An agreement confirming Argentina’s participation was signed in Auckland recently by the Sanzar Joint Venture partners after several months of negotiations with the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) and the International Rugby Board (IRB).

The new-look tournament has been given a new name and a new fixture line-up with two Tests on each match day. Each participant plays home and away matches against each of the other three participants.

The Boks open their campaign against the Pumas in South Africa on 18 August before taking part in the first Rugby Championship match on the South American continent a week later. The match venues will be announced in due course.

‘The regular participation of Argentina at a higher level is long overdue and we are excited about their inclusion in The Rugby Championship,’ said Sanzar CEO Greg Peters, ‘Playing in the Championship will have significant benefits for Argentinian rugby as a whole and will bring new energy to the jewel in the crown of Sanzar.

‘The Pumas, as they showed at the recent Rugby World Cup, play an exciting and different brand of rugby to the other three teams, which will definitely add a new dimension.’

According to a statement by Sanzar, the new name of the Rugby Championship reflects its claim to be the ultimate contest, featuring teams that are currently ranked first, second, fourth and seventh in the world.

‘The Rugby Championship is an annual contest between the ‘best-of-the-best’ in world rugby – nations who have won six of the seven Rugby World Cups,’ said Peters.

Saru CEO Jurie Roux said he hopes these changes will result in a more balanced tournament. In the past, South Africa has suffered because of travel.

‘This is a significant moment in the history of Southern Hemisphere rugby and marks the launching pad to a dramatically changed landscape. It will add a new flavour and dimension to Sanzar rugby and offers the prospect of promoting rugby in other South American nations.

‘It also ensures a more logical and balanced Championship with fixtures and travel evened out across the region.’

The 2012 Championship will kick-off on 18 August 2012 and conclude on 6 October 2012. A Sanzar delegation will travel to Argentina in November on a fact-finding visit during which it will conduct venue inspections and hold discussions with the UAR, host broadcasters, sponsors and other key stakeholders to ensure the smooth transition from Tri-Nations to The Rugby Championship.

The Rugby Championship fixtures:

18 August 2012: Australia vs New Zealand, South Africa vs Argentina

25 August 2012: New Zealand vs Australia, Argentina vs South Africa

1 September 2012: Travel Bye

8 September 2012: Australia vs South Africa, New Zealand vs Argentina

15 September 2012: Australia vs Argentina, New Zealand vs South Africa

22 September 2012: Travel Bye

29 September 2012: South Africa vs Australia, Argentina vs New Zealand

6 October 2012: South Africa vs New Zealand, Argentina vs Australia

New Zealand did not choke in Brisbane. Australia throttled them and there is a difference between blowing it and being blown away.

Australia blew away any New Zealand complacency but with it introduced perspective to what should be a fabulous World Cup. Any one of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand is good enough to win the World Cup. Forget the northern hemisphere challenge. Neither England nor France has a team with enough quality to succeed in New Zealand.

Australia can beat anyone home and away. South Africa, in a one-off situation, will always back their physicality, no risk approach and strong kicking game to win ugly and the All Blacks, at home, rarely get beaten.

There is a buzz about this World Cup because New Zealand, for the first time since the tournament’s inception, aren’t being put on a pedestal. And rightly so. They stand no taller than Australia and South Africa.

The All Blacks, at full strength, are a fantastic side and in terms of consistency they are the best team in the world. But Australia and South Africa have the players and the game plan to beat the All Blacks in a one-off situation if they get it right mentally and the All Blacks aren’t quite as desperate.

The Boks in Port Elizabeth and the Wallabies in Brisbane delighted in being desperate. Both physically beat up the All Blacks. Both deserved the respective victories. New Zealand’s World Cup squad, all of who played in Port Elizabeth and Brisbane, looked vulnerable and mortal.

The All Blacks, should they win a World Cup for the first time in 24 years, will have to play to the maximum of each player’s ability. If they don’t win it a better team will have downed them. This All Blacks team isn’t good enough to carry the tag of choker into the World Cup. Don’t be surprised if they win the tournament at home, but equally don’t be surprised if they don’t.

Surely that’s a wonderful thing for any sport and any global showpiece event, like a World Cup. No one knows for sure who will win this World Cup and that’s just bloody brilliant.

The Wallabies were outstanding in beating the Boks in Durban and they were sensational in the opening 40 against the All Blacks in Brisbane. The Reds, in winning Super Rugby, were equally impressive.

The core form players of the year have come out of Brisbane and Super Rugby success has been translated into Tri-Nation’s silverware.

Desperation, however, is what wins World Cups. Desperation is what the All Blacks had at Eden Park in 2010 when they hammered the Boks 32-12. Desperation is what the All Blacks had at Eden Park a month ago when they were brutal in winning 30-14 against the Wallabies.

Those two New Zealand wins in Auckland are as significant as the Wallabies two recent successes against South Africa and New Zealand and the Boks win against the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth. It showed that a desperate All Blacks team is far more of a threat than one believing of its own press and the notion that it is a god given right New Zealand should win Rugby World Cups.

The pressure will never be off New Zealand to win a Test match, let alone a World Cup tournament, but for possibly the first time ever the expectation is measured with realism that the All Blacks must earn the right to win this tournament through a series of performances within the tournament.

Australia, because of form and recent history, have the momentum and the Springboks, because of their World Cup history, will command respect. But the All Blacks have it all to do at the tournament because they have always done it in between tournaments.

