South Africa host Australia in Durban for their penultimate test of the series with a clear message that SA need to get maximum points to stay in contention for a series win.
Will the Springboks’ expansive game plan finally come good and give us the result we need?
Or will the Aussies finally manage that first SA win since 2000, which was also played at Kings Park Stadium. The Australia victory was sealed with a last minute kick to give them a 19 – 18 lead.
Kick off in Durban at 15:00 SA time.
Referee: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
ARs: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Rob Debney (England)
TMO: Romain Poite (France)
South Africa:
Starting XV: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Andries Bekker, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Joe van Niekerk, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Frans Steyn, 22 Percy Montgomery.
Australia:
Starting XV: 15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Sam Cordingley, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Daniel Vickerman, 4 James Horwill, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Hugh McMeniman, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Timana Tahu, 22 Ryan Cross.
Tweet
AMABHOKOBHOKO!!!
Come on guys…do it for yourselves…do it for the coach…and do it for the country!
GO BOKKE!!!!!!!!!!!!
@blackshark (Comment 2) :
you going down to the game?
4 tries might be a bit much to ask.
Played 34 in SA.
Won 27.
@McLovin (Comment 6) : That’s the Boks v Aus.
Boks to take it! I’m feeling really confident today!
@McLovin (Comment 5) : I will take the win first!
@Villie (Comment 9) : That’s all I want. 😎
Die broers singing the Oz song. 🙄
Three others okes singing SA anthem. Not sure if they’re related.
@McLovin (Comment 11) : I still piss myself when I hear that name! 😆 😆
Durbs weather.
26°CFeels Like 27°C
Fair
Wind
From Northeast at 23 kmph
Humidity
61%
@McLovin (Comment 12) : Bala brothers!
Here we go.
@Villie (Comment 15) : Sowaar? 😆
BEEEEEEEASSSSSSTTTT!!!
Breakdown’s a bit better so far.
Boks looking very incisive!
Frantic pace.
Butch fired up.
CJ in trouble. 👿
Pen Aus. Kickable.
Bit silly from CJ. Lucky not to get a card.
Stupid CJ.
Over.
3-0 Aus. 9min.
@McLovin (Comment 25) : Bit silly? RIDICULOUS! What is between his ears?
Another free kick against boks at breakdown. 👿
@Villie (Comment 29) : Mostly air it seems. 😉
Boks scrum all over Aus. 😎
When are we going to finish ONE of our chances? It’s very poor…we create so many chances but can’t finish anything! Frustrating!
And what is wrong with our lineouts. If we keep losing our own ball, we’ve got a moerse problem!
@Villie (Comment 33) : Hopefully very soon.
Pen Boks.
Doughnut Dunning looks like his head’s going to explode.
Line outs a mess. 👿
@Villie (Comment 34) : Matfield. No leadership. SAme as last week.
Our lineouts are a SHAMBLES!
48 thousand in attendance.
@McLovin (Comment 37) : 😆 😆 Beast is shoving his head up his….
yet another free kick cm’s from try line. 👿 👿 👿
Beast holding on?? WTF?? 👿
Pen Boks. Kickable.
Finally!! Hinds offside!
Butch misses. 👿
Ummmm…forgive me if I’m wrong but don’t we have to get 4 tries??
We need to score.
@klempie (Comment 48) : To have any hope of winning the Tri-nations yes.
How long is it now since we last scored a point? Ages!!
@McLovin (Comment 49) : Yeh, by putting the ball on the grass behind the goal line. 4 times!
@klempie (Comment 48) : We need to win the game first!
Free kick Aus 5m out.
So Juan Smith Still tackles well and STILL refuses to pass. 👿
TMO.
Close, very close.
@Villie (Comment 53) : If we score 4 tries we win the game man. The age of being heroes for winning individual tests is over.
could be.
@klempie (Comment 58) : You can’t worry about scoring 4 tries. You have to win the game. You take your points when on offer. 4 tries is a bonus!
Try. 👿
8-0 soon to be 10-0.
@Villie (Comment 60) : A bonus which we HAVE to get to win the trinations.
That is a shocking decision. How can you award that? It was short and you could not see who was under the ball. Pure guesswork.
10-0 Aus. 28min.
We need to settle down a bit.
