Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
NZ v. SA, match preview & thread, Sat 14 Sep, 0835 Irish time
Options
-
11-09-2013 9:48pm#1
The Auld Enemy
(intellectual property molloyjh
)
ALL BLACKS: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Steven Luatua, 20 Matt Todd, 21 Tawera Kerr Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Charles Piutau
SPRINGBOKS: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Juandré Kruger, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Jano Vermaak, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein.
Date: September 14
Venue: Eden Park Stadium, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Lyndon Bray
I debated whether it's actually worth taking the time to preview this fixture, the forum's not exactly overflowing with Saffas & Kiwis, but then I thought feck it, I'll be up bright & early on Saturday to watch what should be a great test match, and I might as well leave something etched in cyberspace for posterity's sake.
So here we have the even more confident than usual Boks with a genuine belief in their ability to knock over the Kiwis, make the rest of the rugby world happy, and break the Eden Park hoodoo. And NZ, minus McCaw, determined to keep them at bay.
One of the great rugby truisms, printed on every box of cereal back home, is that rugby is won in the forwards. And that's never more true than when playing the men from the Highveld. If you can match SA in the forwards, you're more than half way on the road to victory. It's just easier said than done.
With that in mind let's preview some of the key match-ups. The NZ scrum got a little bossed around last week by those pesky Pumas, but fortunately Owen is back. However the key clash is the world class Bismarck Du Plessis (even the name sounds scary) versus the fairly virginal Dane Coles. As much as I admire Adriaan Strauss' mobility, he is not as physically imposing as Du Plessis. Coles seems to have been anointed the #1 NZ rake from nowhere, he's grown on me a little, but he's hardly stood up and said "Pick me, Pick me" either.
Moving to the second row, and Eben Etzebeth vs Sam Whitelock should be a cracker. Whitelock gave the Stormers second row an absolute schooling when the Crusaders travelled to Capetown in SXV round robin play, and no doubt Eben is keen for revenge. Arguably the 2 best locks in the SH, this is a mouth watering match-up.
Finally, the back-row where SA have Giant 1, Giant 2 and Giant 3 versus Messam, Cane & Read. I'm happy that the selectors went with Messam, I think it was the right call, even for experience alone, and I expect he'll be fizzing after his injury break. Besides, I was distinctly uncomfortable with Richie leading the haka, it just didn't feel, well, quite right, so having an actual Maori in charge can only be a good thing
There's no question this is Sam Cane's sternest test. I don't think too many people, other than the selectors, have been won over yet, but if he comes thru with flying colours, he'll be "in" with the NZ public.
Moving to the flash boys out the back, and NZ do have an edge there. But not as much as in recent years. Morne Steyn, shock horror, has actually learned to pass the ball, while still maintaining his stealth laser off the kicking tee. The back three of Le Roux, Habana, and Kirchner looked very good last week, and Jean de Villiers has been in vintage form this year, I never quite worked out why he flopped somewhat during his sojourn with Munster.
The weather at Eden Park might play a role in the tactics, it goes without saying that NZ would like dry conditions, whereas a war of attrition in the rain would suit the Boks down to a T. However, given what I've seen this year, I expect SA to do more than just send down a barrage of up-and-unders and box kicks for Habana to chase.
I won't make a prediction this time, I'll just wish matthew8, Jacovs, Emperor1989 and I guess pretty much most of the forum best of luck - on behalf of myself, Judgement Day and Klunk_NZ. Sorry if I missed anyone out
If you're a neutral, it's definitely one to watch, it's for days like these that the great game of rugby was invented! NZ last lost at Eden Park...? 10 votes
1983 v the Lions0% 0 votes1994 v the French0% 0 votes2011 RWC v the French ;)100% 10 votes20
Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
Thanks very much for writing this up. I don't post a lot here but i do lurk and almost always read match threads (at least the previews, i rarely read a 10+ page Leinster match thread hours after the game has been on for example
). This is obviously the key match in the RC and with SA already out to a big points difference advantage, I'm sure NZ just want to go 6/6 again this year! 0 -
-
This should be a proper test match. Home advantage to swing it in favour of ABsduckysauce wrote: »With Richie out and the Kiwi pack not quiet there, reckon the Boks will nick this one . Should be a cracker . And as you say in your write up JDV is on fire , will Nonu contain him .Journeyman_1 wrote: »Thanks very much for writing this up. I don't post a lot here but i do lurk and almost always read match threads (at least the previews, i rarely read a 10+ page Leinster match thread hours after the game has been on for example). This is obviously the key match in the RC and with SA already out to a big points difference advantage, I'm sure NZ just want to go 6/6 again this year!Think the Boks might nick it, too much up front. AB pack looks oddly callow
I will give my prediction: NZ by single digits. I think the home venue/Eden Park factor will be the difference...and maybe Aaron Smith. Smith had an ordinary SXV, where by his own omission he was trying too hard for the struggling Highlanders, but he has been excellent in test matches this year. However, I could easily see a SA victory - the McCaw factor can't be overstated: he made the most tackles for NZ last week, despite going off injured with about 20 minutes to play.
I no longer get too fussed if Carter is out, but McCaw & Read are probably our 2 most vital forwards. McCaw single-handedly won the corresponding fixture for NZ last year in Dunedin with a sensational display. I just have some doubts whether SA has a Plan B if their power game is nullified by the MIB. Their main X-factor player is Habana, although JDV can pull tricks out of the hat at times, and Le Roux looks highly promising. I expect blood & tears at the end of this: currently NZ & SA have played 85 times for 48 wins, 34 losses and 3 draws, however that is skewed by the professional era where SA have only won 13 out of 48 tests.0 -
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
-
Great OP Swiwi - next time add a few pics and you'll be nearly as good as Thomond.
Nervous excitement for this one - not helped by my wondering if there will be anyone to work the Skybox in my 'early house' or should I watch the 1st half on the laptop. I hope that Dan Carter has a stormer as he didn't look the real deal last week and fingers crossed for Sam Cane.
As for the mighty Boks - the great appear great because we are on our knees - could be applied to their first three games and it will be interesting to see what they can do when faced with real opposition.0 -
-
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
-
-
-
-
Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »**** my love of rugby. So tired
Just get a job that lets you watch rugby while working and get paid for doing it! 0 -
irishbucsfan wrote: »Just get a job that lets you watch rugby while working and get paid for doing it!
Are you a referee :pac:0 -
-
-
-
Advertisement
-
Advertisement