South Africa, in Port Elizabeth, exposed New Zealand’s lack of Test quality depth in areas like tighthead prop, loose forward and flyhalf. Australia reinforced the view in Brisbane, especially the ability of flanker Adam Thomson who has never been good enough to make an impact for the All Blacks.

Reds coach Ewe McKenzie was annoyed on the eve of this year’s Super Rugby final in Brisbane when the bookmakers and media made the Crusaders favorites to win comfortably.

‘How?’ asked McKenzie before reminding people his players were the favorites because of form, home ground advantage and confidence taken from beating the Saders earlier in the season?

The same logic was applied to Saturday’s result. Why was home ground advantage and the Wallabies win in South Africa against a full-strength Bok team so easily dismissed when making the All Blacks favorites?

New Zealand are not as good as everyone thinks and Australia and South Africa are better than everyone thinks.

Australia’s win in Brisbane was not a shock but a reminder of the strengths of one team and the mortality of another whose players looked more like bemused penguins in the first 40 minutes than potential World Cup winners.

There’s something about this Wallabies team, something special. After beating the Springboks home and away, the latter result against the world champions’ preferred combination, they proceeded to defeat the best team in the world to claim the title. Beating the Blacks on their home turf at the World Cup will be a significantly more arduous task, but, on the evidence of this performance, they are undoubtedly the team most likely to deny this generation of All Blacks hosts the one achievement that eludes them.

Rarely are the Blacks made to look as impotent on attack as they were in the first half, the Wallabies’ punishing, precise and sustained defensive effort blunting them emphatically. This charge was lead by a group of forwards whose capacity to mix it with the visitors’ heavies was questioned pre-match. They dispelled those doubts with an immense effort at the gainline and counter-rucked ferociously all match to deny the Blacks the rapid recycle they so covet. Faced with a pack of pitbulls Graham Henry’s charges were reduced to poodles for 40 minutes. They would drag themselves off the canvas thereafter, but never recovered sufficiently to start throwing the haymakers needed to win the contest.

The Wallabies’ formidable challenge on defence was complemented by a strong, inventive and incisive attacking performance that yielded three tries. They could have upped that tally had Quade Cooper’s pass found an unmarked Digby Ioane in the early stages and had Mils Muliaina and Piri Weepu not combined brilliantly in their in-goal area to deny Adam Ashley-Cooper a certain try.

When they kicked they did so accurately, seldom allowing the Blacks’ back three time and space to launch counter-attacks. When they played through phases there was a purpose about it, forwards pounding up efficiently to establish a platform for their dynamic back division. Will Genia profited one such passage of play. With the defensive line depleted he faked to pass before sniping around a fringe guarded by two front rowers to score. Cooper kicked the conversion to go with an earlier penalty.

This was a collective effort of the highest note, but within that effort were moments of individual brilliance, the most outstanding of which came not of one of the young bucks, but veteran Radike Samo, who handed off Adam Thomson and sprinted 45m to score. If there were any ongoing concerns about his aptitude for Test rugby, they were shattered tonight.

The Wallabies led 20-3 at the break, but the Blacks reminded them of their pedigree and unrelenting spirit, reverting to a more pragmatic style and reducing the deficit through a penalty and converted try, the latter a 26-phase move culminating in Dan Carter dishing off a sublime back-of-the-hand offload to Conrad Smith. Five minutes later Ma’a Nonu gave a timely reminder of his class, stepping his way through the defensive line en route to goal, Carter adding the extras.

The tension was tangible, with the crowd’s noise level dropping off in anticipation of a stunning rebound. However, the Wallabies edged ahead once more, Genia again taking on and breaking the line before Ioane combined with Kurtely Beale. Cooper missed the conversion and then sent a penalty wide to keep the Blacks in the game with six minutes to play. However, Australia were resolute in defence and held on to claim a victory that will give them massive confidence going into the World Cup.

Genia cleared – The Wallabies received a significant boost ahead of their Test against New Zealand with news that Will Genia has recovered from injury.

Genia sustained head blows in training on Tuesday but has shaken it off to resume his starting position at scrumhalf.

‘It’s not something too serious. I got a head knock and I felt a little bit foggy at training yesterday,’ Genia told reporters. ‘I pulled out towards the end because I felt a bit off. I got another knock but it was just a shock really. All the signs (now) look good.’

The Wallabies will still be hurting from that crushing defeat at Eden Park. They went into that fixture brimming with confidence given the Reds’ two wins against the Crusaders in Super Rugby, but were served a powerful reminder that on the Test stage, the Kiwis are still the kings. They were hammered up front by a relentless All Blacks’ pack, and handed a tactical lesson by flyhalf Dan Carter.

The Wallabies will have taken heart from their performance against the Springboks, as they delivered a powerful forward showing and maintained their intensity to secure the result. But then that performance must be viewed in context as the majority of that Bok side hadn’t played for two months and were always going to falter in the dying stages.

Perhaps the Wallabies realise the fact, as reports from Australia indicate that they’ve been preparing ferociously for another All Blacks onslaught. From the first whistle at Suncorp Stadium, we can expect a brutal war at the point of contact.

