.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 55) : I think he won’t.
Eish Morne has done his best to have us lose this game.
Bring on Goosen!
Mvovo you fool.
Run straight. Not across field and then pass.
The guys got determination, but just not up to it on skill levels.
Come on Fransie!
So the Aussies stop kicking and guess what? Surprise surprise they score a try.
Wow, chances butchered, aussies give a penalty. SA some chance to draw even.
That was a real woer-woer.
16 All
Great kick Fransie. GET MORNE OFF!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! 5m scrum convicts.
Habana is a great loss…Hougaart still very busy making an impact and another step through gaps…but Habana was just as busy and that gone completely…
Plus when Mvovo had an opportunity he cut off JdV space closing off a great opportunity for SA to score…
MVOVO you wanker!!
@hendrikp (Comment 60) :
As I was saying…
Mvovo you fool.
Sorry about the language. Appalling stuff, truely appalling. Boks will pay!
The convicts are playing very un-Aussie like rugby today. Far more direct rugby than they usually play.
Yup, 3 points straight back.
That was dumb…come on guys…
Morne…how could you not see that came off Mvovo trying to catch with his foot…
Wake up or fake an injury and get off so Johan or Pat can come on…
Aus 19 – 16 Bokke
63min
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 69) :
Losing Habana for Mvovo seems to becoming a game decider…
@klempie (Comment 72) : Still think Morne will get pulled with the Boks 3 points behind and 15 mins to go?
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 77) :
Hope so hey!!!
Guys…who have we got in SA to replace HM? I sadly can’t think of anyone.
SA go back into their shells.. as if they had ever left, and the aussies are more than happy. Another wasted opportunity.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 77) : They won’t be 3 points behind…
Gonna lose this game.
Can’t say I’m surprised though.
Heyneke will have to go before things will get better. Has his favorite son Morne Steyn kicking up-and-unders all game. Helps us F all.
19All
Another chance for HMs ilegitimate son to level the game and give HM a reason to keep selecting him.
Level and Morne books his place in the bok side for the next 6 months.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 85) :
Try time aus… oh dear. Can we really keep playing like this?
Frekkit….
How embarrassing.
Best we can hope for is a missed conversion. OK, Morne kick your way out of this.
Great work by Juandre Kruger and Mvovo to let the prop shunt them 10 meters to the tryline.
Barnes kicks from the sideline. We can’t win the game anymore.
Heyneke you are a pathetic joke.
Brings on Goosen when Morne has already lost it for us!
Goosen on for Morne…
YaY!!!!
game over…
Goosen on
@Hmmm (Comment 93) :
It doesn’t matter. Game over.
Hahahahaha Klempie, you win!! Goosen gets 10 mins to not be able to shine and Morne starts again next week.
Lambi on too
Lambie on for Kirshner…
YaY…
Although Kirsner had quite a good game…
Another lost ball… like watching a Leslie Nielson movie
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 97) : Stick with me boytije. I’ll show you the ropes.
Kick penalty. Kick penalty.
Great interplay between Lambie Goosen and Steyn…
Looking twice the attacking team already…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 100) : Nielsen movies are funny…
In one second, Goosen makes more line breaks than Morne has made in the last 3 years.
Had more breaks in the last 3 min than the first 70…
Morne…the death of SA rugby…
@klempie (Comment 104) : So is Morne Steyns genome
Nice lineout…
Ok, so how do we cock this up?
Wow Fransie’s strong!
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 107) : ROFL!!
Fools.
Should’ve taken the penalty and tried to come back with a try.
Now it’s definitely game over.
Lost forward!! Of course, what did we expect!!
Alberts and Vermeulen need to buy a pair of hands each…
They kill great SA attacking play often…
Come on Goosen, weave some magic and show up HMs rent boy
Hougaart def making a dif on the wing…like there is life on the outside…
As much as I gave him crit at 9…credit where credit due…
I’ve had it with Heyneke and his blind belief in players who stumble through 80 minutes of pathetic rugby.
Sooner he gets the sack, the better.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 115) : Did he just kick the ball away?
Ok, now Im perplexed. WTF did Goosen kick that for?
@klempie (Comment 118) : The voice of HM ringing in his ears…
Let’s see who knocks the ball this time…
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 120) :
And the price goes to Goosen for knocking the ball this time…
At least his been getting around Aus players…
Game over… oh well. Losing to the worst aus team in 20 years isnt that bad. It f%&king aweful.
HM is useless…
He has players like Goosen and Lambie and he plays Morne?!!?
What an idiot!!!
@Hmmm (Comment 123) :
Unfair situation to bring him on for.
Remember Jake White having to explain himself…
I’m thinking the same thing for Heyneke when he gets back to South Africa.
Stop using Straueli excuses. Just absolutely pathetic.
LOL.
Jean thinks the Boks should’ve won.
He actually thinks they’re playing well
Aus 26 – 19 Bokke
FT
Dumb plank rugby. Nuff said.
Useless players:
No 1. Morne Steyn
No 2. Mvovo
No 3. Vermeulen
No 4. Jannie
If Heyneke starts with Morne next week then I’ll do a klempie.
FYI a ‘klempie’ is when you support the opposition!
@Hmmm (Comment 130) : You can add Mtawarira to that list. He is a shadow of the Beast we know.
@hendrikp (Comment 126) :
HuH??
I was talking about who in the team gonna knock in that attacking play…
I said he at least gets around the Aus players before he did…
@Hmmm (Comment 130) :
Juandre Kruger definitely comes in at number-2.
The Beast was also terrible. Wish Gurthro never left.
