South Africa Team to face All Blacks

thomond2006

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has made six changes to the starting line-up for the Springboks' Tri-Nations opener against New Zealand on Saturday.
There are a further six changes to the Springbok bench from the side that lost 9-28 to the Lions earlier this month, for the clash at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein.
Odwa Ndungane, Jongi Nokwe, Wynand Olivier, Morné Steyn, Ryan Kankowski and Johann Muller all started the third Test against the Lions at Coca-Cola Park on July 4, but are no longer in the starting XV.
They make way for JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies and Bakkies Botha, who returns from a two-match suspension.
However Olivier, Morne Steyn and Kankowski have all been included on the bench for the Test against the All Blacks.
This means Pienaar will start against New Zealand and appears to be South Africa's first-choice fly-half for the Tri-Nations series.
The Sharks fly-half started the first two Tests in the three-match Lions series, but Morne Steyn certainly made a big impression in the decisive second Test at Loftus Versfeld.
Coming off the bench, the Bulls' pivot kicked beautifully out of hand and nailed the series-clinching penalty on the stroke of full-time.
Pienaar performed poorly in that match, but De Villiers maintains he is the man to take South Africa forward. Injury could be the only reason for giving Steyn a start in the foreseeable future.

South Africa:
15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez,
8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Wynand Olivier

chupacabra

Hmm. Is Adrian Jacobs injured? If not it makes you wonder if he was one of the "transformation" players mentioned in that review of PDV coaching during the Lions tour.

Crash

Adi Jacobs was an injury concern during the week at least.

danthefan

NZ team:

Woodcock
Hore
Tialata
Ross
Thorn
Kaino
mcCaw
So'oialo
Leonard
Donald
Sivi
Nonu
Smith
Rokocoko
Muliaina

Mealamu
Franks
Eaton
Read
Weepu
McAlister
Jane

thomond2006

danthefan wrote: »

NZ team:

Woodcock
Hore
Tialata
Ross
Thorn
Kaino
mcCaw
So'oialo
Leonard
Donald
Sivi
Nonu
Smith
Rokocoko
Muliaina

Mealamu
Franks
Eaton
Read
Weepu
McAlister
Jane

How is Hore still in that team?

He had an absolute nightmare last week in the lineouts. Mealamu is worth twice of him imo.

jank

Impact sub I think is the reason for this.
Should be a good game but the boks should win this one.

twinytwo

jank wrote: »

Impact sub I think is the reason for this.
Should be a good game but the boks should win this one.

Me thinks so too... AB team isnt up to its usual standards and not having carter much be a pain in the ass

irishbucsfan

Where is this game being played?

sm.org

chupacabra wrote: »

Hmm. Is Adrian Jacobs injured? If not it makes you wonder if he was one of the "transformation" players mentioned in that review of PDV coaching during the Lions tour.

He's in injured but I'd also categorise him as a "transformation"(nice way of saying racism) player along with Chiliboy Ralepelle(just awful), Mtawarira and Nokwe.

No doubt he'll try and get Earl Rose in at some stage.

Amabokke

I'm confident my bok team will beat the ABs and take the 3N trophy this year too. Sarfu might have to invest into a bigger trophy cabinet.

BUT as confident as I am this is a very good AB squad for Saturday. Sure, some of their players have been off-form but it never takes them long to gel and get back into the game. Expect a very physical and tough challenge up front and plenty of pace runners in the backs to provide some entertaining rugby on Sat. Rokocoko have been selected as he scored in almost every game against the boks.

Moncti48

I thaught i seen on sky news Dan Carter is back in the New Zeland team!

Edit: Sorry just read it wrong hes back for his local club!

corny

South Africa 1/2 and New Zealand 13/8. I like the New Zealanders at that price.

Have a feeling NZ will win rather comfortably tbh.

thomond2006

Moncti48 wrote: »

I thaught i seen on sky news Dan Carter is back in the New Zeland team!

Edit: Sorry just read it wrong hes back for his local club!

hahahahaha they only come out at night. :):)


This game is very tough to call.

I think it will come down to the performance of the 10s.

As we saw in the Lions series, Ruan Pienaar is unpredictable. He can be Brian Cowen in a pie eating contest where the opposition are quaking in their boats or Brian Cowen in the world of politics where he is a laughing stock.
Kapiche? :pac:

Stephen Donald was good against Australia, but he is no Dan Carter. McAlister on the bench is no number 10, he's a centre. Who would have thought after RWC2007 that Ireland would have more depth at 10 than New Zealand! :eek:

I can't wait for the battle between Heinrich Brussow and Richie McCaw, that on its own is worth the entrance fee.

For all the stick that PdV gets, the Springboks are a team with a lot of morale and confidence. They can step up the pace at will, like Ireland in the Six Nations this year. On the other hand, New Zealand still look pretty shaky but they always seem to prove their doubters wrong, except in World Cups of course!

I think SA may just sneak it so 10/11 for NZ +5 looks like a decent bet.

Hyperbullet

thomond2006 wrote: »

As we saw in the Lions series, Ruan Pienaar is unpredictable. He can be Brian Cowen in a pie eating contest where the opposition are quaking in their boats or Brian Cowen in the world of politics where he is a laughing stock.
Kapiche? :pac:

Razor sharp political satire!!:D

I'd agree with the bookies on this one, definitely a win for the boks. NZ are a good side, but a side fraught with problems as of late.

Davei141

Im confident of a saffer victory but i would be even more confident if Morne Steyn was playing.

OldJay

thomond2006 wrote: »

How is Hore still in that team?

He had an absolute nightmare last week in the lineouts. Mealamu is worth twice of him imo.

When you have Ali Williams running and calling a lineout, even Mealamu's throwing can look good.