Do the Wallabies have the heavies to match the All Blacks? I still have my doubts. Even though Graham Henry has taken a gamble by resting Jerome Kaino for a game that will serve as good preparation for the World Cup, the All Blacks should still have the edge at the scrum, collisions and breakdowns.

Owen Franks will lend the All Blacks’ scrum more power and stability. The Aussies are talking up loosehead Sekope Kepu, but the Crusaders No 3 must be the favourite to win that contest. It will help that Franks will be playing alongside two veterans in Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock, the latter having made his comeback to international rugby last week.

Robbie Deans has also made a few interesting selections, picking Radike Samo at No 8 and the undercooked Dan Vickerman at lock. Samo will be expected to lend the Wallabies’ mobility as well as physicality while Rocky Elsom has a point to prove in the latter aspect. If the hosts are going to beat their much fancied Kiwi counterparts in a breakdown barney, Elsom will need to deliver some telling blows.

The potency of Richie McCaw and Wallabies fetcher David Pocock will be determined by the success of the respective sides at the collisions. The All Blacks will miss Kaino as a ball-carrier and defender, and there are relevant questions about Adam Thomson’s ability in a tight, grinding game. But as a collective, the All Blacks’ pack should still be too strong for the Wallabies. The physicality of their backline will also ensure that they get over the gain line, and Ma’a Nonu will view this as an opportunity to show the world why he’s favoured ahead of the freakishly talented Sonny Bill Williams.

Rain is forecast for Saturday, and this weather will suit the All Blacks as they are better equipped for a battle at the trenches. If the rain stays away, the Wallabies will attempt to play the game at a high tempo. While they may have prepared for a physical battle, their best chance of winning is obtaining parity in the forward exchanges and then employing their expansive game.

While both teams have the potential to produce some spectacular running rugby, the kicking game will also be crucial to the outcome. Henry has somewhat strangely decided to rest Jimmy Cowan for this final Test before the World Cup, and given Piri Weepu a start at No 9. Together with Carter, the halfback pair will be tasked with playing the All Blacks into promising positions.

The All Blacks will back their defence, as they did in Auckland, against an impressive Wallabies attack, and have the players to make the most of counter-attacking opportunities. They have the personnel to effect turnovers at the breakdown (read McCaw), and the decision makers at halfback to exploit these turnovers. They also have the finishers in Cory Jane and Zac Guildford to ensure these turnovers are translated into points.

The All Blacks forwards were dominant in Auckland and Carter was prominent as an attacking catalyst, defensive manager and goal-kicking exponent. He will take that form through to this clash and the Wallabies should be concerned that they still lack a reliable performer in the latter department. James O’Connor has been suspended and so one of Kurtley Beale or Quade Cooper will be asked to shoot for goal.

It’s a situation that doesn’t inspire confidence. If the scoreline is close you get the feeling that the Wallabies’ goal-kicking will let them down at the crucial moment.

Prediction: All Blacks by 8

Wallabies – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Anthony Fainga’a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Subs: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Salesi Ma’afu, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 TBC

All Blacks – 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Isaia Toeava

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Nonu trumps SBW - New Zealand head coach Graham Henry has confirmed that Ma’a Nonu is his first-choice inside centre.

Nonu has been selected ahead of Williams for the Blacks’ major Tri-Nations fixtures and will be the incumbent at the World Cup. Williams failed to make the bench for Saturday’s Tests against Australia, Henry citing his lack of versatility as the main factor for this.

‘Sonny Bill’s challenge is, I think, he’s competing against the best number 12 in the world and that’s great,’ Henry told reporters. ‘He’ll get his opportunity, [but] can he be better than the best number 12 in the world?

‘Quite frankly, it’s a different experience for Sonny Bill. He’s always been, and rightly so, the top person in that position in the teams he’s played in whether it be rugby league or rugby union. Now he’s in a situation in the All Blacks where there’s high competition for places and he’s not guaranteed a run-on spot. So when he gets the opportunity, he needs to nail it.’

Blacks back to full strength The All Blacks have named their strongest combination to face Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

The 22 features multiple changes from the side that lost to the Springboks in Port Elizabeth. Cory Jane and Zac Guildford start on the wings, while Mils Muliaina runs on at fullback.

Piri Weepu displaces Jimmy Cowan in the No 9 jersey, while the forward pack will be altered. Jerome Kaino is rested after last week’s clash with Boks and Adam Thomson shifts to the blindside to accommodate the return of Richie McCaw. Sam Whitelock will partner Brad Thorn in the second row, while Kieran Read takes his place at No 8.

New Zealand - 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock
Subs: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Isaia Toeava

Vickerman back for decider – Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has recalled Dan Vickerman for the Tri-Nations final against the All Blacks.

Vickerman will partner James Horwill in the second row. The Test will mark Horwill’s first as captain of the Wallabies.

Radike Samo is also handed a start for the first time since 2004.

James O’Connor misses out due to a one-match suspension for breaching team protocol. Adam Ashley-Cooper takes O’Connor’s place on the wing while Anthony Faingaa comes in at outside centre.

Wallabies – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Anthony Fainga’a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu
Subs: 16 Saia Fainga’a, 17 Salesi Ma’afu, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 TBC

Take hope from man and you kill him. South African rugby fans, Springbok players and the embattled Springbok management again have hope after battering the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth. These Boks are not yet dead.

