The final insult
29 Aug 2008
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
1,238 Comments
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29 Aug 2008, 10:40 am
JC please do not to include the name of God with other hoodoos as you call it. I know this is a Rugby site and if your believes are different to mine when religion is concerned , please respect mine.
29 Aug 2008, 10:40 am
#496 WP Till I Die:
Ek en Balfour het saam begin suip, toe die eindfluitjie blaas…onthou ons het nie huistoe gegaan nie, ons was twee ure na die wedstryd nog op Ellis Park, die manne het gekuier, gebraai, biltong gesny…die hele wedstryd was weer op die groot skerm, binne en buite die veld en ons het dit weer gekyk en die game oorgespeel !
Lang dag gewees daai !!!
29 Aug 2008, 10:42 am
#497 grootblousmile: sorry to hear GBS , my prayers are with you both…
29 Aug 2008, 10:44 am
#497 grootblousmile: Keep your head up GBS!
29 Aug 2008, 10:44 am
#497 grootblousmile:
Hello kameraad.
Ja, die mense hier vra baie na jou pa.
Ek antwoord so hier en daar, maar weet ook nie alles nie.
Tot Dawn en Skopskiet het gevra ek moet jou se sterkte en vasbyt !
Weet nie eintlik wat om te se nie…sulke tye is my ou groot bek lam.
Maar se vir ou GBS Maximus mense groet hom van oor die heelal, en ons is stil, want n groot man gaan verby…..
29 Aug 2008, 10:45 am
Cheers all. Getting early Friday start to cricket. This time we’ll whip those whing Poms. Going straight into celebration tomorrow when against all odds we whip Aus.
29 Aug 2008, 10:46 am
#502 poppa69:
Quick translation cuz…
‘Be quiet brothers, a great man is passing by…’
Sorry, didn’t see you at first poppa, hence the local lingua.
29 Aug 2008, 10:47 am
Groete and sterkte GBS…
Capebull – don’t make your beliefes our problem, besides i am sure the Bulls players in the Bok set-up are on theor knees praying furiously for an improvement in fortunes…..
29 Aug 2008, 10:47 am
#505 FrenklyMuDeah: I like your optimism!!!
Would love to wipe that smirk of KP’s face!!!!! and of course off the convicts faces as well…
29 Aug 2008, 10:48 am
#493 eight ball:
i feel so alive … i’m happy when i’m depressed?
29 Aug 2008, 10:49 am
#507 Ig: wish everyone would just stay out of religion……. not good……
29 Aug 2008, 10:49 am
#503 shark_time:
#504 Pietman:
#502 poppa69:
#499 EEE:
You lot know me not to be a quitter, well I come from strong stock !
What’s going to happen tonight with the ruggas at Roftus ?
What’s the prognosis for the Bokke for tomorow ?
29 Aug 2008, 10:49 am
#482 sharkster: Its really about mindsets, it has nothing to do with personnel, its what the pseudo-consultants call “paradigm shift”. An easy example, if it wasn’t an injury to Pieter Hendricks, Chester would not have been the household name he turned out to be, dont get me wrong, Christie was right in playing Hendricks and Small ahead of Chester.
An easy example, Jacque Fourie was/is not better than Adi Jacobs nor Dewey Swartbooi, but to get your mind to understand on what Am I basis this on, would need you to move your paradigms of thinking
29 Aug 2008, 10:49 am
#509 asha1:
29 Aug 2008, 10:49 am
#506 Pietman: no dramas Piet…. probably said better in the local lingo anyways mate…
Kia Kaha GBS (trans: stay strong)
29 Aug 2008, 10:50 am
#511 grootblousmile: Wiepee gaan huil vanaand and I have this funny feeling the bokke are going to take tomorrow, only just but I think we might win
29 Aug 2008, 10:50 am
#505 FrenklyMuDeah: Celebrate big. We are going to win both!! hahaha
29 Aug 2008, 10:51 am
#299 MightyQuin: yeah I watch Boots and All last night
Did you hear Hand Relief dishing out some nice fodder for the hungry masses ??
“1 SA win in Super Rugby highlights the travel problems and shows the competition is weighted against us”
29 Aug 2008, 10:51 am
#516 Puma: so long as you win the ruggers guys , cmon Boks !!
29 Aug 2008, 10:52 am
510 EEE – Agreed.
29 Aug 2008, 10:52 am
Words of advice for the Boks this weekend – TACKLE TACKLE TACKLE!!
If it weren’t for the poor fringe tackling, Fourie du Preez slipping the tackle on Tuqiri, or Mortlock running through with no one in site, Aus would NOT have scored 1 try last weekend.
29 Aug 2008, 10:53 am
#512 XhosaKid: I thin Jacque Fourie is one of the best rugby players this country has ever produced
29 Aug 2008, 10:53 am
ignoreer ons nog vir nommer vyf twee een julle?
29 Aug 2008, 10:54 am
#497 grootblousmile: Our prayers are with you today brother. Just keep strong. You have many friends here.
29 Aug 2008, 10:56 am
#520 Richie_7: I agree they need to defend like Boks do. That was always our biggest strength. Just TACKLE Boks. Bring home a huge win tomorrow. Take out of those Aussies for their game against the Ab’s
29 Aug 2008, 10:57 am
#512 XhosaKid: Adi Jacobs has not half the talent that Jacque Fourie has.
