Heeeeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaa, the best rivalry in world rugby is alive and well… the 2 arch rivals going hammer and tongs tomorrow in the 1st Tri-Nations Test of 2010!
How long do we look forward to clashes between these 2 giants each year!
Tomorrow the All Blacks want revenge on 3 Springbok wins in a row in 2009 whereas the Springboks want to assert continued dominance over the All Blacks to prove that they are ready for RWC 2011 and to erase some of the backlog of wins the All Blacks have built up since SA re-admition in 1992.
The All Blacks have shown already this season against Northern Hemispher opposition that they are a better side than in 2009.
Their stalwart flyhalf, Dan Carter, is back to his best, the old phirm of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith make up a damn strong midfield combination and there is speed and character in the back 3. The forwards front up well with an able front row, very solid locks and a potent backrow trio.
So, where is their weaknesses? There are not many to be frank, except maybe a definate frailty in the line-outs and the propensity to give too many penalties away at the ground-ball situations.
The Springboks on the other hand field the best front row in years with Gurthro Steenkamp probably the finest loosehead prop in world rugby at the moment, John Smit back at his preferred position of hooker and with Jannie du Plessis having improved tremendously from last year and earlier this year in the Super 14.
At locks we have a pair who has been the world’s envy for many seasons now and we have arguably the best loose trio combination in world rugby.
At scrumhalf we have a clear problem, a scrumhalf with a slow and looping pass and a poor kicking game but who plays by the seat of his pants and the ability to put a lot of pressure on the opposing scrumhalf and flyhalf. The 2 centres are rock solid on defence and have both been in the form of their lives in this year’s Super 14. The Back 3 of Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers and Zane Kirchner should combine neatly and also provide rock solid defence.
So where are the Springbok weaknesses… possible ill dicipline by Jannie du Plessis, Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger and possibly unwise use of the bench at times…. and we’ll miss the general behind the scrums, Fourie du Preez!
The record for the last 10 outings between these 2 teams now stand at 5 all with the Bokke taking the last 3 honours in a row.
Prediction: This one is close to call, I for one never write of any All Black side but the Springboks have impressed in 2009 and against France this year…. so I will give the Springboks a very slight margin…. Bokke by 3.
Recent results:
2009: South Africa won 32-29 at Rugby Park, Hamilton
2009: South Africa won 31-19 at Absa Stadium, Durban
2009: South Africa won 28-19 at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
2008: New Zealand won 19-0 at Newlands
2008: South Africa won 30-28 at Carisbrook, Dunedin
2008: New Zealand won 19-8 at Westpac Trust, Wellington
2007: New Zealand won 33-6 at Jade Stadium, Christchurch
2007: New Zealand won 26-21 at Absa Stadium, Durban
2006: South Africa won 21-20 at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
2006: New Zealand won 45-26 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2006: New Zealand won 35-17 at Westpac Trust, Wellington
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Josevata Rokocoko, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Samuel Whitelock, 19 Liam Messam, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Richard Kahui.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Jean de Villiers, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 BJ Botha, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Butch James, 22 Gio Aplon.
Date: Saturday, 10 July 2010
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT; 09.35 SA time)
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Expected weather conditions: Fine weather. Southeasterlies. High of 13°C, low of 2°C
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
TMO: TBC (New Zealand)
Go Bokke!!
“TMO: to be confirmed”? 😯
o flok, ek hopie daais hulle “secret weapon” nie!!
All Blacks at home imo must be favourites. I think we have a fair chance to win the test, but we need things to run very smoothly in the game to win. Two players in the team with a off game and it will be tickets.
Every point scoring opportunity must be taken, and the defence must be rock solid.
It can be done……..
It would give me tremendous pleasure if we do take the win. I reckon that Henry may wish he never re-applied for the possition if he loses all 3 against the boks this year again.
I am very undecided about this game… Boks should be favourites but it is going to be a titanic tussle, our bodies will be broken by the time we play Australia in Brisbane..
So Paul the Octopuss has spoken.
Germany 3rd.
Spain 1st.
I’m worried about Cowan against January. Our loosies will have to be awake, cause Cowan will snipe around the fringes all day long, and i’m not sure if January has the speed to keep him in check.
Think the Kiwiw’s will be to eager to win and prove themselves. Boks to win by 5
Although I would agree with Grootblousmile regarding our forwards, I am not so confident in our backs.
I am happy to see Jean de Villiers at wing, but looking at our backline the question does arise whether these guys will defensively be orginsed and gel as a unit.
Also not so convinced about Zane and Wynand’s defensive abilities.
Will be a tough one.
9: ou biltong, is jy ernstig ?
Wynand word juis gekies vir sy ‘defensive abilities’, sy sterkste punt, alhoewel hy die laaste 2 jaar ook baie beter op die aanval is. Hy is tans SA se beste senter wat verdediging betref. Die afgelope 2 jaar was hy nog elke keer Nonu se baas as hul teen mekaar speel.
