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, 08:04 am
Yip , can’t see us winning this game.
Aussies by 9
Bulls by 12
Sharks by 17
29 Aug 2008, 08:05 am
#287 EEE:
Hy het laasnag met my en Koos gesels, se net hy is moeg, heelnag opgesit, en ou GBS Maximus klou vas aan die lewe so al hy werd is, maar daar is min hoop…
29 Aug 2008, 08:05 am
Yes i said it , Province compain are over for 2008 bulls going to beat them big time. Sorry Province , WP Weer Probeer volgende jaar.
29 Aug 2008, 08:05 am
#295 Pietman: Thanks for the lesson, I will try and remember. I told you I have a Korean girl staying with us, but I am a poor learner of languages. Stick to what I know.
29 Aug 2008, 08:06 am
#278 ansie: #278 ansie: Must’ve been first league in France cause Matfield came out soft after his little stint there. I read the Nick Mallet biography the other day and he said the Frog league were the dirtiest he ever played. Thought i knew who you were but the French stint put me way off. Anyways as long as you havnt played for the Bulls
29 Aug 2008, 08:06 am
#300 Andre_WP: Spot on…’though Sharks by less…playing in mudbath in Boland tonight.
29 Aug 2008, 08:09 am
#303 Sniper:
Very difficult language, different words for the same thing, depending on the level of discussion.
But you and I should greet each other ‘Anyong Hasayo’ ( ‘Goeie dag meneer’).
You can say ‘Anyong’ to the girl, she is your junior.
29 Aug 2008, 08:09 am
#289 EEE: Jong, ek sal baie verbaas wees as ons wen. Die ouens lyk vir my baie mismoedig en daar is hewige druk op hulle – en dan maak jy eers voute want jy probeer te hard. Jy moet besef dat hulle ook maar mense is soos ek en jy, en dit is ook hulle 4de agtereenvolgende toets. Ek is seker dat hulle geestelik uitgeput moet wees.
Kyk maar mooi na wat in die voorspelers gebeur. Dis waar dat dit ‘n ander spel geword het in vergelyking met wat ek geken het, maar dit bly steeds nodig om met mening in te klim, en ons ouens doen dit nie. Wanneer laas het jy gesien ons “counter ruck”, soos die Kiwis dit noem?
Ongeag die stukke wat ek somtyds skryf, wees seker dat ek dol van die vreugde sal wees as ons wen, maar ek verwag dit nie.
29 Aug 2008, 08:12 am
#298 MightyQuin: What does Naas and the Boys have to say with regards to our breakdown woes?
29 Aug 2008, 08:12 am
#304 Disa: Played for the Bulls? Never!! That much I will admit to.
Not a lot of people know that I went to France. When you’re out of the limelight in SA, people forget about you and as for the press, you become invisible.
29 Aug 2008, 08:14 am
#284 ansie:
Cruchi ! = Netso, beslis, defnitief, absoluut !
Bokke yoha-yo = Bokke Bo !
Kapshida = Laat waai ! Laat ons gaan manne !
29 Aug 2008, 08:15 am
#290 Big Hit: #304 Disa: You guys are right, and Nick is certainly right. He took a small club from a very little known tiny town in a non-rugby playing part of eastern France into 1st Division. Truly a remarkable achievement. That team had players from non-rugby playing countries like Poland.
Nick doesn’t suffer fools or foolishness gladly, but in my book he is one of the greatest coaches ever.
29 Aug 2008, 08:16 am
#307 ansie:
Dis wat Staal se.
Sy beste vriend se seun is in die huidige Bokspan, hy se n paar manne is gatvol.
29 Aug 2008, 08:16 am
More Koos, Pietman! Hel ouens ons rugga is KUK van wanner af verloor ons so baie bal by die afbreekpunte? ek sommer lus en begin CC kyk die Vrystaat vs Lions was mooier rugby as die boktoets!!!!
29 Aug 2008, 08:17 am
#95 funkyzoo: thanks for that post, great summing up
29 Aug 2008, 08:17 am
#308 Disa:
Ek gaan jou mail, bietjie ‘binne-inligting’.
Check gou.
29 Aug 2008, 08:19 am
#315 Pietman: Hoop jy sluit my in!!!
29 Aug 2008, 08:19 am
Joined late. Started reading blog but it was more negative than Zim political situation.Lets be positive. Maybe Aus doesn’t fire, they’re at the end of a tour. Elsom gets red carded. Gitau has an off day and our forwards decide to get their shorts dirty during the game instead of before. Then we can win.
29 Aug 2008, 08:20 am
#312 Pietman: Dink jy dis gatvol van verloor of gatvol vir die coach?
29 Aug 2008, 08:22 am
I wonder if this weekend will be Butch James last for the Springboks?
29 Aug 2008, 08:22 am
#314 zeitgeist:
Yes, agree, Funky had me read that one twice, I think he has some serious good points there.
I want to read it again later.
