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 1:15 pm
Eish guys! I am out of here for Part 2. If I don’t get time to speak again. Gooooooo Bokkkkkeee. Hopefully it will be short and sweet.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
#847 Loosehead: Pouring in Durbanville? I am in Bellville…sunny here at the moment.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
#344 Pietman: guess no news is good news in this case.
#345 ansie: I see your point – and interesting you should say maybe only France can – because so many of our players have French Hugenot(sp?) blood. But I am aware of the concern that it is not feasable for the one reason – consistency.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
#852 MightyQuin: Really its not raining in Bellville but in Durbanville.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
#845 Dawn: Surley it doesn’t matter if he is cute or not. The man is sending you poetry.
You are not that shallow are you?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
#851 Sniper: Cheers.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
#846 Rugby_Princess: an ex what! Convict, lover, lawyer, priest, psychologist, husband????? Hey I must run they calling me. Just when the party was getting lekka
August 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
#841 Rugby_Princess: Definitely a lady boy…but since it is an Internet Ladyboy not even pretty…fat and hairy more like it.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
#843 BuckT: Good. How wide does your taste stretch? Is there anything you dislike strongly? I`ve approached it with an experimental mindset, going for a variety of albums you won`t find in an everyday collection.
#838 Sniper: Hi Sniper, I just found out that 73.8% of all statistics aer made up on the spot.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
#854 iori Yagami: What?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
#848 Dawn: 2 out of 3, not bad dawn
August 29th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
#850 Dawn: Hello Dawn!
#846 Rugby_Princess: Hiya RP !
August 29th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
#831 Trigger:
Pu$$y.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
ek sien Keo het Copyright op die site?
why? 
August 29th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
#852 MightyQuin: #854 iori Yagami: The wet stuff is falling from the sky here. Ask Buck he is also in Durbanville.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
#860 MightyQuin: How can it be raining in durbanville but not bellville they arent that far apart.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
#865 Loosehead: Dry in town.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
#855 Loosehead:
As shallow as a sushi plate
August 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
#842 MightyQuin:
Oohh … I was “feeling” a possible Bok victory …
#843 BuckT:
Not “more” anymore … but I cannot remember what comes next … I am glad the week is over … tired, sad & in need of something nice happening … maybe like a large limoncello on ice ?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
#812 Sniper: hehehe………. nee sy was laaank voor my tyd, het dit net altyd gelove, is mose classic stuff jong
August 29th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Province can qualify for the play offs if they play all the returning springboks and win every remaining game with a bonus point,right? Can someone smarter than me calculate the points that will generate.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
#859 sondebok: 12.87% of people dissagree with that statement and 42.87% agree…sheeze you’re right!
#865 Loosehead: Must be on it’s way here then…I am just up the road by Tyger Valley…
August 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
#855 Loosehead:
And on the prowl!
Baying at the moon.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
#869 Rugby_Princess: more princess, would be good for us if they do win …
August 29th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
#869 Rugby_Princess:
Go shopping.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I figured by now the KEO corps is not going to issue a statement where they explain their 3N ‘campaign’. What have you been thinking!?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
#868 Dawn: “As water tight as a mermaids bra”…sorry I though we were going for some interesting comparisons here?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Q:will the saps legalize prostitution for 2010?
A:since when was it illegal?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I see on the poles outside “PdeV reacts to booing fans”
Where’s that here? What’d he say?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
#866 iori Yagami: awesome question iori.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
#850 Dawn:
I say take no prisoners Dawnie !
#857 Sniper:
Does it matter ?
#858 MightyQuin:
Now, there is a picture I could have done without !
#862 sondebok:
Sondie – what is on the agenda ? A Bok win ?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
#869 Rugby_Princess: Hi there princess….
August 29th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Hey guys. Just got cut off while typing. Let me continue, as I am sure someone is trying to sabotage me. Sitting in my B&B room recovering from a heavy night out. Buds go and google this little naughty pub. Went to Durty Nelly’s almost on the Shannon River, near Limerick. Got a bit tizzy last night but had a gas! If you ever get to Ireland and I surely hope you do, you have to visit some of these places. Keeping a record of all my stops and boy am I having fun.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
#880 shooter: Haha lol. thanks dude
August 29th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
#874 poppa69:
Hey poppa, would be GRAND
#875 Dawn:
An expensive solution … cos I have a Black Belt in that !
August 29th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
#880 shooter:
August 29th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
#875 Dawn: Dawn my lurv how are you? Wish you were here to protect me from these women who desire my every bone and flesh. Well then you know what I mean.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
#881 Rugby_Princess:
I say take prisoners!
Handcuff them to pipes, and if they want to get free, they’ll have to saw their own limbs off!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
#882 EEE:
Hi Mz Trip-E – Pls tell me your boys will “do the business” tomorrow ?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
#885 Rugby_Princess: Why don’t you talk to me anymore! Too much competition or just because I am WPTID!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
#887 Ethel:
I thought you were a woman?
Are you a lesbian?
August 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
#888 Dawn:
Dawnie that is so ’70s ! Now days you trap other “bits” in a vice, snap off the handle, set the garage on fire & walk away – let them saw THAT off if they want the get out alive
August 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
The Incredible Blue Bulls to wipe out the Stripey Ballerinas by 30 points.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
#879 Dawn: Jy wil dit nie lees nie… glo my!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
#889 Rugby_Princess: you know me, forever the optimist, I have this feeling that we are going to win this one, not by far, but a Bok win it will be
August 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
#893 shooter: ek hoop jy’s reg!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
#893 shooter: hehehehe netso!!!!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
#891 Dawn:
Dawn we are not supposed to use those labels – too unPC – Pls say “woman in comfortable shoes”
August 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
#888 Dawn: I once new a girl like you…..the restraining order still stands.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
#891 Dawn: Oopsy poopsy – Did I say that? Almost forgot I was Ethel. Of course I am lesbian – lurv women.