The All Blacks have named their side to face the Springboks in Hamilton, NZ on Saturday in their second last Tri-Nations match (last match in the TN for the Bokke) of 2009.

The Team is:

15 Mils Muliaina

14 Josevata Rokocoko

13 Ma’a Nonu

12 Stephen Donald

11 Sitiveni Sivivatu

10 Dan Carter

9 Jimmy Cowan

8 Kieran Read

7 Richie McCaw (captain)

6 Jerome Kaino

5 Isaac Ross

4 Brad Thorn

3 Owen Franks

2 Andrew Hore

1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 John Afoa, 18 Adam Thomson, 19 Rodney So’oialo, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Isaia Toeava, 22 Cory Jane.

Looking at the team, I’m not exactly filled with fear… an ageing Joe Rocco, mediocre Donald at centre, slowpoke Jimmy Cowan at scrummie, Kieran Read, young inexperienced Franks…

This is an All Blacks team which should and could be beaten, except for the fact that they are still the All Blacks, have huge pride in their jersey and will be absolutely amped and determined to revenge the 2 losses to the Springboks in SA.

Depending on the Springbok selections, it appears that SA will once again have dominance in the line-outs. With Franks in their front row, the All blacks also have a “weaker” tight head, like SA… so, will we at least have parity in the scrums ?

The battle for the loose ball or ground ball is going to be huge, with Heinrich Brussouw having shaded Richie McCaw and Co in the 2 previous encounters. The All Black captain will certainly have identified that they better negate Brussouw’s influence, this time round.

In a man-for-man analysis of the backlines, The Bokke are better off at No 9 &Β  12, with parity at No 11, 13 & 14, whereas one would probably have to say that Dan Carter possibly shades Morne Steyn, but barely… and that Mills Muliaina shades Ruan Pienaar or Frans Steyn.

The All Blacks bench does not inspire fear either but neither does the probable Bokke bench.

I have this uneasy feeling that the All Blacks will be hungrier than the Bokke on Saturday, yet they have a bigger mountain to climb, having to get 4 tries, to keep their Tri-Nations trophy aspirations alive.

Match details:

Date: Saturday, September 12
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT, 09:35 SA time)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

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