The Springbok who dropped two sensational goals to sink the Wallabies at Newlands last year, is expected to have another chance to terrorise the Australians here on Saturday.
www.news24.com.
Frans Steyn will probably take over at outside centre from Adrian Jacobs, who is injured, in South Africa’s starting lineup for the Tri-Nations rugby Test match at the Subiaco Oval.
Steyn’s two drop-goals steered the Springboks to a 22-19 win in Cape Town last season.
Jacobs suffered a hamstring injury after another fine performance in the second Test against New Zealand last Saturday.
The 30-28 victory at Carisbrook moved South Africa into a favourable position in the Tri-Nations race but Jacobs’s injury was a matter of concern here on Monday.
Loosehead prop Gurthrö Steenkamp is also a doubtful starter. He has a cut near one of his eyes. If he is unable to play, Tendai Mtawarira is likely to take on the Aussies in the front row.
Schalk Brits will be the new hooker in place of Bismarck du Plessis, who has been suspended after replacing injured John Smit, the Springbok captain and No 1 hooker.
“It’s one of those things one just has to live with,” Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said on Monday when he was asked about fielding a third hooker in as many Test matches.
“One can lose focus if you concentrate on it too much. We have to build on the foundation we now have.
“Schalk is a Springbok, whether he has played for two or three minutes or in 80 or 90 Test matches. He is ready to give everything, as is everyone else.”
De Villiers may also consider a change among the loose forwards, where Pierre Spies is in the running to take over at No 8 from Joe van Niekerk. Another option is to use Ryan Kankowski as impact player from the back of the scrum.
The coach, whose selections won’t be queried too loudly after the Carisbrook victory, expects a new sort of challenge from the Wallabies.
“It will be a lot different to playing against the All Blacks,” he said. “Psychological preparation will be very important; that’s where this battle will be won.”
The Wallabies will have their first experience of Test-match rugby under the experimental laws this week.
The Springboks have the advantage of being more accustomed to the laws after two Tests against New Zealand but the Aussies would have studied and analysed their performances.
“They’ll know what to expect from us but we don’t know much about them. We have to depend on old footage,” De Villiers pointed out.
Perth, he added, felt like “a second South Africa” with so many former South Africans living in the city.
“We have seen more smiles here in less than two days than during the whole time in New Zealand. Even the customs officials were friendly. We’d like to thank them for their assistance.”
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desperately unlucky for Adi
Tough luch Adi.
Not so sure about Frans at 13 – I would rather have JDV there – he has the ability.
And for Piets sake – give Kanko a start – he was far and away the best loosie in the S14!
@Big Fish (Comment 2) : no such luck… looks like we’ll get the big dumb one at 8 instead
I know we were good to win the last test but were we really 12 points better.
nicely spotted… will edit it
@Big Fish (Comment 2) : Cyborg = Tenderiser , Kanko = Marinade 😆
Shouldn’t we be going with JdV at 13 and Big Foot at 12 ?
JdV is unstoppable and his breaks will get our wings into action.
@blackshark (Comment 7) : it’s possible they’ll line up that way. I just liked the headline 😉
@blackshark (Comment 7) : I would only then play Frans @ 12 on defence ‘coz on attack he thinks and reacts to slowly… 😉
@Charlie (Comment 9) : Depends on what the Wallabies decide to throw at us…but having Butch and Frans at 10 and 12 can be very frustrating for the opposition…if handled correctly.
PdV has everyone guessing again, who or what is the reported ace up his sleeve?
@spykerbaard (Comment 11) : I wish we hadn’t lost Bismarck …but I’m still feeling pretty confident… 🙂
I see the Cape tabloid press are punting Grant ahead of Butch!
@robdylan (Comment 13) : So obvious… 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 13) :
Not a bad idea..Butch is in serious need of a break.
@blackshark (Comment 10) : But still, rather leave JDV @ 12, he had been successfull on organising attack and defence, IMO why break something that’s working… 😉
If you consider grant and jean play together and jean and steyn can inter change as need be.
good call I say.
