A difference in IRB world ranking places of eight, and South Africa’s commanding RWC track record against them, suggests that the Springboks should have a reasonably smooth ride past Samoa in their last Pool D fixture at North Harbour on Friday.
Sport24
But statistics will count for nothing as the defending champions try to finalise their passage to the quarter-finals and the underdogs throw the kitchen sink in their own, less likely quest to make the cut.
It is widely acknowledged that there will be bone-crunching “hits” galore between two of the more physical nations around, and these are a mini-selection of enticing one-on-ones that could go a long way to deciding which team comes out alive, as it were …
1. Tendai Mtawarira v Census Johnston
The 116kg Beast will surrender all of 20 kilograms when the Bok loosehead crowd-pleaser packs down against Samoan No 3 Johnston in the set scrums and presumably grapples with him a few times in general play as well. Yes, the Toulouse tighthead is one of the biggest specimens around at his specialist trade: just observe how “stretched” that tattoo around his chest is, if you get the opportunity to see it! But Mtawarira, who is involved in a healthy internal tussle with Gurthro Steenkamp for rights to the Bok No 1 jersey, tends not to be intimidated by tales of the tape and would also probably trounce Johnston in a 50-metre ball-in-hand dash. Still, whether the Auckland-born Samoan is prepared to simply roll over and play “Vickery” for the Beast remains to be seen …
2. Fourie du Preez v Kahn Fotuali’i
Three or four years ago, more obvious supremacy in this match-up would probably have been tipped for Du Preez, one of the most distinguished individuals of the last World Cup. But the landscape has changed a tad with the passage of time … and this meeting of two seasoned, 29-year-olds suddenly has a more even look to it on current form. Du Preez still does some things brilliantly – instinct doesn’t dim with the creep of age – but he has also started making far more basic, inexplicable errors in recent weeks and is under some pressure from Francois Hougaard for first-choice status at scrumhalf. He needs to “boss” Fotuali’i on Friday to remind of his pedigree. But it won’t be easy: the Crusaders man has been industrious and inventive for the Samoans and boasts tries in each of his country’s RWC 2011 wins thus far, too – against Namibia and Fiji.
3. JP Pietersen v Alesana Tuilagi
Here’s another tussle where one man – the Springboks’ Pietersen – will concede a bit in “tonnage” to the fellow opposite him. But not too much: it is handy that the Sharks wing, wearing No 14 on Friday, tips the scales above 100kg and is a good height match considering that the Samoan left wing, Tuilagi, is a human freight train at 117kg. Like many Pacific Islanders of his physical makeup, the huge-thighed Leicester Tigers icon can be unstoppable if he gets a head of steam, but is glaringly less comfortable when the ball is put behind him and he has to scramble on defence. Pietersen has been workmanlike at the World Cup while not sparkling to quite the extent seen in the last Super Rugby season, but his better all-round game could count for a lot in this slug-out …
No contests in all 3 departments I’m afraid.
In the front row technique over brawn any day, and coupled with the supeior experience of the WHOLE SA PACK I can see Samoa having a torrid time of it.
At half back, it’s all about quality of ball. Mr Fotuali’i will get everything going backwards and will suffer the consequences thereof.
On the wing, well it all depends on how the Bok backline are organised in terms of their defensive patterns and drills. Whilst Mt Tuilagi is something of a monster when at full tilt, if he gets poor ball at slow speeds he’ll be quite capably bought to rest. We just need to use one Mr Lomu as an example of how to stop ANY winger in the game.
Once again the world’s media trying to talk up the Islanders?
Mouthwatering!!!
Boks by 20ish.
Head to head.
Test Caps match day 22: South Africa 1040 – Samoa 413
World cup Caps match day 22: South Africa 148 – Samoa 86
Squad RWC tries: South Africa 45 – Samoa 13
Total tests played wins: South Africa 6 – Samoa 0
Tries scored: South Africa 44 – Samoa 9
Points for: South Africa 316 –Samoa 65
Average score per match: South Africa 53 – Samoa 11
This world cup.
