Bryan in action

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Here we go

South Africa’s roadmap has gone to plan so far. Through the side there are settled combinations in virtually every area from one to fifteen, with the selection Francois Steyn at inside centre providing unpredictability and hopefully keep a couple of the English players preoccupied

The Bokkie strengths are well documented: kicking: lineout: tough back row: defence around the fringes and panic inducing blitz defence as they start going through the phases.

England has had a dire couple of years but their belief has been restored ,they don’t know how but enjoying being the underdog what has happened though is Jonny Wilkinson is back to calm the ship plus their new find Andrew Sheridan who took out the Australia pack.

There is talk of Sheridan's illegal method of scrummaging – something about him 'boring in' South Africa need to have a cunning plan for the scrum ,CJ van der Linde who is in the firing line on Saturday.

Our scrums against Argentina were not great but we have the line outs with best in the world Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha to work their magic.

Fourie Du Preez has made his mark on this tournament for me when he took England apart let’s hope for some surprises this Saturday will just leave you with this quote which made me feel better.

“WALLABY Chris Latham is tipping a 30-point triumph for South Africa in the World Cup final, with "backline speed and skill" rendering Jonny Wilkinson irrelevant.”

South Africa team for Saturday.

· 15 Percy Montgomery
· 14 JP Pietersen
· 13 Jaque Fourie
· 12 Francois Steyn
· 11 Bryan Habana
· 10 Butch James
· 9 Fourie du Preez
· 8 Danie Rossouw
· 7 Juan Smith
· 6 Schalk Burger
· 5 Victor Matfield
· 4 Bakkies Botha
· 3 CJ van der Linde
· 2 John Smit
· 1 Os du Randt



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A South African Handshake

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Can Steyn step up the pace?

Steyn has been one of Springboks' coach Jake White's young lions ,he has played in all of the Springboks' matches at the tournament so far, after replacing the injured Jean de Villiers, and has scored a try and a penalty, admits that sometimes he tries White's patience.

"He doesn't come down on me, but I think he wishes he could give me a hiding - but it has been good," said Steyn, who will win his 16th cap on Saturday.
"I like Jake a lot and he gave me a good opportunity and I just hope I can take it with both hands.

As for whether he can outdo England's master of the drop goal Jonny Wilkinson, Steyn, who landed two monster drops in the Tri Nations win over Australia earlier this year, is a bit coy ,he has been fluffing the last couple of games and panicked in the Kiwi Tri-Nations game.

Maybe Steyn will be our surprise for England this Saturday.




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Jannie in action

Do you remember jannie destroying England in the 1999 World Cup ,Looks like the final will be on on drop goals.

Which player do you think will have the highest tally of drop goals for this final?

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We are in the Final

The Boks overpowered Argentina 37-13. We led 24-6 at halftime but it was only late in the second half that we came back into the game and made sure there were no surprises.


Two tries in the last 10 minutes of the first half had seemingly put South Africa in control but the Pumas scored just four minutes after restart when Manuel Contepomi crashed over.

The boks scored three first half tries, to halfback Fourie Du Preez, Habana and Danie Roussow.
Du Preeze scored in the seventh minute, intercepting an attacking pass.

Two of these tries came from mistakes from the pumas allowing Habana and Roussow to score, the Pumas have had an amazing world cup tournament but did seem to choke or lose their composure today.

The Argies scored early in the second half going to 24-13 and pressured the bookies favourite on a number of occasions, threatening to get even closer.

However, two Percy Montgomery penalties who the argies were supposed to pressure and disrupt and an classic intercept try to winger Bryan Habana - South Africa's second of the match did the dirty on the Pumas.

Game over Bring on the Poms

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