Defeat against a second string All Blacks (coach Graham Henry made 11 changes to the side that beat Australia in Auckland) would have been catastrophic for any World Cup defence. Defeat would have crushed the spirits of South Africans and the players. The Boks simply had to win – and they did by dominating the primary phases, playing for field position and kicking points whenever on offer.

The game plan was simple, effective and as many told me afterwards the obvious blueprint to winning World Cups. After all South Africa has two of those golden trophies and New Zealand hasn’t seen one since 1987.

The All Blacks are dead. Long live the kings of world rugby, South Africa. I heard that a couple of times in Port Elizabeth on Saturday night. As I said there is hope again in our rugby, and typically there is arrogance that South Africa has had it all under control for the last four years despite losing nine of their last 12 Tri-Nations matches and winning 59% of all matches.

As I said, there is South African hope – and thank goodness for that.

Equally there should also be realism, at least from the South African with half a brain cell, that beating a makeshift All Blacks team at home is not a dry run for a World Cup semi-final against the first choice New Zealanders in Auckland.

I wrote last week that South Africa’s best hope of a successful defence is that some other team knocks over Australia or New Zealand, as happened in 2007. Given there is hope again in our rugby, why not another miracle? After all God may defend New Zealand but he favours us when it comes to Rugby World Cups.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry selected a pack in Port Elizabeth that lacked mongrel, leadership and the desire to meet the brutal Boks in those dark alleys. I picked the Boks to win by 12 points (no hindsight needed when it aired on Keotv on www.keo.co.za on Friday and on GoodHopeFM radio on Saturday morning) and based my confidence on a pack not good enough to dominate the Boks, a loose-trio lacking a fetcher to compete with Heinrich Brussouw and a New Zealand backline that would play high risk, but would never have the forward platform for it to be effective.

New Zealand’s backs demanded cohesion, composure and direction from flyhalf Colin Slade who fluffed every kick, most passes and all decision-making. When he limped off after 60 minutes it was 60 minutes too late from a New Zealand perspective.

New Zealand has flyhalf problems if they lose the incomparable Dan Carter before or during the Rugby World Cup.

South Africa will have problems the moment they come up against a pack whose players stand their ground. In Port Elizabeth the Boks physicality, led by Bismarck du Plessis and Bakkies Botha, allowed for control and meant flyhalf Morne Steyn could play as if at a training run. New Zealand never had the flow, go forward or momentum to challenge Steyn’s defensive frailties. It will be different when those 11 players, led by Richie McCaw, return.

Steyn again is the king of 10s … at least he was in Port Elizabeth after scoring all 18 points. I don’t agree. I’d still play the more complete and physically imposing Butch James at No 10 in the World Cup, but when selectors and coaches don’t quite know what it is they want the lasting memory is the latest one and a full-strength New Zealand, Australia, France and England won’t mind fronting Steyn.

The All Blacks, in the context of the match, made 21 linebreaks and fluffed six tries. South Africa never created one try-scoring chance, but relied on Steyn’s boot to punish New Zealand playing all the rugby in their own half.

This was desperation stuff from the Boks. It was ugly but who cares. They had to win.

I just wonder how many South Africans believe the Boks peaked in Port Elizabeth and produced their World Cup final, in terms of game plan and performance. Just checking because had the All Blacks somehow won I know South Africans would have excused the defeat on New Zealand peaking too soon and showing their hand too soon. Yes I am being facetious.

I have always rubbished talk that there is no such thing as a poor All Blacks team. The side that started on Saturday was as vulnerable as the bunch of plodders South Africa took to New Zealand and only marginally better than that which lost twice in South Africa in 2009. South Africa’s A team beat New Zealand’s B team in South Africa. It is the way it should always be.

On Saturday night, I lost count of the number of times I heard someone say, ‘Morné Steyn has proved why he should start at the World Cup.’

I overheard some fans talking about Steyn’s performance as they filed out of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. I cringed when I heard several of my colleagues champion Steyn in the press box, and cringed again when the assertion gathered momentum during the informal conversations leading up to the official press conference.

In De Villiers’s post-match prattle, the Bok coach unequivocally stated that Steyn’s the right man for the World Cup campaign in New Zealand. He spoke about Steyn’s value in the context of the Bok game plan, and highlighted his prowess in front of goal as potentially title-winning.

It was an alarming turn of events. Talk about a lack of perspective.

Steyn kicked five penalties and a drop goal, and enhanced his reputation as a cool goal-kicker under pressure. Nevertheless, his performance in general play was consistent with what he’s delivered since making his Test debut in 2009.

Doubts remain about his ability to play a commanding role on defence or attack. If he can’t make an impact against the All Blacks’ second-string team in South Africa, he’s not going to make an impact against the All Blacks’ best side in New Zealand.

It’s been difficult to follow the thinking process behind this selection. De Villiers described Butch James as a brilliant flyhalf but said the selection of Steyn was a matter of game time. De Villiers wanted Steyn to enjoy an opportunity behind a powerful back and alongside the best Bok backline players before the team departed for New Zealand.

It was a selection that robbed James of another chance to sharpen his own game and build some synergy with his fellow backs. It was also a senseless move given the All Blacks were always going to field their second side, and so any success that Steyn enjoyed would mean very little in the World Cup context.

But the Test has come and gone and for some reason Steyn is being touted as the messiah. De Villiers and company have ignored the fact that the Boks not only failed to score a try in Port Elizabeth, but rarely showed the intent or control to do so. It also doesn’t seem to concern De Villiers that their overly defensive game plan is particularly susceptible when they have a weak defender at No 10.