My bekommernis is meer met JDV se spoed op vleuel, hy word bietjie oud en die spoed is nie meer wat dit was nie. Sy ervaring vir die span is egter goud werd.
Wat Zane betref, ja, sou graag vir FS daar wou gehad het, maar dit gaan nie gebeur nie. Zane is dan ons volgende opsie. Ek is net dankbaar Snorre het nie vir Aplon vir die wolwe gegooi deur hom heelagter te maak nie. Aplon sal goed doen die laaste 20 minute, met sy speod, maar vir die eerste 60 soek ons iemand daar agter wat meer as 60 kg weeg.
Tot tyd en wyl Lambie of Steyn weer nr.15 is, dink ek Zane moet sy geleentheid kry.
Dink die volgende spelers kan nog in die volgende jaar voor die WB die bokgroep versterk:
Beseerdes: Bismark, FDP, Brussow
Juan Smith
Buite die groep en kan hulself nog inspeel: FS, Lambie, Werner Kruger, Mapoe, Shadow
Sal ook Gary of Tiaan as 3de haker kies.
Think the Kiwis under so much pressure they going to make a lot of mistakes and give away penaltys or is that just wishfull thinking ?
Paddy tells Mick he is thinking of buying a Ladrador.
“Fock off” says Mick “Have you seen how many of their owners go blind?”
GO BOKSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
GO SHARKSSSSSSSSSSSS
GO SPAINNNNNNNNNNNNN
Twee cullerts is besig om te drink. Ouboet stuur
Kleinboet om nog wyn te koop. Kleinboet kom terug en sê: “Ouboet, ek het slegte nuus.”
Ouboet: “Wat’s dit?” Kleinboet:
“Pa is dood”
Ouboet “Flok!! kyk hoe lat djy my nou skrik, ek dog die wyn het gebreek!”
die oom sukkel met ereksies en as een plaasvind is hy altyd net te laat om die tannie te bereik , hy reël dat as sy hom sien aan gehardloop kom moet sy alles uit trek en gereed wees vir aksie , so gaan n week verby toe die oom uit die mielieland aangehardloop kom en sy arms wild swaai , die tannie pluk alles uit en lê …sommer op die stoep , die oom hardloop verby haar en skreeu ” hier lê jy kaalgat met jou bene in die lug terwyl die fokken plaas afbrand
bdb, as jy kyk na die hoeveel heid driee wat die Bulls deurgelaat het, as ek reg onthou is dit omtrent 34, baie van die verdediging probleme het gekom tussen Morne, Wynand en die ander sentertjie (kan nou nie sy naam onthou nie. Miskien was die bulle se organisasie dalk nie goed nie. Maar vergelyk dit met Grant, de Jongh en J Fourie. Daar is n’ groot verskil gewees.
Good luck to our Bokke.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BOKKE.
@ Treehugger:13 – Treehugs, Agree with the Bokke and Sharks. BUT not Spain.
GOOOOOOOOOOOO HOLLAND 😆 GO THE ORANJE.
16@ biltongbek:
Die drieë wat die Bulle deurgelaat het is as gevolg van die tipe spelpatroon wat hulle speel… heelwat minder konserwatief gewees as wat die Stormers was, dit kan duidelik ook gesien word uit die hoeveelheid drieë wat die Bulls gedruk het teenoor wat die Stormers gedruk het.
In die begin van die Super 14 seisoen, tot en met omtrent week Nr 5 was ons dun op verdediging op die vleuels, nooit deur Loskakel of binnesenterkanaal nie, die probleem was op buitesenter en vleuel. Snaaksgenoeg het die Bulle se verdediging verbeter soos wat die seisoen gevorder het terwyl die Stormers weer effe versleg het gaandeweg soos hulle naderhand meer oop rugby begin speel het.
Daar’s geen fout met Wynand of Morné se verdediging nie en ek moet saamstem dat Wynand SA se beste verdedigende binnesenter is, ky maar self HOEVEEL tekkels sit die man in.
Spelpatroon en tempo bepaal maklik hoe sterk is jou aanvalsangel maar in ruil daarvoor boet mens noodwendig ‘n bietjie verdediging in om so te kan speel.
De Villiers said he had put “the best team on the field” even if it had not been an easy one to settle on. But his choice of noted enforcer Botha indicates that they’re expecting a mighty physical battle from an All Blacks side intent on exacting some revenge.
“Last year it was a bit easier,” he said of his selection. “We only had that starting 15 and seven guys on the bench. This year in almost all positions we have to sit down and think what will be best for this Test. That makes it difficult to go to a guy and explain why he’s not part of it. I just hope the players that are there will reward us with a great performance.”
EeeeISHHHHH can someone near to Peter tell him how much he sounds like Graham Henry did in 2007.
Morning All
Heart says Boks by 5 , head AB by 5…..So bru has my heart prediction!!
So don’t let us down you Bokke….Hope I get coverage of the game here ok.
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