HUGE Tri Nations Preview – Boks vs Wallabies

The so-called Springbok B team will be looking to prove their detractors wrong by beating the Wallabies in their Tri Nations away game on Saturday.

Bob Skinstad will lead the Boks for the first time in five years in what promises to be an emotional match, especially for the Australians as they bid farewell to George Gregan and Stephen Larkham.

The Teams

Australia – South Africa
01. Matt Dunning – CJ van der Linde
02. Adam Freier – Gary Botha
03. Guy Shepherdson – Jannie Du Plessis
04. Nathan Sharpe – Johan Ackermann
05. Daniel Vickerman – Johann Muller
06. George Smith – Wikus van Heerden
07. Rocky Elsom – Pedrie Wannenburg
08. Stephen Hoiles – Bob Skinstad

09. George Gregan – Ruan Pienaar
10. Stephen Larkham – Derick Hougaard
11. Adam Ashley-Cooper – JP Pietersen
12. Matt Giteau – Wynand Olivier
13. Stirling Mortlock – Waylon Murray
14. Mark Gerrard – Breyton Paulse
15. Julian Huxley – Bevin Fortuin

16. Sean Hardman – Bismarck du Plessis
17. Al Baxter – Eddie Andrews
18. Hugh McMeniman – Albert van den Berg
19. David Lyons – Jacques Cronje
20. Phil Waugh – Michael Claasens
21. Scott Staniforth – Peter Grant
22. Drew Mitchell – Jaco Pretorius

The Results

Played 64: Springboks 40 – Wallabies 23 – Draws 01

2007: South Africa won 22-19 at Newlands, Cape Town
2006: South Africa won 24-16 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
2006: Australia won 20-18 at Stadium Australia, Sydney
2006: Australia won 49-00 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
2005: South Africa won 22-19 at Subiaco Oval, Perth
2005: South Africa won 22-16 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2005: South Africa won 33-20 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg
2005: Australia won 12-30 at Stadium Australia, Sydney
2004: South Africa won 23-19 at Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2004: Australia won 30-26 at Subiaco Oval, Perth
2003: Australia won 29-09 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

The Details

Date: Saturday, 7 July
Venue: Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 22.05 NZ / 20.05 OZ / 12.05 SA / 11.05 UK / 10.05 GMT
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Weather: 8°C Clear
Touch judges: Steve Walsh (New Zealand), Kevin Deaker (New Zealand)
TMO: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)

The Broadcast Times

Web blow-by-blow: 12.00 SA -  https://ougrote.com
South Africa TV: 11.25 SA – MNET/SS1
USA Web TV: 06:00 ET – http://www.mediazone.com
UK TV: 10.30 UK – SkySports1
Australia TV: 20.05 OZ – ABC
New Zealand TV: 22.05 NZ

The Changes

Australia
Stephen Hoiles starts at eigthman in place of the injured Wycliff Palu. Hoiles’ place on the substitutes bench is taken by David Lyons. Adam Freier replaces injured hooker Stephen Moore. Australia A hooker Sean Hardman takes Freier’s place on the bench. Mark Gerrard replaces the suspended Lote Tuqiri on the wing, while Drew Mitchell returns to the side as a reserve. Lock Hugh McMeniman completes the substitutes bench.

South Africa
Bob Skinstad captains a second-string Bok side that doesn’t look too bad on paper. The team shows 12 changes from the side that lost to New Zealand with the only players to survive being eighthman Bob Skinstad, left wing JP Pietersen, and hooker Gary Botha.

The Form Book

The Wallabies suffered a narrow 22-19 to the Boks in Cape Town two weeks ago after a brilliant defensive effort. They then went on to defeat the All Blacks 20-15 in Melbourne last weekend. The Springboks have been in good nick with the narrow win over the Wallabies and a hard-fought 26-21 loss to New Zealand at home. However, this is a totally different Bok team to the one that played the Aussies in the previous game – so throw the form book out the window.

The Talk

Jake White spoke about the importance of a good start.

“It will be important for us to make a good start and gain momentum early. The Wallabies are coming off a hard game against the All Blacks and the disciplinary problems in their team may also make them a little unsettled. If we can get on top right from the start the cracks might start to show.”

He also talked about the criticism that has been leveled at the team over the past week:

“Personally I felt it was demeaning to the players we brought on tour. Aside for one or two, they all have Test caps.

“My message to them was quite simple: whatever negative stories being written about our players, will be turned into motivation. We had reasons for selecting these players, and we believe in them and what they can offer SA.

“They are proud to represent the nation. They will run on determined to prove to all they are no second-raters. This team has Super 14 finalists. How anyone could call them ‘second-string’ baffles me.”

Injured Bok captain John Smit believes that the Australian media has put the Wallabies in an impossible position.
 
“The Aussies have really opened themselves up for an embarrassment. It is unbelievable that they carry on like this. One does not expect it from them.

