Before Monday in Nagpur, South African strike bowler Steyn, was generally most renowned for his lethal out-swingers at pace. Suddenly, though, shell-shocked India – and the world, too – have learned of his new-found ability to bend the ball the other way on a sustained basis.
The result was carnage, with the Proteas now handsomely placed to strike for a big win over the ICC’s No 1-ranked side after an eventful day three of the first Test.
India’s first innings spectacularly unravelled in a 37-minute period after tea, where they slid from the relative sanctuary of 221 for four, in reply to the Proteas’ beefy 558, to 233 all out.
For sheer suddenness, it was all very Waqar Younis-like … the great Pakistani toe- and timber-hunter would have been proud of Steyn’s post-interval salvo of 3.4-2-1-5.
Certainly the 26-year-old Phalaborwa Express, albeit with many years of good cricket ahead of him, will be hard-pressed to repeat a dose like that, even as he registered a personal best innings return of 7/51 in 16.4 overs.
“With one of the most lethal and joyful spells of pace and swing seen in India, a red-hot Dale Steyn took the pitch out of the equation and led South Africa to the verge of what should be close to their finest Test victory” -Cricinfo
All good and well, this was yesterday. Do not expect the same collapse from India today. We are in for a almighty fight back from Sachin Tendulkar and mates. SA might just need another ripper from Paul Harris to disturb the Indian apple cart. We must at all cost prevent India from setting us a target. Anything around 80 to 120 runs in the last 2 sessions will to be a night mare.
Puma are you going with Sharks or Chiefs mate?
Bookies say Sharks – think I should believe them…hmmm
Where have all the people gone – gone to pubs everyone…
Blues v Hurricanes – Blues
Western Force v Brumbies – Western Force
Vodacom Cheetahs v Vodacom Bulls – Bulls
Crusaders v Highlanders – Crusaders
Reds v Waratahs Brisbane – Waratahs
Auto & General Lions v Vodacom Stormers – Stormers
The Sharks v Chiefs – Sharks
Shit must be my aftershave.
Snoek
NOt writing them off…said it many times before, to win this competition I believe you need the right mindset together with obviously other stuff.
The Sharks are not looking a happy camp at the moment.
Thats all
#173
I agree
Will finalise after i’ve seen the team sheets.
Snoek@184 Bookies say Hurricanes and Brumbies… What makes you think blues and Force?
Blouste@186 – you say it is safe to go with those and Waratahs that I forgot to mention.
Don’t think the Sharks will beat the Chiefs, in fact I believe they will be very poor this season.
I have not see their starting teams yet, and when in doubt, back the home team. Go check my honours in Superbru. It tends to work.
What I think will go down this weekend…
Blues v Hurricanes – Blues
Western Force v Brumbies – Brumbies
Vodacom Cheetahs v Vodacom Bulls – Bulls
Crusaders v Highlanders – Crusaders
Reds v Waratahs Brisbane – Reds
Auto & General Lions v Vodacom Stormers – Stormers
The Sharks v Chiefs – Chiefs
@ 185
Or the lack thereof… 😆
190 – Hope for my sake that you think wrong.
I agree with vanStraaten
Although I heard people in NZ rate the Highlanders this year.
vanStraaten@192 – Now I’m very confused…
The first two weeks are mostly a gamble when it comes to Superbru, there after it is easier to predict the winners.
196 – Confusion is good. 😆
Well the shock for six nations this weekend is Italy whipping England. You heard it first here. Remember that.
181 – Irish, Going with the Sharks.
Just hope that this Albert / Ludick issue is sorted out tomorow, would not like to get points deducted for playing players in the S14 that are not legit.
Vodacom Bulls coach Frans Ludeke believes the way the new variations of the laws will blown by referees this weekend is “crystal clear” and that there is no uncertainty among teams as to what to expect ahead of this weekend’s opening round of the Vodacom Super 14.
Ludeke heads into Friday’s opener against the Vodacom Cheetahs with a healthy dose of confidence after his injured party of Francois Hougaard, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies and Danie Rossouw were all given the green light to play on Friday.
The return of the quartet gives the Bulls a lot of continuity, and they are likely to name a near full-strength side today, and as close a side to the one that won the Absa Currie Cup at the end of last season.
“We’re positive that we can have all the guys back for this game, they’re vital to the way we want to play. With the exception of one or two players, we’re where we ended at the end of last year. We have established combinations over the past few years and everyone came through unscathed on Monday’s practice – that’s a massive positive for us,” Ludeke told Supersport.com
But Ludeke will spend the last few days refining the Bulls adaptation to the new laws, and believes that referees have finally made it clear the way they want the game to be played, and that varying interpretations are a thing of the past.
“The nice thing about a first game like this where nobody knows what to expect and what they’re up against is that the team that takes the initiative first in the game will be rewarded.
“With the new laws you need to adapt at the scrums, at the breakdown and with the kicks. There will be penalties but you need to play smart, to ensure that those penalties go your way.
“We’ve looked at a number of the pre-season games, including our own, and I don’t think you will get unpredictability.
“We’ve seen on defence in the ruck, you have to stay out. Referees want “daylight” and it is very clear that they will blow it that way. Every referee has blown it the same so far, nobody has had a different interpretation of the breakdown.
“The same with the scrum, we know you have to use your own weight, not put your arm on the ground or collapse. That has been clearly defined by the referees.
“The third one is the kick freeze; we know what to do there. There isn’t uncertainty about how they will blow it this year. We looked at a number of games and those three things were clear. If you do it wrong you will get penalised
“All the players know that penalties will come easier, so they need to be more focussed. If they need to adjust, then they must adjust. There are no grey areas surrounding the new laws.”
The Bulls are likely to give Pedrie Wannenburg another chance to continue his rugby revival, while Hougaard will slot in on the wing, Olivier at centre and Spies in his customary No8 role. Danie Rossouw seems likely to fill Bakkies Botha’s place in the engine room alongside captain Victor Matfield.
Snoek it’s my surname – 😆
199 – Irish, that would be a huge shock..haha.
Blouste my aftershave is a mixture of Kilkenny, Magners and Guinness 😆
203 – Irish “The Devil” Confucious 😆
201 – Snoek, you think they will take points off of us if we play any of those players? Don’t think that is right really. Maybe fine us but taking points off of us not sure if they can do it. If it is so then we must not play them until it is sorted.
206 – Sounds like a hit man.
Well better the devil you know mate – hehehe
205 – Irish…..hahaha. Good one 😀
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