De Villiers has forgotten about the dark days of 2010 where the Boks used a similar game plan with no success. Steyn struggled as a distributor and a defender, and his impressive goal-kicking failed to save the Boks from humiliation. At one stage he had goaled 42 kicks in succession, but those fantastic stats couldn’t compensate for the Boks’ astronomical missed-tackle count or poverty of tries.

De Villiers will argue that the World Cup is a different tournament to the Tri-Nations. He will point to the past winners and say that it was an inspired goal- or drop-kick that got them home.

He wouldn’t be wrong, but he wouldn’t be completely right. You have to win the battle for territory and pressure the opposition into making mistakes before winning the opportunity to shoot for goal. Admittedly, the Boks did well in this regard in Port Elizabeth, but their success should be viewed in perspective given it was achieved against an All Blacks side short on synergy and first-choice players.

The Boks won’t enjoy such dominance at the tackle when they meet the All Blacks or Wallabies at the World Cup. The Australasians have proved that they have the ability to match the Boks’ physicality in the last two seasons. The Boks have unfortunately shown that when they are matched, or in some instances dominated, they have no Plan B.

Backing James as the starting 10 will provide the Boks with more options. He showed terrific attacking intent in that Test against the Wallabies in Durban, while that in-your-face defence certainly unsettled the visitors.

He has the ability to switch to a more conservative game when it’s required, and before the 2011 Test season he boasted a goal-kicking success ratio of 83%. So much for the perception that he can’t kick for goal.

His critics will point to his miscuing of a simple penalty attempt in Durban as reason for Steyn’s reinstatement as the No 1 pivot. In fairness to James, the ball was blown off the kicking tee, and he eventually asked Heinrich Brussow to hold it in place. This effected his concentration and he proceeded to push the attempt wide.

You would have expected more from an international player, especially one with an 83% record. But it would be crazy to denounce his goal-kicking ability because of that one kick, and even crazier to cast him aside just four weeks before the World Cup.

The continued selection of Steyn will take the Boks so far before they’re exposed and punished ala the 2010 Tri-Nations. Beating the All Blacks in a semi-final in Auckland is a tough assignment, and De Villiers will need to give the team the best possible chance of winning.

In James they have a player capable of maximising their existing defensive strengths, and a player capable of tapping into their dormant attacking potential. In short, they have a player who will take the fight to the All Blacks’ backline.

The victory in Port Elizabeth was important, and the emotions flowed as freely and abundantly as the celebratory drinks. But there should be no emotion in the selection of a starter for 10 at this year’s World Cup.

Whether the Boks want to play a predominantly defensive game, employ the kick-chase tactic, or bring their backs into play more, they need look no further than James as their go-to man.

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O’Connor to miss decider – James O’Connor has copped a one-match suspension after failing to arrive for the Wallabies team photo and World Cup squad announcement.

O’Connor was given a suspended A$10,000 ($10,400) fine which will stay in place until the end of 2012 and suspended from this Saturday’s Tri-Nations title decider against the All Blacks. The Wallabies’ utility back was found guilty of breach in conduct on Monday.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, O’Connor told officials on Sunday that he overslept when the alarm on his mobile phone failed to go off, but it’s uncertain whether he was at the team hotel at the time. He was sighted the night before at a different hotel and at several bars.

The Wallabies will name their team for the Test against the All Blacks on Tuesday. Adam Ashley-Cooper is expected to take O’Connor’s place on the wing.

The desperation was tangible from minute one. The Boks had come into this fixture with the intention to spoil and smother, to secure their first victory since November 2010. More importantly, they had arrived at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium determined to snatch a morale-boosting result on the eve of the World Cup.

It was this desperation that rendered all else insignificant. There was no sign of innovation or precision as the hosts bashed away at the opposition using the 2009 template of subdue and conquer.

Indeed it was a strategy that was not perfectly implemented, and it was all the Boks could do to hold on during the early stages. The All Blacks ran the ball from everywhere, avoiding the grinding contest at the coalface and attempting to stretch the home defence with a high-tempo, explosive approach. If not for some timely cover tackling by the Boks, the All Blacks may have scored a couple of tries inside the opening quarter.

Jaque Fourie was instrumental to the Boks’ defensive success, and the Stormers’ highly effective pattern was apparent. At times it appeared as if the Stormers were playing the Blues, such was the one-sided defensive approach of the Boks and the explosive but disjointed style of the All Blacks.

The Boks will covet this result, but the quality of performance underlined existing concerns. They offered little on attack and their defence wasn’t flawless. Some terrific scrambling by Fourie and Bryan Habana denied the All Blacks, but missed first-time tackles once again placed the Boks under unnecessary pressure.

Fourie du Preez had a poor game by his own high standards, as those high tactical hoists were rarely accurate and afforded the All Blacks’ back three multiple counter-attacking opportunities. Fortunately for the hosts, this second-rate All Blacks side failed to punish the Boks’ errors. Even though they broke the line on numerous occasions, their poor decision making in the tackle led to momentum-killing turnovers.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry said earlier in that week that he was hoping that these fringe players would make a statement against a strong South African side. He would have been disappointed,

Colin Slade buckled under the pressure, miscuing several tactical kicks and fluffing two shots at goal. He didn’t exude the same presence as Dan Carter in that crucial flyhalf position.

