Aus:27 SA :15

What a cock up least we did score some points a bit better than last week’s kiwi game.
Now that we are out and the team was booed of the field we need to ask what is wrong with this World Cup winning team.

“I believe we’re on the right track and the players believe it, too. They just have to get used to it and we will get there.” A great quote from our coach Peter De Villiers.

In the first half , the springboks had four clear point scoring chances, but Juan Smith, Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez and JP Pietersenall took turns squandering possession, throwing stray passes and making the wrong calls.

What is frustrating is the Boks got part of the first half right they kicked for corners, defended well the Aussies could not believe their luck that they were ten nil up going into half time. This is where South Africa panicked and played some ridiculous plays making it easier for the Aussies to extend their lead.

They were panic-stricken and again sought to run the ball from ridiculous positions, making things easy for one of the better defenses in the game.

“We’re the Springboks and the world champions. The players are as disappointed as the crowd because this is our job and our passion. That performance was not acceptable.” From Victor Matfield.

Let’s see what happens at Ellis Park

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South Africa ,New Zealand to meet in Durban

The Boks go in search of back-to-back wins against the kiwis when the sides meet in a huge game in Durban.

The Boks have seldom registered two wins on the trot against the kiwis, but will go into Saturday's match as the favorites following their 30-28 victory in Dunedin on July 12.

While the springboks have won just one in three games in this year's competition, they have all three home matches to come, starting with New Zealand at Newlands.

Peter de Villiers' men have five points from their three outings, while New Zealand head the summit with 10 points, but from four games.
While the springboks will be banking on their home support in the coming three weeks, they will also go into Saturday's contest on a high following the thrashing of Argentina.

The only problem is that the Kiwis destroyed the Aussies in their last game and seem to have got the team selection spot on.
So satisfied was New Zealand coach Graham Henry with that performance he has retained the same side for Saturday's match except for some minor changes on the bench.

We will have to do without Bakkies Botha, who was injured in the Argentina game ,Andries Bekker has taken his place and hopefully he can step up to the challenge.

Another player who is back of the bench is Percy Montgomery who will become the first South African to reach the 100 Test mark as he replaces Conrad Jantjes. There have been some issues with this from our rugby administrators saying Conrad Jantjies should be playing.

South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Andries Bekker, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Enrico Januarie, 21 Francois Steyn, 22 Conrad Jantjes.

New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Richard Kahui, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Willliams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Isaia Toeava.

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South Africa ,Argentina Preview

South Africa and Argentina meet again at the Coca-Cola Park as the boks focus on the upcoming home section of the Tri-Nations clash with New Zealand next weekend.

Todays clash has been billed as a rematch between the two 2007 World Cup semi-finalists as the Pumas attempt to gain revenge following the 37-13 defeat.

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan is rebuilding his squad, and is preparing for just his fourth game at the helm since taking over from Marcelo Loffreda.

The Pumas have lost all previous 12 Tests against the Boks ,the biggest area of concern for Phelan is at scrum-half after a recent failure to fill the void left by the retirement of Augustin Pichot last year.

The nation ranked fourth in the IRB world rankings are also without star man Juan Martin Hernandez due to injury - Felipe Contepomi taking up fly-half duties.

Contepomi said: "I believe the Springboks are the best team in the world at the moment, they are the world champions and they have started well in the Tri-Nations”.

"It is an away game for us and you wouldn't choose to play the best team in the world, when most of your players are in the middle of their pre-season, as your first outing under the new rules.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has resisted the temptation to make changes as his men look to play their way into form ahead of their Tri-Nations battle with the All Blacks on August 16 ,lets hope there an no injuries the pumas play a physical game.

With Schalk Burger failing to prove his fitness De Villiers has been forced to field a new-look back row unit of Luke Watson, Pierre Spies and Juan Smith.

Conrad Jantjes and Jean de Villiers are included in a Bok’s back-line as Victor Matfield continues captaincy duties amongst a strong South Africa pack.

South Africa:

15 Conrad Jantjes,14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Butch James; 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 3 CJ van der Linde, 4 Bakkies Botha, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 6 Luke Watson, 7 Juan Smith, 8 Pierre Spies, 9 Enrico Januarie.

Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Fourie du Preez, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Percy Montgomery.

Argentina: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 José María Núñez Piossek, 13 Federico Martín Aramburu, 12 Miguel Avramovic, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Felipe Contepomi (c); 1 Rodrigo Roncero, 2 Mario Ledesma, 3 Pedro Ledesma, 4 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis, 5 Patricio Albacete, 6 Martín Durand, 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 9 Nicolás Vergallo.

Replacements: 16 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Esteban Lozada, 19 Álvaro Galindo, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Benjamín Urdapilleta, 22 Rafael Carballo.



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