The final insult
The Springboks are expecting gracious favour from Lady Luck, God and the Highveld hoodoo but none of these intangibles will be enough to prevent another historic Australian win.
Slim chances of re-entering the Tri-Nations race evaporated with the capitulation at Kings Park, and there’s been subsequent talk about how this Ellis Park fixture is an opportunity to regain some pride. But what if the Boks fall to Australia on the Highveld for the first time since 1963? That would be the final insult. It would complete the plummet from champs to chumps in less than 10 months.
Keo.co.za looks at several reasons why Robbie Deans’s tourists will head back Down Under on a high.
BATTERY TAKES IT’S TOLL
Another week, another casualty. It’s a phrase that be will used to describe the Boks’ 2008 Tri-Nations campaign in years to come (as well as a few less-than-kind adjectives). The disaster in Durban cost South Africa another first-choice winger in JP Pietersen, a loss that comes just a week after Bryan Habana bowed out with a hamstring tear. CJ van der Linde has been banned for four weeks and will also be missed in a tight clash. For a side that’s already struggling, it’s almost unfair to expect the reserves to gel with the incumbents, let alone provide gamewinning touches.
The Aussies’ appeal of Rocky Elsom’s ban proved successful allowing the blindsider to hold onto his starting position. The Wallabies midfield looks no less formidable with Timana Tahu replacing the injured Berrick Barnes. The tourists may have lost lock Dan Vickerman but it is the hosts who are the more depleted and deflated outfit.
KICKING CHAOS
While it’s tempting to get stuck into those less-than-kind adjectives and phrases, it’s best to look at Peter de Villiers’s own errant slurs when it comes to tactical kicking. De Villiers assumed the Aussies had an inferior tactical kicking game ahead of that Kings Park Test, but Matt Giteau went on to break the Boks with his well-weighted chips behind the defence. Aside from Tahu, every member of the visiting backline has a healthy boot and the back three is strengthened in this area by the return of Adam Ashley-Cooper.
De Villiers has ignored last week’s result and picked two wingers not known for their kicking prowess, ditto the centres. Conrad Jantjes has the goods, but has failed to deliver in this vein in 2008, and the same goes for Butch James and Fourie du Preez. Why wasn’t Percy Montgomery selected for a match that is bound to see plenty of tactical kicking? A back three of Montgomery, Jantjes and Jongi Nokwe provides more balance in this regard.
BREAKDOWN WAUGH
Rumour has it he’s been locked in a dark cellar for seven days and fed on nothing but small scraps of meat, but Deans has finally decided to unleash the rabid force that is Phil Waugh. George Smith earns a break ahead of the Wallabies’ more important fixture in Brisbane, and so Waugh gets an opportunity to show the new coach what he can do with a start.
The problem with the South African back row is their failure to fire as a unit, and the persistence with Pierre Spies and the axing of Joe van Niekerk could prove costly. Elsom’s beat the law and you’d expect him to produce another big performance at the tackle point, and watch out for another prominent breakdown beast in Tatafu Polota-Nau.
SET-PIECE SCRAP
The scrumming was a positive for the Boks last week, but the problems at lineout time cannot be ignored. There was talk about the Aussie jumpers encroaching on the Boks’ side, but you’d expect experienced players like Victor Matfield and Juan Smith to rise above this sort of pressure. Hugh McMeniman and Elsom will look to spoil South African ball and James Horwill is one of the most underrated players in the Aussie side. They’ll miss Vickerman, but another bumbling Bok showing in this area will make their jobs a whole lot easier.
Prediction: It’ll be a sad end to a disappointing tournament for the world champions. Although they’ve been hit by numerous injuries, they will lament their own mistakes and perhaps finally admit that the current approach is flawed. Australia by 5.
Springboks – 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Andries Bekker, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Percy Montgomery.
Australia - 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Peter Hynes, 13. Stirling Mortlock (c), 12. Timana Tahu, 11. Lote Tuqiri, 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Sam Cordingley, 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh, 6. Rocky Elsom, 5. Hugh McMeniman, 4. James Horwill, 3. Matt Dunning, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson
Subs: 16. Stephen Moore, 17. Al Baxter, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. George Smith, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Ryan Cross, 22. Drew Mitchell.
By Jon Cardinelli
August 29th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
#1191 rangerman:
To hakkel means to stutter.
Fictitious story of course, it’s part of a project that I’m working on…
August 29th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
#1199 MightyQuin: Ok…I think I’ll sit this one out
Electricity bill, hmm is that a duck with a cable attached.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
#1196 carol meredith: well, the kiwis (some of them) claim their 95 team was poisoned by a saffa waitress named “suzie” before they lost to us in the wc final in south africa.
and kiwis are defo not as whiny as aussies so for the sake of my ears i sincerely hope no one attempt to poison them!
#1197 Sheriff: ah, i get it!