@klempie (Comment 63) : Yeah but you can’t worry about winning the Tri Nations now, you have to win this test first. Even if we win both tests with scoring 4 tries we are not guaranteed to win the Tri Nations
Dunning about as effective as a throw pillow.
The odds of us taking the tri-nations are slim. I’d be happy with 2 good wins against Aus.
Boks going for glory one step to early it seems.
Too many boks get isolated at breakdown. 👿
Turnovers & free kicks galore against the Boks.
112min with no points.
@Villie (Comment 67) : If we win and don’t get a bonus point then we DEFINITELY can’t win the tri-nations.
@Villie (Comment 64) : You can if you’re English. Same shit last night with Bouch getting stumped. 🙄
Some good defence from the Boks.
@klempie (Comment 74) : I understand that, but at the moment we don’t even look like scoring one try never mind 4. And we need a win first and foremost
We get a free kick. 😯
my work is seriously interfering with my social life.
Plenty happening. zero points for Boks.
High tackle no.4 Pen Aus.
@McLovin (Comment 80) : PDV better pray we get at least a point on the board. Can you imagine if the Boks go TWO weeks in a row without scoring…at HOME??
5m scrum to Aus seems likely.
22m drop out.
Half time. 10-0 Aus
Boks need to get their shit together.
Aus hardly doing anything other than the basics and have 10 points to show.
Ref again blowing every marginal call against us.
@robdylan (Comment 88) : And TMO made a poor call
@McLovin (Comment 87) : Maybe that’s the secret??
We dont have a clue how to score. We can turn it round though…Aussies have lost Vickerman and Barnes!
@klempie (Comment 90) : Fairly open secret. 😉
130min since the Boks last scored a point in tri-nations.
@McLovin (Comment 92) : Not to those buffoons from across the Jukskei it’s not. 😆
Effigy shops must be getting ready for a bumper run on the PdV model. 😈
So we have 2 “great lineout specialists” in Victor Dofokkolonthefield and Bekker, and we still lose our own and can’t challeng their ball?
Then Spies and Smith can’t NOT turn over the ball – how can you win?
At least Beast is making Donut his Prison-Bitch in a big way.
Squeal like a pig boy!
Dunning should be about 50% more flexible after some Beast physio.
@McLovin (Comment 95) :
The forwards’ skills levels are shocking in contact – both on attack and defence. Maybe time to question the selection of Gary Gold as forwards coach?
@Big Fish (Comment 98) : Maybe.
Is there an ANGRY PDV?? He’s probs patting them on the back and saying don’t worry about the results boys, just keep on doing what you’re doing! Mortlock giving the convicts the motivation they need. “We’re going to win here for the first time in 8 years today boys!”
Zinzan Brooke says bring on Monty, Januarie & Steyn.
Dunning’s a useless piece of lard.
Bok support play is absolutely pathetic.
Bit of how’s your father.
WTF CJ?? Use you head man!
Touch judge reprot.
Matfield taken out in line out. Pen Boks.
Butch going for goal.
Over!!!
3-10 Aus 44min.
Percy on. JPP off.
Boks off-side. Pen Aus. Going for goal.
Miss…….. 😯
Waugh on. Palu off.
Butch broken. 👿
Butch on the floor.
Seems like knee. Could be serious.
Back on his feet. 😎
Pen against Beast at scrum. Going for goal.
A rare duff by the Beast. Giteau for goal.
Through
Over..
13-3 Palu back.
Adi does brilliant to save try.
Still 5m scrum to Aus. Boks look clueless.
@McLovin (Comment 97) :
Finally free kick to Boks at breakdown. plus 10 for pissing about.
Finally some play in the Aussie 22…
Palu chucks ball at Bismarck. F-all punishment. 🙄
Bismarck gets a talking to. 🙄
Beast off. Mujati on. No sense. Steyn on for Butch.
@McLovin (Comment 129) :
@McLovin (Comment 130) :
Ref and TJ don’t have a clue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How can the TJ say #2 Green was overly aggressive. No Worries he is not the TJ next week. He is the ref!
11 turnover conceded by Boks.
Spies off. Big Joe on.
Line outs a mess.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 132) : Doesn’t matter. This whole NEW approach from PDV is what’s causing the problems. The players don’t buy it and it’s obvious why.