And I second why on earth is Kanko being kept out…
@blackshark (Comment 12) :
if they play with the intensity they showed on saturday, we should be fine and i think Brits will be up for it tho we’ll all miss Bissie… but i’m expecting PdV to come up with some surprise selections
I could live with this…
15 Percy
14 JP
13 JdV
12 Mop-head
11 Habana
10 Butch
9 Ricky
8 Cyborg
7 Juan
6 ScHULK
5 Vic (c)
4 Bakkies
3 CJ
2 Schalkinho
1 Gürthro
16 Strauss
17 Mujati
18 Bekker
19 Kanko
20 Ruan
21 Grant
22 Jantjes
@robdylan (Comment 13) :
if playing Grant is the ‘ACE’ up PdV’s sleeve, then i wont be too worried as Grant showed he’s got what it takes, and with Ricky and Jean inside and outside of him this could really work
I think Butch is getting back to his groove…it’s not easy adjusting to the laws and stuff. He doesn’t look tired to me.
@blackshark (Comment 19) : Not a bad team, I would prefer the Beast over Mujati though
@blackshark (Comment 21) :
i’ve got no problems with Butch, but i am prepared for PdV to come up with some unexpected selections
@Pokkel (Comment 22) : Good point 😉
black shark that is exactly the team i posted on keo
I really don’t understand all the hype around Pierre Spies.
I also think Grant should be played off the bench with Butch starting.
We don’t want to throw him in at the deep end against the Aussies who will be seriously pumped up to get one over the current WORLD CHAMPIONS!
Thats a very good team you have there blackshark.
I’d probably add Kanko to the starting team and have Big Joe on the bench.
Spies se madre se … 🙄
@wpw (Comment 27) : I know what you mean…but when we (Sharks) played the Tahs I had one or two “wish-we-had-Spies” moments. Otherwise…Big Joe is not a pushover himself.
What’s the kick-off time in SA… 11:05 / 12:05 ???
Charles
Isn’t it 11:30am???
@Charlie (Comment 29) :
@wpw (Comment 30) : Whatever you do…be in front of your telly by 11 am.
I heard that Robbie Deans has been giving the Boks non stop praise after last week’s victory.
I hope the players are focused and don’t believe the hype.
We need to remain humble and if we perform like we did last week we will beat the Aussies.
Let’s not talk a big game but actually play a big game (if that makes sense) 🙄
@wpw (Comment 32) : Makes sense. We actually need to go up another gear and play better than last week.
@wpw (Comment 32) :
some of Dean’s analysis of the Bok game was spot on, not just hype, but they still have to play a big game all over again this week…
here is some of what Dean said….
They’ve made a bit of progress in terms of their combinations,” Deans said. “They hung in the game well, because for a stretch they looked like they were gone. But they never relented. That was most evident when Victor Matfield was sinbinned. For most teams, that would have been the death knell. But the courage they showed to get up and get home, and that they kept looking for opportunities, is a trait which is invaluable.”
What will also change for the Wallabies as they prepare for their first Tri-Nations match is the level of intensity.
“What we are entering is going to be significantly different to what we’ve been in. The contest is at another level in terms of physicality and speed,” Deans said.
“What is so evident is that we have to play for 80 [minutes]. There will be no scope to relax. They are the world champions, and you don’t achieve that lightly.
“They were also prepared to use the width of the ground, which is a bit of a growth for them. They also have capabilities across the park, and its only because they threatened those outside channels that the inside one opened up ultimately. And they kept attacking.
Thanks spyker. Thats exactly what i was talking bout. Wot im concerned about is that we get a bit windgat + think becos we beat the all blacks we just need to pitch up + we will win.
Touch luck for Adi…
He at least has 3 weeks to recover after this before playing NZ in CT…
“We have seen more smiles here in less than two days than during the whole time in New Zealand. Even the customs officials were friendly. We’d like to thank them for their assistance.”
LoL…what is PdV saying….all NZ’ers are suurknolle…..
I won’t start Spies and Kanko in the same match 22…you will only have cover for 8…
With Joe you have for all 3 positions (he has played in all 3 for the Bokke…and he is looking faster than ever…)
And Watson you have for 6/8…
So I will opt for Joe on the bench….
Or even start Joe and bring on Kanko at the turn of the halves…
Wallabies team :
The eight members of the Wallabies Tri-Nations squad not selected will all play for their clubs this weekend.
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 James Horwill, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Hugh McMeniman, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Ryan Cross, 22 Drew Mitchell.
Date: Saturday, 19 July
Venue: Subiaco Oval, Perth
Kick-off: 18.05 (10.05 GMT) (I guess that makes it 12:05 RSA time) 😐
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
TMO: Garrat Newman (New Zealand)