Which coach will get the chop

Both coaches are getting flak for their decisions they have made in last weeks games and both are trying to keep their jobs. This game will be messy.

Jake white has made ten changes meaning there are plenty of new players or players in new positions just to confuse our players but last week's star back Francois Steyn, is moving from wing to fullback, can expect to field a few high bombs and a barrage of tactical kicks from the English. The other revamped back row of Jacques Cronjé, Pierre Spies and Danie Rossouw - but especially Spies - will have a vital role to perform. You can also look at the under-performing Bok front row - which this week features BJ Botha, John Smit (as captain) and CJ van der Linde.

England has made seven changes to its team as it bids to avoid a record eighth straight defeat.

England's players are only allowed to start in three of the four November Tests. Saturday's match at Twickenham and a second game on Nov. 25 against the Springboks completes its international program. Mark Cueto has recovered well from an ankle injury and replaces right-winger Paul Sackey, and Josh Lewsey takes over from Ben Cohen on the other wing.

Centre Mathew Tait was he the guy that welsh pretty boy Hanson dumped , scrum half Peter Richards, prop Andrew Sheridan, lock Tom Palmer and flanker Joe Worsley come in for Anthony Allen, Shaun Perry, Perry Freshwater, Danny Grewcock and Lewis Moody.

Captain Martin Corry has been moved from blindside flanker to No. 8, while Charlie Hodgson stays at fly half after being taken off for tactical reasons during the 25-18 defeat to Argentina on Saturday.

In two other switches, Jamie Noon moves from outside to inside center and Pat Sanderson has swapped with Corry.






South African Rugby homepage

Beat the springboks or you are fired

Andy Robinson has been given two matches to save himself from the sack. With English rugby feeling the humiliation of Saturday's Twickenham defeat by Argentina, Robinson has been told that his future depends on the outcome of the upcoming Tests against South Africa.


The defeat by Argentina represented a new low Argentina had never beaten England before in fortes Twickenham and if they lose against south Africa that will represent a new record for losing matches saying that we need to rearrange our back line and actually use the players talents in the right positions.

Rob Andrew the new English boss has said "There will be a review of the players, coaches, performances and results” .I wonder if White is getting the same chat.


South African Rugby homepage

Ireland 32 South Africa 15 ,Experimental team my arse?

Ireland blew South Africa off the pitch with an amazing first-half display of classic running rugby. The experienced Irish side were able to counter pretty much anything and everything that the newbie Springbok team could throw at them plus they had the wind behind them and they made full use of it.

Against all expectations, Ireland beat South Africa here two years ago. This time they started as favourites, but South Africa started well and within seconds found the Irish found themselves under pressure and had to weather some early Springbok attacks. While the Irish prevented a try, they could not quite keep out the Boks. The opening score, a penalty in the fourth minute, stunned the 41,000 crowd.

The Irish backline took no prisoners and showed their experience at running at a opposing team from the south African side it would have been nice to get the basics right e.g. get the tackles right, lineout’s were shocking.

At the end to show the Irish backlines in confidence in throwing the ball around O’Driscoll threw a one handed pass to Hogan which allowed him to score .from our side Bryan Habana finally managed to score a stunning sixty metre try my question is with all the new blood in the Bok team why did we change Habana’s position and take him out of the game we definitely needed his speed.