Author: Rob

Heyneke Meyer has dug his heels in and persisted with selecting the out-of-form Morné Steyn. Francois Louw of Bath starts ahead of Marcell Coetzee who is relegated to the bench. Flip ‘Yellow card’ van der Merwe gets a rare start following the suspension of Eben ‘Ysterbeth’.

Jannie du Plessis is named in the starting team despite a hamstring injury and may be forced to pull out at the last minute. Meyer again favours the one-dimensional Zane ‘Sideshow Bob’ Kirchner at full back ahead of Patrick ‘Splinters’ Lambie.

Expect the usual ‘skop-en-jag/stampkar’ game plan, kicking away possession and in the end a huge defeat for the hapless Boks. New Zealand by 30.

Springbok team

15. Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls)
14. Bryan Habana (Western Province)
13. Jean de Villiers (captain, Western Province)
12. Frans Steyn (Sharks)
11. Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls)
10. Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls)
09. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland)
08. Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)
07. Willem Alberts (Sharks)
06. Francois Louw (Bath)
05. Flip van der Merwe (Blue Bulls)
04. Juandré Kruger (Blue Bulls)
03. Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
02. Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain, FS Cheetahs)
01. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

Replacements

16. Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province)
17. Dean Greyling (Blue Bulls)
18. Andries Bekker (Stormers)
19. Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
20. Johan Goosen (Free State)
21. Juan de Jongh (Stormers)
22. Pat Lambie (Sharks)

New Zealand – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Beauden Barrett, 22 Tamati Ellison

Springbok team

15. Zane Kirchner (Blue Bulls)
14. Bryan Habana (Western Province)
13. Jean de Villiers (captain, Western Province)
12. Frans Steyn (Sharks)
11. Francois Hougaard (Blue Bulls)
10. Morné Steyn (Blue Bulls)
09. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, N Ireland)
08. Duane Vermeulen (Stormers)
07. Willem Alberts (Sharks)
06. Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
05. Eben Etzebeth (Western Province)
04. Juandré Kruger (Blue Bulls)
03. Jannie du Plessis (Sharks)
02. Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain, FS Cheetahs)
01. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)

Impact players

16. Tiaan Liebenberg (Western Province)
17. Pat Cilliers (Golden Lions)
18. Flip van der Merwe (Blue Bulls)
19. Francois Louw
20. Johan Goosen
21. Pat Lambie (Sharks)
22. Lwazi Mvovo (Sharks)

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 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Scott Higginbotham, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Nick Phipps, 21 Mike Harris, 22 Anthony Fainga’a.

Match details

Date: Saturday 8 September
Venue: Paterson’s Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 18.00 AWST (20.00 AEST; 12.00 SA time; 10.00 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)

Deans and Meyer wouldn’t want to admit it – but the home/away clashes between their two teams could likely decide one of their fates.

Deans’ position is, perhaps unfairly, the more precarious. A bit like a British coach in SA – a Kiwi coach in Oz, is de facto an unpalatable situation for many golden blooded antipodeans. The fact that Deans’ returned from a “pointless” trip back “home” last week, is enough to make Joey pee in his pouch (I have no idea if this is a biological actuality by the way – but surely a worthwhile Wiki). (more…)