“If I were one of the Springboks in Australia I would have been disappointed about the things said about me. It is derogatory.

“What they have done is to create a situation from which they cannot win. It they lose, it will be against a team that they did not consider worthy of playing in the Tri-Nations.
 
Smit believes the Springboks can edge the Australians in the forward battle.

“I am one of the old school that believe Test matches are won up front. We have a strong pack. CJ van der Linde, Gary Botha and Jannie du Plessis are good front-row forwards and Johan Ackermann and Johann Muller a tough combination at lock.

“Pedrie Wannenburg and Wikus van Heerden are hardworking loose forwards and Bob Skinstad now plays more towards the ball. This pack will shock the Aussies.

“The backs only have to maintain good defence lines,” he concluded.

George Gregan, like White, believes that a good start is essential.

“Any time you play the Springboks, you know you’re going to be playing a tough test match. Then when people question the quality of the players representing the Springboks, then they’re going to take that personally.

“So this is going to be a very tough test match, in which we’re going to have to start well and build on what we’ve done in the last couple of games.”

Bob Skinstad talked up the Wallabies’ strengths.

“I think their strength is the backline and also in their leadership.

“It’s my firm belief that Australian teams put a lot of pressure on themselves to win and they also believe in honouring individuals who have done particularly well.

“There’s a strong culture of team ethos and rallying around and we see in the AFL at the moment there’s a certain amount of comebacks and guys who have played 300 games being celebrated, it’s exactly the same in rugby.”

The Players to Watch

Australia:
George Gregan and Stephen Larkham – They play their final game on Australian soil and are bound to want to go out on a high. As individuals and as a combination they continue to look dangerous, even in the twilight of their careers.

Stephen Hoiles – Gets his chance ahead of the injured Wyclef Palu. He’ll want to prove that he can cut it at the highest level and prove his critics – who say he is too small – wrong.

Stirling Mortlock – The Wallabies will be looking for a continuation of the brilliant form he displayed in dismantling the All Blacks last week.

South Africa:
Bob Skinstad – Can he still cut it as an international captain?

Derick Hougaard – Along with scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, is the key man to implement the Boks’ proposed ‘Bulls-style’ game plan.

The Aussie View

The Australian press are expecting nothing less than a resounding victory from their team. Jamie Pandaram, writing for Rugbyheaven Australia summed up the sentiments.

“’Ah cont baleeev ut,’ the Springboks will exclaim if you dare to question their selection tactics. It’s well-documented that South Africa has earned the ire of the Australian Rugby Union by leaving its best players behind, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be competitive tomorrow night.

They’ll be at their niggly, scratchy, kicking willy nilly, tackling silly billy best. Their backline cattle don’t have many tries in them but the big bulls up front will unsettle the Wallabies pack enough to make a meaty contest of it.

However, it’s still advisable for all Kings Cross nightclubs to ready themselves for the arrival of victorious Australian players between 1am to 5am on Sunday.

The Wallabies have too much class and will win – for Bernie and George dammit.”

The Key Elements

Springboks

Plusses:
– Extra motivation from the Aussie press.
– Nothing to lose.
– Real mongrel in the forwards.
– Fresh and rested while Australia are tired from the victory last week
– Motivation for World Cup places.
– Overconfident Wallaby team.
– Wallabies have disciplinary issues.
– Wallabies too focused on the Gregan-Larkham farewell sideshow.
– A promise to Madiba – the inspirational former president urged the Boks to bring the Mandela Challenge Plate back home. “Madiba has been extremely important to this group of players for the last four years. We are always aware that we have his support and I can tell you the players feel they owe it to him to bring it home,” said Jake White.

Minuses:
– Twelve changes from the previous starting lineup.
– Combinations may not gel in time.
– Test match inexperience – particularly in the back three and front row.
– Playing away from home.

Wallabies

Plusses:
– Huge experience – South Africa has a total of 229 caps while Larkham and Gregan alone have 231.
– On a high after beating New Zealand.
– Top notch defensive organization.
– Senior players in form – Mortlock, Gregan, Larkham.
– Home ground advantage.
– Inspiration of Gregan-Larkham farewell.

Minuses:
– Overconfident after their press ridiculed the Springbok selections.
– Everything to lose – the pressure of expectation is on the home side. They usually try to install themselves as underdogs before a big match but that has been impossible this time.
– Disciplinary problems caused by Tuqiri’s boozing and banning.
– Physically exhausted in comparison to the Boks after their heroics against the All Blacks last week.

The Prediction

The Australians will be drained by their efforts of a week ago in beating the All Blacks. The Boks will be inspired by the criticism leveled at them from all sides over the past two weeks. If the Boks can keep themselves in the game until the final ten minutes we may get to experience one of the sweeter victories against our whingeing adversaries. Boks by 1.

Nag, ou grote…