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
Pages: « 1 … 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 [23] 24 25 » Show All
29 Aug 2008, 14:51 pm
#1094 sondebok: You sure have got it. Well done!
29 Aug 2008, 14:52 pm
there once was a guy named Ethel
who spent most his nights on methel
he tried to chat up this young irish lass
who took one look and called him brash
and Ethel ended up in the brothel
29 Aug 2008, 14:52 pm
#1100 Dawn: It has to do with DVD`s.
29 Aug 2008, 14:53 pm
#1097 EEE: you must be with the wrong men EEE
29 Aug 2008, 14:53 pm
I was told on this very site there were no well known comedians in South Africa.! You lot are wasted. Get out there and cheer your nation up.( You have made me laugh anyway)
Has Rangerman wrestled any wildlife today. If so post number please.
29 Aug 2008, 14:54 pm
#1104 poppa69: Excuse me sir!
29 Aug 2008, 14:54 pm
#1102 BuckT: What`s methel? Some kind of methedrine?
29 Aug 2008, 14:58 pm
#1107 sondebok: you got mail
29 Aug 2008, 14:59 pm
#1107 sondebok: ketamean, with a purple haze….
29 Aug 2008, 14:59 pm
#1107 sondebok: A letter from my attorney.
29 Aug 2008, 14:59 pm
#1089 sondebok:
Done
29 Aug 2008, 14:59 pm
#1105 carol meredith: lol, no wildlife today carol, apologies.
a couple of lines from the african bush for you:
some men say
that in these hills,
where eagles play
and leopard kills
spirits wander
and others speak
of mountain peak
whence warriors came
forgotten in name
on raids of blood
through this very wood
29 Aug 2008, 14:59 pm
Total (5 wickets; 44.2 overs) 247
29 Aug 2008, 15:00 pm
#1107 sondebok: #1109 BuckT: Is this not a rugby site?
29 Aug 2008, 15:01 pm
#1112 rangerman: Klink soos Raka
29 Aug 2008, 15:01 pm
#1112 rangerman: Good afternoon sir.
29 Aug 2008, 15:02 pm
#1108 Irish Devil:
Not you twat.
29 Aug 2008, 15:03 pm
#1114 Irish Devil: what gave it away?
sondebok, just keep away from the hiphop and rap, otherwise i look forward to the ‘new’ material
29 Aug 2008, 15:04 pm
#1117 Dawn: Good afternoon lady.
29 Aug 2008, 15:04 pm
#1116 Irish Devil: friday afternoons are optional…what’s your prediction for tonight and tomorrow?
29 Aug 2008, 15:04 pm
#1115 MightyQuin: what or who is raka?
29 Aug 2008, 15:05 pm
Sup everyone!
29 Aug 2008, 15:07 pm
Where’s my e-mail about DVDs!!!!!!!!
29 Aug 2008, 15:07 pm
#1112 rangerman: Don’t stop there, that was lovely.
Does it last for as long as Hiawatha?
Love the wildlife stuff. My closest encounters around here are badgers, foxes and loads of deer, somehow not the same as big game.
29 Aug 2008, 15:07 pm
#1120 BuckT: Western Province to win by 21 and Boland to cane the Sharks as it is wet wet wet I hear.
29 Aug 2008, 15:08 pm
#1123 Dawn: It’s a fake address. Goes straight to a brothel.
29 Aug 2008, 15:08 pm
there once was a blogger named Big Hit
and by his words, the kiwis were in fits
seems he was a man who liked to claim seconds
not our best team, injuries he beckoned
seems he just couldnt stop it
claiming the refs were in the kiwi pockets
seems the ref he stayed at the same hotel
where them AB’s were , the black cartel
and as the red rose wilted
Big hit departed, all sad and jilted
for his team lost to the scottish, a simple tilt
they couldnt beat the men in a kilt
and once again dejected
his application for kiwi citenzenship
rejected
29 Aug 2008, 15:08 pm
#1121 rangerman:
Haiku?
29 Aug 2008, 15:08 pm
#1122 Sheriff: sup!
#1124 carol meredith: sorry, thats as far as got. there is no more.
29 Aug 2008, 15:09 pm
#1113 MightyQuin: What you or us. Who is batting?
Danes eaten their terriers yet? Two for lunch wasn’t it!
29 Aug 2008, 15:09 pm
#1128 Dawn: haik u too!
29 Aug 2008, 15:09 pm
#1122 Sheriff: This is a rugby site and I only talk rugby. Sir what do you think will happen this weekend.
29 Aug 2008, 15:10 pm
#1085 Irish Devil: Sorry I got a bit distracted with GBS news.
Hope SA will put a spanner in the works for AB’s tomorrow.
29 Aug 2008, 15:11 pm
#1098 sondebok:
That’s right !
#1099 Irish Devil:
Boudica was once a queen
29 Aug 2008, 15:13 pm
#1132 Irish Devil:
You know me. Mostly philosophical about things like that.
I will be interesting if the Boks can play to their full potential.
29 Aug 2008, 15:14 pm
Hey guys! Is there bad news from GBS?
29 Aug 2008, 15:14 pm
#1129 rangerman: Wildlife wrestler, Poet and all round good egg.
Do no animals need subduing today?
29 Aug 2008, 15:15 pm
#1054 MightyQuin:
Here comes MightyQuin with a grin
looks like he just had a fu*k
And not far behind, what do you know
came a Mate counting the bucks
29 Aug 2008, 15:15 pm
#1135 Sheriff: Howzit mate! Had one meeting after the other today. Will be leaving office soon.
29 Aug 2008, 15:15 pm
#1136 Sniper: yes Snipes, his old man passed away about 10 mins ago…
29 Aug 2008, 15:16 pm
#1071 Pietman: strength to GBS and his family
29 Aug 2008, 15:17 pm
#1137 carol meredith: there are 22 furry marsupials from down under that need subduing but sadly they havent called for my expertise yet.
29 Aug 2008, 15:18 pm
#1129 rangerman:
Can always rely on a proper greeting from the Ranger! By far the guy with the best manners here on keo!
Hope things are cool on your side!
Talking of manners. Someone said to me the other day ” you are what you eat” and I said yes, but you are also HOW you eat. Was it harsh?
29 Aug 2008, 15:18 pm
#1140 poppa69: Thanks for the news.
Hey GBS mate – you are in my thoughts.
29 Aug 2008, 15:18 pm
#1137 carol meredith: Besides the Wallabie…no I dont think so
29 Aug 2008, 15:18 pm
#1130 carol meredith:
…sheeze cannot believe that you remembered. Poms are batting…Total (6 wickets; 47.5 overs) 269
29 Aug 2008, 15:19 pm
#1123 Dawn: Done!!!
#1110 Irish Devil: You bust me!
29 Aug 2008, 15:19 pm
#1143 Sheriff: What is fault with my greeting mate.
29 Aug 2008, 15:19 pm
#1139 Sniper:
How is the consultant and Honorary Prof today?
29 Aug 2008, 15:20 pm
#1143 Sheriff: cheers man!
nah, i think it was valid, fair and what are mates for if you cant get the truth from them?
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