HUGE Tri Nations Preview – Boks vs All Blacks

The All Blacks and Springboks clash on Saturday in Christchurch in the 72nd test between the two great rivals. This is the final 2007 Tri Nations game for the Boks who are set to finish as wooden spoonists, while New Zealand play Australia next week to determine the winner of this year’s competition (and the Bledisloe Cup). 

Talking points for the Bok team around this game include the fielding of a second-string side and their fourth captain in four games, Derick Hougaard being preferred at flyhalf ahead of Peter Grant and the du Plessis brothers starting their first Tests together in a Bok jersey.

The Springboks have lost captain Bob Skinstad (broken ribs) and lock Johan Ackerman (calf strain) – both have already been flown back to South Africa. Johann Muller has been named the Springboks’ fourth captain in as many games.

Although Wikus van Heerden was the most likely successor to Skinstad, Jake White decided not to burden the Bulls flanker with the extra pressure – leaving him free to focus on his crucial battle with All Black captain Richie McCaw.

Peter Grant’s introduction at the tail-end of last week’s test saw some much-needed fluidity restored to the backline and many tipped him to start Saturday’s match ahead of Derick Hougaard. White has, however, stuck with the Blue Bulls pivot hoping that he doesn’t have two shockers in a row. It also points to the idea that the Boks will be persisting with the 10-man game even though it proved unsuccessful for them against the Wallabies last week.

Brothers Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis make their first appearance together in a Bok side, becoming the thirtieth set of brothers to represent the Springboks.

News from the All Blacks’ camp is that they too are resting some of their first choice players and giving their back-ups a run, Dan Carter is due a huge game after struggling with his form of late, and the New Zealanders are rested, injury free and raring to go after their defeat to Australia two weeks ago.

Graham Henry has made seven changes to the side that lost to Australia, bringing in some of his ‘fringe’ players for the game. Doug Howlett replaces Rico Gear on one wing, Sitiveni Sivivatu comes in for Joe Rokocoko on the other wing, Luke McAlister moves from outside centre to inside centre as Isaia Toeava returns, Piri Weepu replaces Byron Kelleher at scrumhalf, lok Keith Robinson returns from injury to replace Troy Flavell, Reuben Thorne comes into the side at blindside flank ahead of Jerry Collins and Keven Mealamu replaces Anton Oliver at hooker.

All the talk in this week’s New Zealand press has been about the recent poor form of golden-boy flyhalf Dan Carter. Carter admitted that he hasn’t been firing on all cylinders lately but is convinced that all his hard work on the training pitch is bound to pay off soon. Hopefully for the Boks the pay-off won’t come on Saturday. If it does, they’re in for a long evening.

In terms of the atmosphere in the All Blacks’ camp, the rare defeat to Australia two weeks ago will only have added fuel to the New Zealand fire. They are now rested and refocused and ready to pull out all the stops against the Springboks.

Prediction

There is little doubt that the Springboks are going to lose this one. They will be playing to limit the damage with a conservative gameplan and be looking, as always, to feed off the opposition’s mistakes.

The Boks will again start strongly but the All Blacks will take control earlier on than they did in the Durban clash. South Africa may match the All Blacks in the forward exchanges, but the huge gulf between the two backlines in terms of talent, experience and coaching will again be the deciding factor.

Dan Carter is due a good game and playing in front of his home crowd is bound to bring out the best in the All Black flyhalf. Big game from Carter = a big win for New Zealand. All Blacks by 20.

Details

Date: Saturday 14 July 2007
Venue: Jade Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
Kick-off: 19.35 NZ Time \ 17.35 OZ Time \ 09.35 SA Time \ 08.35 UK Time \ 07.35 GMT
Conditions: 1 deg C, slippery, cold, cloudy, E wind, chance of rain
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales), Paul Marks (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)

Broadcast Times

Web Live blow-by-blow – Ou Grote (https://ougrote.com) – 09:30 SA
SA TV – MNET/SS1/SS7 – 08:30 SA
Web Radio – RSG (http://www.rsg.co.za) – 09:30 SA
USA Web TV – Mediazone (http://www.mediazone.com) – 03:35 ET
UK TV – SKY Sports 2 – 08.35 UK
Australia TV – ABC – 17:30 OZ
New Zealand TV – 19:30 NZ

The Teams

New Zealand v South Africa
01 – Tony Woodcock v CJ van der Linde
02 – Keven Mealamu v Bismarck du Plessis
03 – Carl Hayman v Jannie du Plessis
04 – Chris Jack v Albert van der Berg
05 – Keith Robinson v Johann Muller
06 – Reuben Thorne v Wikus van Heerden
07 – Richie McCaw v Pedrie Wannenburg
08 – Rodney So’oialo v Jacques Cronje

09 – Piri Weepu v Ruan Pienaar
10 – Dan Carter v Derick Hougaard
11 – Sitiveni Sivivatu v Jaco Pretorius
12 – Luke McAlister v Wynand Olivier
13 – Isaia Toeava v Waylon Murray
14 – Doug Howlett v Breyton Paulse
15 – Mils Muliaina v JP Pietersen

16 – Andrew Hore v Gary Botha
17 – Neemia Tialata v Eddie Andrews
18 – Jerry Collins v Gerrie Britz
19 – Chris Masoe v Hilton Lobberts
20 – Brendon Leonard v Michael Claassens
21 – Conrad Smith v Peter Grant
22 – Nick Evans v Tonderai Chavhanga

All Time Record

Played 71: New Zealand 39 – South Africa 29 – Draws 3.

Last Result

23 June 2007 – All Blacks 26-21 South Africa – Durban.

All Blacks recent record in Christchurch

2006: beat Australia 32-12
2005: beat Lions 21-03
2004: beat South Africa 23-21
2003: beat France 31-23
2002: beat Australia 12-06
2001: beat Argentina 67-19
2000: beat South Africa 25-12

All Blacks record at home to Springboks

2006: won 35-17 at Wellington
2005: won 31-27 at Dunedin
2004: won 23-21 at Christchurch
2003: won 19-11 at Dunedin
2002: won 41-20 at Wellington
2001: won 26-15 at Auckland
2000: won 25-12 at Christchurch
1999: won 28-00 at Dunedin

All recent results NZ v SA

2007: New Zealand won 26-21 in Durban
2006: South Africa won 21-20 in Rustenburg
2006: New Zealand won 45-26 in Pretoria
2006: New Zealand won 35-17 in Wellington
2005: New Zealand won 31-27 in Dunedin
2005: South Africa won 22-16 in Cape Town
2004: South Africa won 40-26 in Johannesburg
2004: New Zealand won 23-21 in Christchurch
2003: New Zealand won 29-9 in Melbourne
2003: New Zealand won 19-11 in Dunedin
2003: New Zealand won 52-16 in Pretoria
2002: New Zealand won 30-23 in Durban
2002: New Zealand won 41-20 in Wellington
2001: New Zealand won 26-15 in Auckland
2001: New Zealand won 12-3 in Cape Town
2000: South Africa won 46-40 in Johannesburg
2000: New Zealand won 25-12 in Christchurch