Neither the Boks nor the All Blacks will win the World Cup on the basis of this performance, but then the majority of this All Blacks side won’t feature in the big games. Come the World Cup, Carter, Richie McCaw and the rest of the first-choice players will return. With the exception Schalk Burger, and the reinstatement of Butch James as the starting No 10, this Bok side can’t get any stronger.

Morne Steyn kept the Boks in front with a flawless kicking display, slotting four penalties and a drop goal in the first half. The drop goal ensured the Boks extended their lead, but was another example of the Boks’ desire to win at all costs. The Bok attack struggled to pressure the All Blacks and Steyn failed to get his outside backs away.

There were a few, however, who impressed on attack. Bismarck du Plessis showed yet again why he should start at the World Cup. The Bok scrum stood up to the much fancied Kiwis, while Du Plessis’ powerful carries gave the hosts plenty of impetus.

As a collective, the Boks were inconsistent on attack, and a defensive lapse led to an All Blacks try right before half-time. Richard Kahui sliced through the Bok backline and stepped around JP Pietersen to score. The Bok cover defence so nearly denied Kahui, but it would have been another example of desperation rather than a victory for a superior defensive system.

Habana denied Jimmy Cowan in this manner early in the second half, and this allowed the Boks to progress past the crucial period after half-time without conceding points. From there, it was more kicking for territory, squeezing the All Blacks and feeding off their opponents’ mistakes.

The All Blacks would have gained something positive from this hit-out, as several players got an opportunity to play after returning from serious injury. Slade’s performance, however, will worry Henry and confirm that the All Blacks still have no quality alternative to Carter.

The Boks may have obtained the desired result, but should also be worried. They’ve added nothing to their attacking game, a fact confirmed by their failure to score a try for the second game in succession.

Steyn kicked all 18 of their points, but they will need to present more of a try-scoring threat if they are going to challenge a full-strength New Zealand and Australia at the World Cup. They will now look to improve during the pool stages of the global tournament itself, but there’s been little to suggest they will move away from a predominantly defensive mindset.

Steyn kicked all 18 of the Boks’ points in Saturday’s win against the All Blacks. His goal- and drop-kicking accuracy ensured the Boks ended their losing streak and secured an important win before the all-important World Cup, and that performance also gave the coach encouragement in the context of how the Boks will play at the global tournament.

‘We scrummed well and our lineout was outstanding once again, so there was a good platform to work from and create scoring opportunities,’ said De Villiers. ‘We went through a period during the first half where we worked our way into the All Blacks’ half and scored points. That is how World Cup rugby is played.’

Butch James was dropped after last week’s loss to the Wallabies, although after that game De Villiers explained that it was not so much a case of dropping James as it was a case of giving Steyn game time in a starting capacity.

However, after this Saturday’s win against the All Blacks, De Villiers suggested that Steyn will wear the No 10 jersey at the World Cup.

‘I never had questions [or doubts] about Morne,’ he said. ‘He’s still our No 1. Sometimes you have to make these decisions, to drop him for two games to help his development. I know he can take this team to a World Cup and through a World Cup.’

The Boks have scored three tries in their four Tri-Nations Tests, all three of those in the first two matches. Saturday’s victory was down to the boot of Steyn, but De Villiers ignored the criticism of the Boks’ attack and reiterated that goal-kicking will be all-important at the World Cup.

‘There are no bonus points for tries at a World Cup,’ the coach said.

Captain Victor Matfield conceded that improvements needed to be made before the Boks depart for New Zealand. He also laughed off talk of playing the All Blacks in a potential semi-final.

‘You can’t talk about things like that,’ he said. ‘You don’t know if they are going to be there [in the semi-finals] or if we are going to be there. We have to focus on the next game against Wales.

‘I was impressed with the defence today. There will always be linebreaks, but the guys worked hard to get back and make the cover tackle.

‘There’s still lots to improve. Everybody [the team and the country] needed the win today, but we have a lot of work to do between now and the World Cup.’

De Villiers also underlined the importance of the result in Port Elizabeth.

‘It was just reward for all the hard work. The result on the scoreboard will help us and make people believe [in us] again. It was a tough game but we came through.’

Patrick Lambie went off during the first half with what appeared to be a shoulder injury. De Villiers refused to comment on the nature or severity of the injury and said a full medical report will be relayed on Monday.

Any assessment of the Springboks needs to take into consideration the reduced strength of their opponents. A better, more cohesive All Blacks side would have punished their defensive lapses (they missed 33 tackles) and indeed possessed a greater attacking threat than this one – steered by the mediocre Colin Slade – did.

However, it would be remiss not to note the Springboks’ scramble defence when they were breached, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana and Francois Hougaard all snuffing out sure five pointers with desperate cover defence.

Furthermore, there was a patent improvement in physicality and structure in general play on defence. The former undeniably contributed significantly to the latter, with the Springboks’ strength at the collisions allowing them to reset, amplifying their defensive effort. Heinrich Brussow’s excellence in stifling the Blacks at the breakdown cannot go unmentioned. He is a phenomenal player and has become indispensable to the Springboks.

