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, 08:44 am
Come on Boks. Your country needs you, and more importantly New Zealand needs you. PdV must hand out black arm bands to remind the SA boys they’re playing for two countries tomorrow in Jo’burg. So no spreading the ball wide and trying to run it. No trying to off load in the tackle. Just do what Springboks do well; tuck it up the jumper, stand on Wallaby faces whenever the opportunity presents itself and kick you goals and take the points when on offer please.
29 Aug 2008, 08:44 am
Middag manne, wat gaan vandag hier aan.
29 Aug 2008, 08:45 am
Do Aussie play NZ next weekend – or is there a weeks break ?
29 Aug 2008, 08:46 am
#341 Pietman: Hehe gekry dankie!
Weet hoe jy voel, elke dag iemand anders wat ‘n rede vind om my uit te kuk! Maar ek loop amper dan kan hulle almal lekker met mekaar speel…
29 Aug 2008, 08:46 am
#348 Disa: Jis ek sal my linker gee om bietjie live curri cup rugby te kyk
29 Aug 2008, 08:47 am
#352 vindicated: Week break
29 Aug 2008, 08:47 am
#354 anderkantdiewater: trek terug jong hehehehe dis die een ding wat nog lekker in SA is
29 Aug 2008, 08:48 am
#346 vindicated: morning wannabe Saffer…
29 Aug 2008, 08:48 am
#349 EEE: Dammit, ek het opgeslip!!!!
29 Aug 2008, 08:50 am
#354 anderkantdiewater: Jy kan op Foxsport website, gaan kyk beitjie daar. Kos nie so baie nie maar ek het nog nie probeer nie.
29 Aug 2008, 08:50 am
#358 Koos: toemaar ek het nie geweet of dit nog die status quo was nie, het maar ook die sot gegroet
29 Aug 2008, 08:50 am
#344 ansie:
you started out allright (in that post, i mean)
i tend to agree with you that the results doesnt reflect what actually happened in the game correctly, but what the heck, a few years down the line, and no-one will really remember what happened in the game … we’ll only have the final scores of a not so super 2008 season (thus far)!
on only france being able to execute this gameplan … well, sorry, but have to disagree. theres been enough evidence in the last few weeks that we have the players to execute it … we’ve created numerous chances, its only the execution of the last pass, our decision making in the oppo 22, and our clean-out at that vital last ruck thats letting us down.
29 Aug 2008, 08:51 am
#354 anderkantdiewater: PS jy kan die linker maar hou, soek hom nie!!!
29 Aug 2008, 08:51 am
#348 Disa:
Ja, ek kyk als, tot Egoli en 7de laan en Carte Blanche…het allerhande skottels en pispotte hier op die dak. Die wind moet net nie waai nie, dan is ek reg, en die N-Koreane moet net nie nonsens maak nie, anders is ek af ( defensive scanning)
Mediazone en KuduClub (pispot), Starisat (skottel).
29 Aug 2008, 08:52 am
#307 Pietman: Fanks! Been counselling. Sorry for late reply
29 Aug 2008, 08:53 am
#364 Sniper: wag vir Dawn om jou addy te stuur…….
29 Aug 2008, 08:54 am
#335 EEE: Great!
29 Aug 2008, 08:55 am
#366 EEE: Yep send me mail and then I will reply and will have your addy…
29 Aug 2008, 08:58 am
#366 EEE: Hey I sent Dawn a mail and asked her to send you my addy.
29 Aug 2008, 08:59 am
#359 Koos: Koos jou ou doring ek soen jou sommer oopbek!!!
29 Aug 2008, 08:59 am
#355 Koos: good, i think they will need it
29 Aug 2008, 09:01 am
#369 Disa: Ehhh hoe bly is ek nou daar is ‘n paar duisend km tussen ons!
29 Aug 2008, 09:02 am
Whats the chances of the players staging a rebellion this weekend and keeping the play tight?
29 Aug 2008, 09:03 am
#361 asha1: Point is valid – there aren’t any remarks columns next to the scores.
Let’s face it – we suck at the moment.
29 Aug 2008, 09:03 am
Whitewash Custard
yuk !!!!!
29 Aug 2008, 09:04 am
#364 Sniper: u got mail
29 Aug 2008, 09:04 am
#372 Big Hit: I think that the rebellion may have taken place if John Smit was playing – but with Big Vic, I doubt it. The captaincy is limited in my view.
29 Aug 2008, 09:06 am
#359 Koos: Jis thanks ek het altyd probeer op mediazone maar die ding se jy kannie dit doen as jy in Aus bly nie. Maar het nounet gecheck en die ding werk. Kwaai dankie man.!!
29 Aug 2008, 09:08 am
#376 EEE: Thanks will view now!
29 Aug 2008, 09:08 am
I watched the SABC news last night and noticed that Ian Mac was coaching the forwards in the tackle situation.
Maybe SARU has insisted that Snor take help even if he didn’t ask for it …
29 Aug 2008, 09:09 am
#377 anderkantdiewater: So wat gaan jy maak met die linker outjie?