TJ again. 🙄
Pen against 3 green.
Steyn bloedneus.
Bryce Lawrence has something to say again! He must be waiting for next week with so much anticipation 🙄
from the bit i have seen it seems Adi Jacobs is yet again having a great game.
Try Tiqiri.
Was that Nokwe who missed tuqiri in the midfield?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 141) : He is. But overall the Boks are clueless.
Over. 20-3.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 143) : FdP.
63min. Januarie on.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 143) :
No it was Fourie Du Preez 😳
How did I mix the two up? 😯 😆 😆 😆
HOHOHOHOHOHOHO…..All I can say is good luck to PDV wherever you sleep tonight my man. 😆
Our substitutions are a joke too! PDV has me seriously worried. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt but now I’m seriously questioning whether he knows what he is doing!
Try Adi.
Adi scores!
ADI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Villie (Comment 150) : Why o why was the beats replaced.
20-10 65min.
@klempie (Comment 149) : ❓ ❓
CJ should never play for Boks again. He is a liability with all the penalties he gives away. lets hope he is cited for next week!
For heaven’s sake guys!
Its not the gameplan that is costing us – we have had at least 10 trips into their 22m area – we just cant finish off.
Our skill levels are shocking – cant pass out of the tackle, can’t run into position, and most certainly can’t ruck.
If a ball carrier doesn’t get turned in the tackle or go off on some maverick run, 90% of the time a turnover is due to the lack of support play, and not the ball-carrier himself.
Maybe Jake chose his game-plan cos he made peace with the fact that the players’ lack of skills made any other game-plan impossible? 🙄
@Villie (Comment 157) : I reckon he will be.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 156) : We’re going to lose and someone’s going to lynch him. No doubt he will claim that that solitary success shows that his new approach is working.
Mortlock goes through almost untouched. 👿
What has Bekker done? He doesn’t take his lineout ball and is anonymous. Should not be in the side
27-10.
All over red rover.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA….The Boks are going to get booed off the field. Watch…
@Big Fish (Comment 158) : Exactly…
Adi again!!!
Adi again
ADI AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
27-15 72min.
snap
snap
snap
Watson in Steyn’s way. 👿
@McLovin (Comment 172) : Or maybe not. 😳
Basics are simply not there.
@McLovin (Comment 174) : The basics are not there because the gameplan requires too much risk…that’s the problem.
WTF type of on the floor throw away pass was that from Watson?????????????
@klempie (Comment 175) :
Dude the gameplan excuse can only be stretched so far
Sheez Jantjes knocks on a sitter of a pass. 👿
Bloody gameplan! 👿
😉
Fortunately I still have movies & wine. Go well gentleman & ladies. 🙂
fukk this shit!fukk it to hell(apologies for my language)
Hopeless performance today. Much worse than last week!
Game over
FULL TIME
SA 15 – 27 Aus
im on a weekend away.way too much dop here.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 177) : The game plan is to play high intensity, high paced running rugby. I think handling errors are a natural consequence.
Log updated
Aus are 1 point behind NZ with a game in hand.
Who woulda thought Aus would win the Tri-Nations.
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 183) :
Don’t drown dude. 😉
McLOVIN
Thanks for standing in on the commentary, much appreciated.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 177) : What’s wrong with protecting the ball and driving it up the middle with the forwards? Hasn’t let us down before…
Crowd booing Matfield, PDV and the Boks. Told ya! 😉
@klempie (Comment 188) : How you plan to get Victor in off the wing long enough to do that?
@robdylan (Comment 190) : Why’s he playing on the wing then? Gameplan…
cant see myself tuning in next week.got some painting to do.
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 192) : I’ve got tickets and just found out yesterday that work is sending me to the UK. Thank goodness! 😯
hehehe lucky you.jack daniels bottle number 6 just opened.woah!
bloody stormers players bloody stormers coaches. once again the sharks players had to drag the team out of shit. well. thank frodo the sharks are playing again next week, I am sick of b grade rugby.
and as for juan smith. great players know how to adapt to new laws. he is still stuck kopstamp rugby. time for wikus and baywatch to be given a shot. ag screw it why waste such good players on the boks.
ah tt me and u both on the same buzz
Ye Gods!