@rhineshark (Comment 132) :
You actually right…
One positive…Jeandre was a huge step up from Bekker…
@Hmmm (Comment 133) :
I wasn’t taking aim at you…
Meant at what Heyneke and co. will be saying.
How much f-ing experience do you need to not play like a moron.
We could be winning if it weren’t for Heyneke.
And here the fool was saying he’d be selecting the strongest team for every game!!! HAHAHAHAHA.
@Hmmm (Comment 136) :
No way in hell.
He was just as bad.
@hendrikp (Comment 137) :
Oh…lol
Agree 100%
How do you have a Goosen and Lambie and not use them??!!??
@hendrikp (Comment 138) :
Nope…our line-out was much better and he was very good in general play…
He put on a lot of pressure with his pace and got 2 turnovers…
That being said…a huge lift from Bekker is not a compliment though…
Goosen is a better stepper than Cooper…
@Hmmm (Comment 139) :
I didn’t even mind Morne starting…
But when we have a strong midfield, then don’t have your flyhalf launching up-and-unders from set phases when you’re in midfield. You RUN THAT!!!! That’s Heyneke and co. being stupid, and Morne not being able to think for himself, while not having the skills to play differently it looks like.
And to then bring Goosen & Lambie on when the game has already been lost… that’s just a slap in the face for all the supporters.
Oh dear.
Heyneke blames it on “inexperience, and they must learn from this”.
Just quit moron. We want a real coach.
@hendrikp (Comment 142) :
I have a problem with Morne starting…the same game plan under HM and looked like a completely dif side…Morne is part of the problem!!!
@hendrikp (Comment 142) : Won´t make a shred of difference if the midfield are as likely to bash it up as the forwards.
We need guys like de Jongh and Fourie there if we´re going to play a flyhalf that can run the ball.
@wpw (Comment 131) : KSA has been doing a lot of those too this year.
@Hmmm (Comment 140) :
His pushing of Ben Alexander pretty much cost us the game.
As bad as Bekker letting players run right past him.
@rhineshark (Comment 145) :
De Jongh is def not the answer…in tight games he is useless…
He made 2 breaks in the S15 and both were in the last game…
@rhineshark (Comment 145) :
Not bash it up… but at least use their strength to try make some space.
No point launching up-and-unders.
@Hmmm (Comment 148) : I would rather have a guy that CAN actually make a break and distribute than a one-dimensional donkey like F Steyn. That charged down kick of his in our 22 was the perfect time to run it out, because the defense was thin out wide. @hendrikp (Comment 149) : They had a golden opportunity to create space when we spread it wide from a lineout we won off Aus ball and what did they do with it? We also had another great chance to score when between FSteyn, M Steyn, de Villers and Habana they couldn´t do a basic thing like let the ball go through the hands to score. Instead passed a long skip to a standing Habana.
I agre the up-and-under thing is pathetic, but we need a creative midfield if we´re going to change the game plan.
I was actually hoping the Aussies would win……first time ever. I’m gatvol with the kak gameplan and Morne Steyn. HM deserved this loss. At least I got it right on SB.
@rhineshark (Comment 150) :
Agree on Steyn…but Steyn will get over the advantage line if only by strength…
Don’t know if De Jongh can in any way…so cannot say if better…
@Pokkel (Comment 151) : I’m also happy with the loss, it’s time for change!
Morné was rubbish on attack, rubbish on tactical kicking, rubbish on up & under garbage game plan, and a coward on defense.
HM is rubbish at strategy, rubbish at game plan, rubbish at reading the opposition and rubbish with his selection policy.
All in all, we need a pretty big sturdy broom to sweep 7 months (not sure how long exactly, not sure I care) of HM’s coaching poo out of Springbok rugby.
@Hmmm (Comment 152) : de Jongh has a very good step. He is the type of midfielder that can change a game if the opposition defense loses concentration for just a second. Our current duo couldn´t spot a gap AND use it if it was dressed in a pink tutu and shouting at them through a Rammstein live concert sound system.
Juandre Kruger had a good game ,never been a fan ,but he played well enough to vindicate Meyers selection of him bar that stupid penalty he gave away.
Etzebeth wasn’t bad ,but I still feel he needs another season of super rugby along with Goosen.
Morne Steyn is woeful at flyhalf .
Alberts and Vermulen arent as effective as they should be at carrying.
Jean Deysel is playing some dam good rugby.
When lambie & goosen entered the game all of a sudden the boks had a backline that the aussies couldnt handle. Morne steyn needs to be dropped from the 22 and i am surprise lambie actually got game time. But he was supposed to pull off a miracle that didnt happen.
@Talent (Comment 155) :
Who would you play @ 10 and 15 ? and who would you have on the bench as cover ?
@Dunx (Comment 156) : 8min is not really “game time”….
@Zibbie (Comment 157) : at this time I’m quite keen to have Lambi @ 10(not gonna happen)/Goosen, JdV@12, JdJ@13, FS@15…
@Franshark (Comment 159) : I think a combo of Goosen at ten and Lambie at 15 will offer a ton of options to coaches able to see past 1 dimension.
Having different moves where Lambie and Goosen rotate standing at 10. On defense I’d have Lambie at 10 and Goosen at 15 because of Goosen’s monster boot and Lambie’s ability to always land a tackle.
Then have Goosen at 10 for razzle-dazzle attack and Lambie at ten for pin-point distribution attack.
Now just need a technical coach able to mastermind this and we’ll have the best backline in world rugby. We do however have some serious dimensional problems at center.
@Franshark (Comment 159) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 160) :
Id like to see Taute in the squad for 15 . Will be interesting to see if HM picks him for EOTY