Right, ek pak op, beer o’clock. Chat later all…
29 Aug 2008, 09:10 am
#377 anderkantdiewater:
Ja, mediazone is uit daar by jou, in UK ook. Licensing requirements, of soiets.
Fox het eksklusiewe regte daar.
29 Aug 2008, 09:14 am
#369 Disa: Oppas….Koos sal dit geniet!!!!
29 Aug 2008, 09:15 am
win or lose – its all the same thing. Right?
29 Aug 2008, 09:17 am
#376 EEE: u got return mail
29 Aug 2008, 09:20 am
#379 SyKoPlaya:
…….
maybe
he’s old and ugly enough to realise he needs help?
29 Aug 2008, 09:21 am
#361 asha1: That’s just my point, asha, we have enough palookas that can run fast, and sometimes they even come close to getting into position, but then they fail at the last hurdle. All the effort up to then comes to absolutely nothing if they can’t finish it off, and no amount of regret on your part or the part of Piet Poephol is going to convert that into points on the board.
The French have an instinctive feel for situations, and that’s when they can be brilliant. Serge Blanco was one of if not the greatest player in the history of the game, and he is what I’m talking about. But equally they can also stuff things up royally, as we all know.
29 Aug 2008, 09:21 am
#379 SyKoPlaya:
Why do so many people state, as a fact, that PdeV won’t ask for or accept help? I didn’t realise that so many bloggers, here, were so well connected with the coaching team.
29 Aug 2008, 09:21 am
Deans has selected a strange permutation fo talent to achieve the historic win that is on the cards. If Nokwe and Ndungane are the best available (fit) wings in South Africa today then our rugby is in serious trouble.
29 Aug 2008, 09:25 am
#373 Big Hit: I believe that there is a very good chance they’ll do that. But they won’t start that way – they’ll come out and play Poephol’s instructions and when we’re behind at half time they’ll come out to limit damage, by which time it’ll be too late.
And let me just say this – I hope to hell I’m wrong. I would love to have egg on my face and have to say I was wrong. Nothing would please me more. But even if that happens, Piet snor won’t have been responsible for it, and he must still go, no matter what happens.
29 Aug 2008, 09:25 am
#388 David: His personality and press dealings give off the ‘I’ll do it my way’ impression
29 Aug 2008, 09:27 am
#390 ansie: The reason I ask is because thats what the England players did at the last World Cup.
29 Aug 2008, 09:27 am
#390 ansie: he must still go, no matter what happens.
Really? Why?
29 Aug 2008, 09:29 am
#388 David: With all the reporters that attend the sessions, you would think that if someone was invited to assist, it would be reported – much like Plum’s 5mins in Durban in coaching the breakdown …
Valid point or not ???
29 Aug 2008, 09:29 am
#388 David:
(cont.)
Gareth Edwards, Hugo Porta, Carel du Plessis, Phillepe Sella, Danie Gerber, Ray Mordt/Gerald Davis, Serge Blanco / JPR Williams.
Howzat ?
Or you want Barry in there?
29 Aug 2008, 09:31 am
#391 Big Hit: Pride, i remember once reading about South Africans “Lager” mentality. When things go well we share and chat and act generous. When things get tough we go into our own little “mental lager” and shut everyone out. Thats when we should be reaching out.
29 Aug 2008, 09:32 am
#350 Buck: Like that. Come on Boks win tomrrow South Africa needs their Boks back on the top. We want pride back. Don’t let the Aussies win. Play for the Ab’s too. Much rather they won the 3N.
Play to our strengths tomorrow.
Well now that G. Smith is rested it just shows that the Aussies don’t fear us at all. Leaving out their best. They must rate us very low this year. Then a win without their best will be like nothing big for us if we win just by a small margin. Just win big Boks. Like you did 11 years ago. 61-21 Go Boks.
29 Aug 2008, 09:33 am
#387 ansie:
yes, you’re right again!
no amount of regret can change the fact that we’ve stuffed up oppertunities that we have created
but
you have to admit … we (at the moment) are almost creating oppertunities at will
so, i cant see how you can go back and claim that only france can play this type of game
………..
if we are creating oppertunity after oppertunity after oppertunity!
29 Aug 2008, 09:34 am
#389 Lang Giel: Underestimate RD at your own peril …. A win with a bonus point puts the Aussies almost out of reach from the AB’s.
If Aussie gets a 5pointer then the AB’s need a bonus point win as well in the final game with Aussie not getting any points.
29 Aug 2008, 09:34 am
JC you must be joking
You must have a serious case of selective retention or amnesia, Percy was shocking in his last game in fact he should be put to pasture like a retired race horse, the very fact that you even try to justify his return, means you either dont know ***** about rugby or you are on the take.
If you were honest you would know that your Darling Schalk and Juan Smith are too dumb for the way ELV’s have revolutionized the game, they are iniffective, they just dive into rucks or try and bash it up as lone rangers and end up isolating themselves and turning over ball.Smith must make way for Big Joe or Watson, yes Watson, he, atleast is a natural scavenger!!!.
I’m not even going to say anything about FDP and Butch, guess all of your darling WC winners are playing like *****!!!!!
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