#1198 4man: its a deal then.
August 29th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
#1201 Sheriff: A project? OMG…failure looms…
August 29th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Superbru…Sharks by 30.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
#1205 4man: They are playing in knee deep mud…will take some doing to win by 30 me thinks?
August 29th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Guys
Have to dash unfortunately! Off to see “Lord of the dance”, but meeting people beforehand for supper!
It will not go down well with the local auth if I continue with this activity!
Ranger & boys (not to forget Dawn) have a splendid weekend!
My typist resigned recently. She was from NZ. Going back there. I think I should replace her with another person from NZ. Flippen good typists, I tell you!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
#1206 MightyQuin: Unfortunately when i made the prediction 5 days ago I didnt know what the weather was going to do. Boland can do ok in these conditions, their pack is ok.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
#1192 sondebok:
Goddit!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
#1207 Sheriff: cheers sheriff!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
#1207 Sheriff: Ja, they are good at ball handling too. Is that why she left?
August 29th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
#1191 rangerman:
Hakkel is a stutter.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I’m slow today … apologies
August 29th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
#1208 4man: http://www.weathersa.co.za/
7 day forecasts…I would say 99% acurate
August 29th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
#1206 MightyQuin: You arent by any remote possibility related to a chap called Quintus van Rooyen, are you?
August 29th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
SA 4 for no wicket – the SA sports revival begins here and now.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
stutterberry.
Is it compulsory to have a nickname on a blog, I mean, Why not just blog as who you are. I think that is how Vernon Koekemoer got famous. And how Sheriff intends to become famous, howdy Sheriff.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
#1212 Dawn: dankie dawn, hoe gaan dinge innie kaap?
August 29th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
#1215 4man: Nope…:lol: he was BIG Blue Bull reporter as far as I know…passed away didn’t he?…no relation thank goodness!!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
#1214 MightyQuin: Hoekom is die Modderetter op my spoor…mag mens nie websites post nie of WTF??
August 29th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
#1217 rangerman: #1213 Dawn: Have a great weekend you two, I`m off to the pub.
.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
#1216 gunther: Haaha…don’t jinx it…pulease.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
#1218 MightyQuin: He was a journo and when he reported on who he thought the Springbok team would be (in the 70’s), he actually never missed. Rmour had it the selectors used to wait for his choices. No major reason I wanted to know, his daughter has a marketing company that did a lot of work for me at one stage. Yes, he was a Bulls supporter. I was wondering where your nom de plume came from, it was either the name or the song I thought.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
#1000 shooter: inform shooter.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
#1216 shooter: One of my friends in Johannesburg actually went to school with Vernon Koekemoer, she says he is absolutely flabbergasted at all the attention he is getting.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
#1220 sondebok: ja, you too mate.
alright, i am off.
cheers all.
BOKKE!!! cmon PdV, show us faithful that we were right to have faith in you!
August 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
#1224 4man: Return of the Jaws. You’re not supposed to say it I guess, but he’s close to 50 round. Amazing. He seems cool 24h/7.
#1225 rangerman: cheers. go well.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
#1226 shooter: Apparently he always had an unusual mode of dress, but you can see the man works out. He is getting good deals from ad companies and the like. I say grab it with both hands. Most Americans make a living out of it….being posers.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
There the Sharkies go into the lead.
this blog is v quiet, I think you’ve all ducked.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
#1227 4man: Ja, the Verninator. Being a character with a smile just goes along way. I also say, don’t stop now.
August 29th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
#1213 Dawn: don’t be slow..
August 29th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
#1230 gunther:
Can’t help it
August 29th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
#1231 Dawn: Bye Dawn. Go shell.
August 29th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
#1221 MightyQuin: looks like my prediction might not be so far off!
August 29th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
JC, I hope you read this. In the future, please do not use God’s name in a non-religion way. It is really disrespectfull. If you are not religious, I feel sorry for you. If you are, then you are suppose to know better.
Thank you
August 29th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
#922 MightyQuin: Sweet Mary…..LMAO!!:)
August 30th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Tacticus
To win the ball,you must get to it first and not last.The biggest problem
with are loose trio isnot that they are primarily ball carriers and not
fetchers,but that they operate as individuals and not as a trio and
hence carry they ball too far and often in the wrong hand.By running
too far they are easy prey for the Aussies and ABs hounds who surround
and seperate them like wild dogs seperate their prey from the herd.
If you want to play three big man they should learn to off load in the
tackle to the next one by.running of his shoulder.You might be able to stop one big loose forward but not three operating in tandem.
Oce they have punched holes in quick succession our backs with
Adi in good form will run any opposition ragged.If you want you play
ABs and Aussie style you must at least include one ferret.
August 30th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
So Tacticus
So far so good.THe Aussies played silly rugby and gifted the Boks two tries,
Hope Boks don’t change game plan