29 Aug 2008, 10:57 am
#518 poppa69: Morning popppa69. Yes we are not just playing for us but our NZ brothers too. We just have to win this for both of us. But then I don’t doubt that the Ab’s will knock those Aussies silly next week and have a good win.
29 Aug 2008, 11:00 am
#523 Puma: Thanks !
Yeah, I’ve made good friends here, some special lasting friendships !
I’ve met a lot of Keolings personally and have been astounded by the quality, character and loyalty of those individuals. Rugby is a wonderful sport !
I believe in choosing my friends wisely……. and have achieved that with my friends here !
29 Aug 2008, 11:00 am
Jy hierdie is ‘n sport site, nie ‘n v..king vrek site nie
29 Aug 2008, 11:01 am
#524 Puma:
Tackle the piss out of the Aussies and feed off their mistakes!
29 Aug 2008, 11:02 am
#507 Ig: Thanks Ig !
29 Aug 2008, 11:02 am
#526 Puma: hi Puma… will be a hard game for the AB’s … I just want SA to win purely for the players, they need a good win so they can go forward and tackle the NH teams with some confidence…..
29 Aug 2008, 11:04 am
#484 WP Till I Die: Yes that was the most fantastic day for SA will never forget Madiba putting his hands up cheering for us. It was a wonderful time to be South African. Then in 2007 I felt the same huge, huge pride and super feeling just the same as once again we all united and together we became one. Its those times that keep here in SA.
29 Aug 2008, 11:04 am
#512 XhosaKid:
Every white person that I have spoken to about sports and sports teams have all said (without exception), that their don’t care about the composition of the teams, as long as we win.
I enjoy watching Ashwell Prince making 100′s after 100′s – like earlier this year against the Pommies; or watching Bobo and Co. play really well. It’s like a huge sense of pride fills us in that our ‘brothers’ can also kick-arse with the best of the best. I really enjoy watching Sepaka running over would be tacklers and smashing them all over the place.
The soccer team really pisses me off though as they never seem to get their act together – except for ’96 Cup of Nations.
29 Aug 2008, 11:05 am
#531 poppa69:
Last night on Wrap from Downunder Ian Jones commented that they (NZ) really hope the Boks turn their fortunes around because they respect SA rugby and want more games like the Dunedin test which keep rugby exciting
29 Aug 2008, 11:05 am
#522 EEE: what are you the new Dawn ??
29 Aug 2008, 11:06 am
#521 vindicated: If ever there is guy who rode the wave, Its Jacque Fourie. Dewey Swartbooi was the man, it really irks me when such talent is wasted by a very vicious provincial system
29 Aug 2008, 11:08 am
#528 aussie cricket supporter:
Jy is verdwaal, jou dronkgat….kry koers makmoer.
29 Aug 2008, 11:09 am
#527 grootblousmile: Nice one GBS. Friends are always what we all need. Just hope all goes well with your Dad. He sounds like one great man. My Dad passed on many, many years back. 1980 and I still miss him to this day. Still have great memories going with him to the rugby too. Memories is what will last a lifetime always remember that. We here are with you all though this very sad time bru.
29 Aug 2008, 11:09 am
#534 Richie_7: too true Ritchie… NZers have always had respect for the way the boks play and vice versa… its the closeness of the contest and the comraderie afterwards….
its been built up on 100 years of rugged, tough rugby…. and I think the world needs MORE games like the Dunedin test…. not the constant 2nd team mentality that seems prevalent now…..
29 Aug 2008, 11:09 am
Beijing Day today at work.
Have fake cherry blossoms stuck in my hair.
29 Aug 2008, 11:09 am
#525 Nemesis: Give Adi Jacobs the same exposure that was afforded to a mediocre Jacque Fourie and you will see your arse I’m tell you.Anyway, He has already started, no more doomsayers about his defence
29 Aug 2008, 11:10 am
grootblousmile,
Alle sterkte, kameraad.
29 Aug 2008, 11:11 am
#536 XhosaKid: I also think Jacque Fourie is one of the most dangerous players in world rugby – he is strong, fast, has good hands and can run good lines – as an Aussie I am very happy when he is out injured
29 Aug 2008, 11:12 am
#541 Dawn:
Jy lyk seker mooi weer, kyk rond suster .
Jy weet hoe jags is daai Kaapse manne op n Vrydag !
29 Aug 2008, 11:12 am
#529 Richie_7: Yes thats what we will have to do. Just have to win this one for our pride thats all now thats left.
#531 poppa69: Yes I too just want Boks to win for the players. It will be hard but we must restore our pride. We are a great rugby nation just like NZ Still think Ab’s will be up for it next week. I am sure they will get the win and I hope so too as most here will be supporting Ab’s next week.
29 Aug 2008, 11:12 am
#541 XhosaKid: Not sure you know that much about centre play….but if you think Jacque Fourie is mediocre then clearly not a hell of a lot !
29 Aug 2008, 11:14 am
#543 WP Till I Die: Ek staan sterk kollega, julle weet mos !
29 Aug 2008, 11:16 am
#545 Pietman:
You don’t say !!!
Could’ve fooled me.
29 Aug 2008, 11:16 am
#544 vindicated: Yes its a pity he was injured this year. He such a strong player and makes great breaks too. He will be back then think JdV will go to the wing. Don’t be happy when great players are injured as if you beat us against our best its a much better win than beating us when players are out injured. Like our Captain was most of the 3N and JF, Kanko. Lots were missing but they will be back.
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