Tonight, the 2nd and last midweek game takes place for the touring Springboks when their midweek-team takes on a South African laden Saracens team at the Wembley Stadium

All in all it looks like it will be 32 South Africans on the pitch out of a possible 44.

This midweek-outfit looks decidedly stronger in the forwards than the team which lost against the Tigers at the start of the tour, but the same lame backline has been selected… and by lame I do not mean to say that there are’nt great individuals amongst them, what I’m referring to is that pivotal players, who are not in form playes yet again.

Heini Adams at scrum half looked out of sorts behind a pack going backwards and Ruan Pienaar has continued his abysmal form of late.

In the centres, the 2 brilliant players, Wyanand and Juan, did not get any ball in the previous encounter and we hope that they get opportunities tonight.

Tonight we see a quality front row playing for the Bokke and Jean Deysel replaces Raubenheimer, who looked totally out of sorts in the 1st tour match.

My worry is still centred around combinations in the Bokke team, or rather the lack of combinations.

Saracens,  who were founded in 1876, (just after Pietman was born – hehehe), is a rich club, with strong South African backing and a host of players from South Africa.

Saracens will be a settled side, fielding nearly their strongest combination, who has taken them to the top of the Premiership.

The Saracens will be up for it – 10 South Africans with their greatest opportunity to prove their worth while at the same time they are enjoying meeting old friends. When old friends become rivals there is likely to be added spice to the rivalry.

Personally I think this should be an epic match, great duels between players from both sides who all want to show they still have what it takes to wear the Green and Gold.

It is extremely difficult to pick a winner for tonight…. on the one hand the Bokke with a clear lack of combinations chosen, yet they are still some of the best SA can offer… and on the other hand a bunch of ex-saffas who are playing in a very solid team. My prediction will be Saracens by 5 – 10, simply because I value settled combinations more than individual brilliance. The best Team will win and Saracens is a TEAM.

From the published and announced teams, it seems that Jean Deysel will be wearing No 6 (Openside Flank in SA) and that Dewalt Potgieter will be at No 7 (Blindside Flank in SA)…. does this mean that Dewalt is eyed as Scalk Burger’s possible replacement for the Italy Test, at blindside… or is this just a co-incidence?

 

Teams:

Saracens:
15 Michael Horak, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Derick Hougaard, 9 Neil de Kock, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Justin Melck, 6 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 5 Hugh Vyvyan, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Richard Skuse, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 Rhys Gill

Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Carlos Nieto, 18 George Kruis, 19 Andy Saull, 20 Kevin Barrett, 21 Alex Goode, 22 Rodd Penney

 

South Africa:
15 Earl Rose, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 6 Jean Deysel, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.

Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Riaan Viljoen.
 

Date: Tuesday, November 17
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
Kick-off: 19.45 (19.45 GMT; 21.45 SA time)
Expected weather conditions: Scattered clouds with a high of 13°C dropping to 11°C and a southwester of 21 km/h freshening.
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Rob Debney (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: Brian Abrahams (England)

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