Points scored: South Africa 153 – Samoa 86
Tries scored: South Africa 20 – Samoa 9
Points conceded: south Africa 19 – Samoa 36
Tries conceded: South Africa 1 – Samoa 4
Penalties conceded: South Africa 23 – Samoa 33
Yellow cards: South Africa 0 – Samoa 1
South Africa
South Africa will go into the match as the favourites wanting to ensure they keep dominating the tight exchanges and the breakdown area, they will basically try to ensure execution is as near to perfect as possible and use the as preparation for Australia, expect them to kick for territory and once in control with some points on the board to unleash their backs.
Samoa
Well they will be up for the challenge no doubt, I am concerned with the fact that they have seemed to lose some flair which is akin to the way they play the game. Their performance against Fiji seemed much better structured but less passionate than usual. Tough task ahead of them.
My prediction South Africa by 25 points.
Good luck to our Boks tomorrow.
We should win this one, but if we lose and the Samoans get the 4 tries against us we are out. A long shot I know, but Samoa did beat Oz this year.
So hope the Boks don’t underestimate the Samoans. I doubt they will. From here on it is knock out rugby.
I have Boks by 14.
GO BOKKE GO.
Puma,as long as we get 1 point,we should be ok because Wales will need to beat Fiji by more than 47 points (if we lose by 7), but the talk that we all read from Bokke camp is that they are looking at this game as play off game
@ Lion4ever:6 – Agree one point will do. We just have to win this game and make sure we come away with no injuries.
So if we are looking at this game as a play off game we will be playing it tight, taking no chances.
We come away from this game with out any injury, I think we have a very good chance of beating Oz.
Or Ireland or Italy. Thats if Italy beat Ireland. Ireland will then have max 14 points, and Aus will top the log, and it will be a fight out on PD. But what an upset if Italy beat Ireland by more than 7.
One thing I am so against in this world cup is the bonus point system. The world cup has always been a knock out tourney. Why the heck bring in the bonus point system for the pool games? A win should count for everything. If teams end on the same amount of points then points difference should count, or whoever has the most tries.
So now with the bonus point system in the pool games, a team that could actually not have won as many games as the team that is sitting below them on points could go through. I will never agree to that. Whether they want to see more tries being scored or not. I want to see countries going through to the next round on how many wins they have and not how many bonus points they collect on the way. A win should count for everything like it will if we get to the quarter final.
@ Lion4ever:8 – Would be a huge upset if Italy beat Ireland. For us getting a easier quarter, I would back Italy. Just can’t see it happen. Remember Italy too only have 5 days after their last game. Ireland have 7 days.
Not sure how they work out these schedules, but for some teams it is not fair at all. Every team should have at least 7 days between games.
This is the perfect game for the Boks to play going into the Quarters, it will knock off any rough edges and will continue them on the path of improvement. We have only had one walkover game and that against local opposition where a lot of the players know each other well. The other teams in the other pools have not been tested as much as we have. Lets not talk about 1 point, lets talk about 5 points, nothing less than an emphatic win will satisfy me. The Samoans will be up for it….and then both teams hopefully will carry on a world cup tradition and sing a few hymns with each other after the game. The last time we met in a world cup Bakkies, Victor and Juan went and shook Brian Lima’s hand when he was carried off injured, such is the respect they havee for each other. The Samoans also said the South Africans and in particular Bakkies and Juan participate in the game with the “warrior spirit”. This is one of my favourite encounters and I was delighted when Samoa carroted Oz….who they don’t like at all. I think I said Bokke by 10. I agree their pack will be going backwards all day, but we need to watch out for individual brilliance. These guys have got nothing to lose. Keep it tight up to the last 15 minutes and then superior fitness will give the Boks an opportunity to run a bit. The 3 matchups….I don’t concur. Beast and Gurthro can and have taken on any tighthead in the world, bigger and heavier does not mean stronger and better technique. FdP is improving every game, don’t forget he had a loooong layoff and he needs to be there to link with Hougie on the blindside for those last 15 minutes. JP will hold his own in any company and his positional play is very good…no winger in the world has the better of him, why should this Samoan guy now all of a sudden be in the running to do so.
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