The gameplan was not run at all costs – didnt people watch the rugby???
Boks lost cos they can’t protect the ball in contact or compete at the rucks – gain-line battle was lost in a big way.
Stop blaming the coach and just accept that we aren’t quite as good as we like to think. 🙄
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 197) : a few more whiskeys and i will be on a better buzz. (to all kids alcohol is not an escape route and should be handled with care. it should be drunk in moderation. and if you are under the legal age not at all.)
@Big Fish (Comment 198) : come on bf how can you say a coach is not to blame for poor tactics at ruck time. the coaches choose the players to play the ruck and if he doesn’t pick the right players he is to blame. schalk and juan have always been shocking ball collectors. they are bashem players and we have no use for that type of player anymore.
@try time (Comment 199) :brah ive got enuff to fill a dry dock
@Big Fish (Comment 198) : The Boks can’t protect the ball because there is eff-all structure. Look how many times guys got isolated. It’s all about throwing the ball around and not down the line either. I agree with what you say about the rucks though.
@PJLD(RIP Bernie Mac) (Comment 201) : i was saving my single malts for a special occasion. desperate times call for desperate measures.
@try time (Comment 200) :
Don’t get me wrong TT, I agree that the selections have been wrong – I would have made at least 4; I am just saying that the tactics are not wrong.
The only mitigating factor for the coaches regarding the selections is that its hard to drop guys who have won a WC: thing is, the time for tough calls has come (last week at the latest).
Spies is a 7, not an 8, Juan Smith is presently hopeless, and Matfield, Bekker, CJ, and Watson are showponies.
I’m not gonna defend PDV from valid criticism, but we need to also accept that the players’ kak play is the problem, and the coaches select the players, as you allude to.
@Big Fish (Comment 204) : The players’ confidence is shot. And that’s straight down to them not believing in PDV’s ideas…
@Big Fish (Comment 204) : “I am just saying that the tactics are not wrong.”
So the basically…the gameplan?
@Big Fish (Comment 204) : damn site went and crashed my side so i lost my response. but i agree with you. after 2 poor games at breakdown, you would think the rwc stars would raise their game. but now that tri nations is over for the boks i want to see pdv show his appreciation for all their hard work and give them the chop. pdv has the perfect opportunity to now clean his board and choose good players that will carry the team to the 2011 rwc and not has been rwc stars. the true test is has he the balls to do that.
@try time (Comment 207) : TT…the culture of SA rugby prohibits this. The only two sides who can successfully implement PDVs style are the Sharks and Stormers. To a lesser extent the Cheetahs.
the boks performance could have played right into the coaches hands. had he dropped the rwc boks before the season started he would have been burnt at the stake. but most bok supporters would happily see cj, matfield, juan and schalk take a break from international rugby after the poor performances delivered.
We have dropped to 3rd in the world Rankings 🙁
http://www.lassen.co.nz/pagmisc.php?teama=SAF&teamb=AUS#hrh
not gona happen and u know this
@klempie (Comment 208) : i disagree a little, the lions have a couple of players that could deliver given proper support from fellow players, and the bulls have wikus. south africa has the right players but the question is will the coach pick em. he has already messed up by dropping bj.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 210) : ha and we play the nh teams year end. could be sitting in 6th if we lose there as well. not bad for a team walking around with a trophy that bears webb ellis’ name.
@try time (Comment 209) : TT…I disagree also. The fact of the matter is that the WC Boks played together in a fluid manner. I think Jake’s style would still suit the new rules with a few tweaks. My issue with PDV is he has made wholesale changes to the way we play. Don’t forget we gave some decent teams massive hidings on the way to WC glory.
@try time (Comment 212) : Agreed. But by and large, the players that suit attack driven rugby should come from the Stormers and Sharks. There are only a handful from the other unions.
Just joined testing 😀
@sharks 30 (Comment 216) : Milli vanilli chilly willy
The thing with Jake, and bear in mind I was never really a fan by any stretch, is that he was a tremendous student of the game and spent hours analysing opponents and trends in an attempt to get ahead of the game.
The current lot don’t even have a dedicated video analyst.
I think jake, given the way he studies the game, would’ve been fine under the ELVs and would’ve simply adjusted his approach to suit it.