To restrict an All Blacks side boasting some of the best attacking players in the game to just one try is a feat to be celebrated. Richard Kahui’s 35th minute score was expertly crafted and little fault can be attributed to the Springboks in this regard. It appears the Springboks are starting to get to grips with the new defensive system introduced by Jacques Nienaber which bodes well for the World Cup title defence.

However, their attacking impotence continues to be a cause for deep concern. They rarely troubled the Blacks through inventive, precise attacking play, this despite often enjoying a good platform. Their first entry into the 22m came in the 26th minute, but they would struggle to consistently drive into that zone. Superb goalkicking from Morne Steyn kept the scoreboard ticking, but he continues to lay too deep in the pocket and varies his play too seldom to pose a significant attacking threat. Steyn kicked 22 times and passed 18 times, but the zero in his run column is what frustrates his critics most.

He is undoubtedly the safe option for coach Peter de Villiers, but against a more disciplined defensive unit, Steyn’s boot would have been less of a factor. The Springboks have to grow their game in this facet of play. How they do that in the 22 days until their World Cup clash against Wales and no matches remaining to find their groove, is the big question.

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The All Blacks went down 18-5 to the Springboks in Port Elizabeth despite scoring the game’s only try. Henry believes there were plenty of positives to take from what was essentially a final trial before the World Cup, but at the same time the All Blacks coach lamented the visitors’ poor finishing.

‘It may have been a different situation at the end of the game had we taken our chances,’ said Henry. ‘The Boks were very good; they scrambled well on defence and played with a lot of passion, and kicked their goals. But we had six opportunities to score and only took one of them.’

Captain Keven Mealamu believes the contest was closer than the scoreline suggests, and was disappointed that the All Blacks couldn’t strike that momentum-swinging blow. All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith said it was a combination of great Bok defence and All Black blunders that prevented the visitors from crossing the tryline on more than one occasion.

‘It’s not often that you break the line 23 times and you lose,’ Smith said. ‘It says a lot for the Boks’ scrambling defence. We perhaps lacked patience in those try-scoring situations. Maybe it’s the new combinations or the youth, or maybe South Africa were just too good.’

Henry picked several players returning from serious injury and experimented with a few new combinations. While this effected the All Blacks’ synergy in the backline, Henry also felt the visitors were too frantic on attack.

‘I don’t think there is anything wrong with our game plan. We created plenty of opportunities. When we get a few of the more experienced players back, I expect things will settle down a bit.’

Henry also stood by his decision to bring a team missing as many as eight big names to South Africa.

‘We decided that the Crusaders players needed a rest with a view to the World Cup, and we also needed to give a few players [returning from injury] game time. It wasn’t a case of disrespecting the Boks [by experimenting with a second-string team].’

Henry’s main priority was to give all his players a chance to put up their hands ahead of the World Cup. With nine big names left behind in New Zealand (including skipper Richie McCaw and Dan Carter), this was the fringe players’ opportunity to impress before the announcement of the final All Blacks’ 30-man World Cup squad.

The spotlight was always going to be on Colin Slade, who will be Dan Carter’s understudy at the tournament next month. In only his sixth Test (and third start), the 23-year-old had a satisfactory opening 15 minutes. He played a role in two early try-scoring opportunities but he failed to make a lasting impression during the rest of the match. Slade’s tactical kicking was particularly disappointing overall while he also missed two goal attempts before limping off with injury in the 60th minute.

Stephen Donald was failed experiment at Test level over the past several seasons. When he was axed from the provisional squad this year, Slade was seen as a promising replacement. However, Slade’s performance in Port Elizabeth confirmed that there’s still a lack of quality to back up Carter, meaning the All Blacks’ World Cup hopes will depend largely on the latter’s fitness and form.

Elsewhere, the All Blacks’ most impressive forwards were lock Sam Whitelock, No 8 Liam Messam and flanker Jerome Kaino, who carried the ball well and hassled the Boks at the rucks. Adam Thomson was expected to play a ‘McCaw type’ role at openside flank, but his performance was sub-standard as he failed to make any impact at the breakdown. He also conceded too many penalties and Morne Steyn duly punished.

In a pre-match interview, Henry stated that the spots still undecided in the All Blacks’ starting line-up are in the back three and in the midfield. Fullback Israel Dagg was the only standout performer in the backline as he was solid in his return from injury. Wing Isaia Toeava had a few telling runs early on, but failed to replicate the form he showed in the first half of Super Rugby.

Graham Henry has selected a number of fringe players for this fixture and will trial some experimental combinations. Henry said on Thursday that it would be interesting to see how this makeshift team responds in a tight game, but if the contest is looser, there’s little doubt the All Blacks have the individual finishers, read Sonny Bill Williams, Isaia Toeava, Hosea Gear and Israel Dagg, capable of punishing the opposition.

The stand-in Bok captain brought it up at a press conference on Friday. It’s no secret that the Boks will try to slow the All Blacks down and force them into a fight at the point of contact. The Boks will also be looking to take the All Blacks on at the scrum, and with Matfield spearheading an impressive lineout formation, the hosts will want to use that set-piece to good effect.

While the All Blacks have dominated in recent contests against the Boks, the South Africans have always been the superior side at the lineout. In fact, the All Blacks have often looked to circumvent the Boks’ strength by not kicking the ball out, or opting for a quick throw-in so as to avoid Matfield and company.