29 Aug 2008, 08:23 am
#312 Pietman: Jy kan dit openlik sien Pietman. En alhoewel dit seker vir die meeste mense onverklaarbaar is (omdat dit ‘n eer behoort te wees om vir jou land te speel), kan ‘n ou hulle nie kwalik neem nie. Om so rondge*ok te wees deur die rugbyunie, die afrigter, die regering en wie weet nog ander……..
29 Aug 2008, 08:23 am
#317 FrenklyMuDeah: atleast theres some talk bout getting JW back in some capacity atleast Thats positve
29 Aug 2008, 08:23 am
#317 FrenklyMuDeah: Aussie will be primed for this match, a win here and they may only need a bonus point against the AB’s to win the 3Ns …..
29 Aug 2008, 08:23 am
#316 Koos: My magtag Koos wat soek jy nog voor die komper so laat op n Vrydag middag!!
29 Aug 2008, 08:23 am
#324 Disa: het gekry dankie Pietman!
29 Aug 2008, 08:23 am
#318 Disa:
Check mail.
29 Aug 2008, 08:26 am
#325 Disa: Sien Pete ignore my flat…maar is ok!!!
Nog so halfuur om te gaan…
29 Aug 2008, 08:28 am
#322 Gerra: JW I don’t think will have the desire and infuence he had first time round. Someone earlier suggested Nick Mallet again (Heynecke unfortunately is lost to us and I’m not sure what Nick’s position is) and I would go with that.
#323 poppa69: That is scary, and I thought they were the weakest team in TriNations. Thank F I’m not a betting man.
29 Aug 2008, 08:29 am
#327 Koos:
Ek is besig man, kan nie so in die bondel praat nie.
Ja, more ou blikpens.
29 Aug 2008, 08:29 am
Morning moaners
29 Aug 2008, 08:30 am
#320 Pietman: Morning all – forgot to say hi.
How is GBS doing Pietman?
#321 ansie: Yet Matfield assures us the whole team are unified under the coach… why not keep quiet if that is not so, I wonder.
Must be difficult for the players though as you say, and if they do not buy in or respect PdV, then there is still the honor of the Bokke to play for. Tough to get up under those conditions.
29 Aug 2008, 08:30 am
#323 poppa69: What if they win with a bonus point? (not impossible)
29 Aug 2008, 08:30 am
#328 FrenklyMuDeah: thats why the Bok MUST win this weekend , preferably stopping any bonus points … cmon Boks !
29 Aug 2008, 08:32 am
#297 Sniper: sal vir dawnie vra
29 Aug 2008, 08:32 am
#332 Big Hit: then they will only need a bonus point in Brissie, so long as they stop us getting one … could realistically end up on the same number of points .. then not sure how its decided ?
29 Aug 2008, 08:34 am
#331 zeitgeist: Classic case of where there is smoke…
#329 Pietman: Dis blokOOR, nie pens nie! Ek wag vir die email maar f-ol…
29 Aug 2008, 08:34 am
#328 FrenklyMuDeah: ja think since I joined superbru I am forced to think more and even if I know I am wrong, I have always picked the Boks to win this season …
29 Aug 2008, 08:35 am
#335 poppa69: Points difference…
29 Aug 2008, 08:36 am
#337 zeitgeist: me too, just cant bring myself not to, sad I know
29 Aug 2008, 08:37 am
#336 Koos: ja I think you right
29 Aug 2008, 08:38 am
#336 Koos:
Jy het mail ou blikoor, sorry.
Ek vat boeke so tussenin, Pampoen skreeu ook nog hier op my, en ek probeer n seekossie aanslaan tussenin.
Raak ook nou gatvol vir almal wat my rond ‘shunt’ hier, weet nie waar ek aan of aan is nie, amper soos party van die Bokke !
29 Aug 2008, 08:39 am
#339 EEE: lol, eternal optimism is what I put it down to – full steam ahead then!
GO BOKKKKKKKKE!
29 Aug 2008, 08:40 am
#331 zeitgeist:
GBS doing ok under the circumstances thx, no change in the situation, GBS Maximus is still holding on.
29 Aug 2008, 08:42 am
#331 zeitgeist: You know sometimes the result ends up with one team beating the other by quite a lot, like our last 2 games. But in reality the difference is nowhere near that great – a couple of mistakes and the score blows out. In that sense (and only that sense) PDV is right; if his plan actually were to work, we would win. But we don’t have the guys that can play like that – on their day probably only France can, and for that reason – that he’s too donkey stubborn to see it – I climb into him and want him gone.
29 Aug 2008, 08:42 am
aaaah, i wish you all a GOOD morning!
except for jc of course
how’s all those who agree with me (occassionally) and all those who dont ever agree with me doing this morning?
29 Aug 2008, 08:42 am
Morning 3rd rankers
29 Aug 2008, 08:43 am
#342 zeitgeist: For Sure!!!!! BOKKEEEE
I even feel the Verlepte blommetjies might win today….(okay only hoping)
29 Aug 2008, 08:44 am
Pietman,
Wou jou nou al lank vra maar bly vergeet. Kyk jy Currie Cup rugby live oor die net daar waar jy is?
29 Aug 2008, 08:44 am
wil net weet ignoreer ons nogsteeds no drie vier ses?
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