‘It would be nice to have a few lineouts,’ Matfield said with a laugh. ‘There weren’t that many the last time [we played the All Blacks] because they get away with those quick throw-ins. We all know they like to play a looser game. We will want to force our strong points onto them rather than the other way round.

‘They will play at a high tempo, and we will have to stick to our structures and what we want to achieve. Obviously I can’t say too much about that.’

The Boks have picked Fourie du Preez and Morne Steyn as their halfback combination, and while Peter de Villiers will be hoping for an improved attacking and defensive showing, he will also expect a more accurate tactical kicking display.

If Du Preez and Steyn aren’t going to keep the ball infield, they will need to kick the ball dead when probing for touch. This will eliminate the possibility of a quick throw-in.

Du Preez and Heinrich Brussow made a positive impact during the early stages of last week’s game against the Wallabies, but the Boks as a collective failed to maintain the necessary level of intensity and accuracy to secure victory. Matfield said the game plan hadn’t changed for the Test against the All Blacks, but everybody would be expected to lift their levels of accuracy and intent.

‘We know what we have to do this weekend. It’s just about putting that into practice on the field. You need to produce a special effort to beat the All Blacks.’

Matfield, who will play his last Test in South Africa this Saturday, didn’t want to talk about the possibility of losing. Another defeat would mark the Boks’ fifth successive loss to the All Blacks, and would see them finishing the Tri-Nations without a victory for the first time in the tournament’s 16-year history. It would also be a setback as far as the Boks’ World Cup preparation is concerned.

‘It’s a difficult one. We need to start winning, we need to get our confidence back and we need to take momentum into the World Cup. If we don’t win, we will have to put the loss behind us. But we don’t want to think about losing at this stage.

‘We can’t give any excuses any more, we have to go out there and play, we need to be hard on ourselves and what we want to achieve on the field.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Port Elizabeth

The All Blacks coach was happy to play mind games in a recent press conference, but what he said was true.

Henry picked a second string squad as nine players, including Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, were left behind in New Zealand. The All Blacks will field unsettled combinations in this weekend’s game, with several players returning from injury. The Boks also have home advantage.

Bok head coach Peter de Villiers downplayed last Saturday’s 14-9 defeat to the Wallabies, adding that ‘they only lost on the scoreboard’. However, with this their final Test before the World Cup in September, Henry believes the Boks need to pick up a victory to add confidence to their tournament preparations.

‘I think it’s hell of an important [for the Boks to win]. I would think Peter [de Villiers] and John [Smit] and the team will be desperate. It would just give them the little kick they need going into the World Cup. They haven’t got another game so I would think it is vital for them to win,’ argued Henry before pausing then saying with a smile that he was ‘adding a little bit more pressure’ on the hosts.

‘The South Africans are due for a win and they will be on the edge of the edge, I’d imagine,’ he continued. ‘They have picked a side that is obviously going to be very physical and carries the ball well. They have also got kicking ability, so I think it is going to be a major contest for this group [All Blacks team to play in PE].’

The Springboks will be determined to snap a four-game losing streak when they host the All Blacks this Saturday. They will be strong favourites considering they’re playing at home and have their best players available. The fact that Henry has selected an All Blacks side comprising fringe players and as many as five players returning from injury should also help the Boks’ cause.

The All Blacks coach still harbours hopes of extending that winning streak, even though senior men like Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are currently not with the squad. Henry is also hoping that the intensity and physicality of the Boks brings out the best in this All Blacks side, and prepares some of them for a tough World Cup.

He rubbished suggestions that the Boks will be underdogs this Saturday, ‘They’re the World Champions aren’t they?’ or that the All Blacks have come to South Africa with a complacent attitude. There are players in the visiting squad that have plenty to prove, and Henry intimated that the challenge doesn’t get any tougher than a Test against the Boks.

‘We wanted to put them in a situation where they had to play a [full-strength] Bok side,’ Henry said. ‘You can talk and talk about playing against the Boks, but until you go out there and actually experience it, you don’t know what it’s like. We want to see how certain players respond to that pressure, and whether they can then make good decisions.

‘There are quite a few players that haven’t played too many Tests. Our flyhalf [Colin Slade] and fullback [Israel Dagg] are two such players. This experience will be good for them, and how they handle the pressure will be key.’

Henry reiterated that it had always been the plan to use this Tri-Nations Test as an opportunity for those returning from injury and a few players on the fringe.

‘We had thoughts before the Fiji game about how we would manage the squad. We were always going to give certain players opportunities because it was crucial that they got experience before the World Cup. Guys like Slade and Piri Weepu needed the opportunities. There were also a few players returning from injury that deserved the chance to put their ability in front of the selectors.’

Peter de Villiers left 23 top players in South Africa when the Boks toured Australasia, and the team was duly thumped by the All Blacks. Henry has only left eight players in New Zealand, but it’s concerning to see how the rivalry between the Boks and All Blacks has been devalued by the selection of weakened teams.

The All Blacks coach doesn’t appear to take such criticism seriously, and maintains that the visitors have a dual objective for Saturday’s game.

‘You have to do what’s best for a rugby team. We have come here to play good football but we are also planning towards the World Cup,’ he said.

‘It’s the same with the Boks. They went a lot better last week and I’m sure they will be looking to improve. It will also be important that they pick up a win before the World Cup. They will want to go to that tournament with momentum.’

By Jon Cardinelli, in Port Elizabeth