Experienced Boks for All Black clash
Brad Morgan
10 July 2008
The Springbok selectors have opted for more experience for the Tri-Nations test against New Zealand at Dunedin. After a disappointing 19-8 setback in Wellington, Peter de Villiers' team will be out to end a 10-year losing streak on New Zealand soil on Saturday.
The most capped Springbok of all time, Percy Montgomery, has been named in the starting line-up for the first time this season, replacing Conrad Jantjes, who has been moved to the bench.
Jantjes' demotion is something of a surprise; he was one of the better South African players on show in Wellington and, while it was thought that Montgomery might be called up for the Dunedin showdown, most pundits felt Jantjes would move to the right wing.
Tactical kicking
Montgomery's selection is likely in response to the tactical kicking contest that the Boks were badly beaten at in their 19-8 defeat. The veteran fullback, who is only three caps shy of 100 caps, reads the game exceptionally well and possesses an educated boot.
Not only is he a good tactical kicker, he is also a very reliable goal-kicker. Should he score three points against the All Blacks, he will have scored 100 against them in his career. Five points would lift Montgomery to 200 in his Tri-Nations career.
Instead of shifting Jantjes to the right wing, the SA selectors have brought back World Cup final winger JP Pietersen. It's a fine birthday present for Pietersen, who turns 22 on Saturday.
Amazingly, he hasn't scored a single try this season, but being back in the Springbok fold, surrounded by most of the players with whom he won the World Cup could bring the best out of the Sharks' star.
Smit out
The only other change to the South African starting fifteen is at hooker, where Bismarck du Plessis replaces the injured John Smit. Naturally, that means there is a change of captain, with Victor Matfield taking over for Smit.
Du Plessis performed well in Smit's stead when he replaced him in the Wellington game. The Springboks won't lose much in terms of playing ability in the regular captain's absence, but his leadership will be missed; his ability as a leader has been well documented and proven in the past.
Smit, meanwhile, has flown back to South Africa for treatment for the groin injury he sustained when Brad Thorn dumped him with a spear tackle after the whistle had blown. Thorn received a week's suspension for the incident and referee Stuart Dickinson has admitted he erred by not carding him.
The South African skipper has since reacted with anger to the suspension. "Just imagine Bakkies Botha doing something similar to (All Blacks captain) Richie McCaw. World rugby would have come to a standstill," he told a press conference, at which he suggested that disciplinary hearings were handled unevenly and often favoured New Zealand.
Big man's 50th
The big man he mentioned, Bakkies Botha, will be playing his 50th test for the Springboks on Saturday, and locking the scrum for a record 40th time with Victor Matfield.
The milestone game falls at a ground that has not treated South Africa well in the past and, if they manage to win at Carisbrook on the weekend, Botha will have real cause to celebrate.
In seven previous tests against the All Blacks at the venue, the Springboks have failed to record even a draw. The average score has been 19-9 in favour of the New Zealanders, which is remarkably similar to the result of the first test.
Set scrums
To win, South Africa will need a far better performance in the set scrums than they put in during the first clash between the world's two highest ranked teams. SA skipper Smit claimed the All Blacks scrummed illegally, which helped them get the upper hand.
All Black scrum coach Mike Cron responded by vowing to quit if his coaching techniques are shown to be illegal.
While South Africa complained about Thorn's dumping of Smit, New Zealand coach Graham Henry has accused the South Africans of putting in a number of late hits on All Black flyhalf Daniel Carter.
Bad blood
No doubt some bad blood has revealed itself in the build-up to the battle at 'The House of Pain'. It sounds pretty bad, but, truthfully, it is pretty much par for the course for a Springboks against All Blacks match.
And make no mistake, beneath the bickering lies a healthy respect of both teams for one another. Anyone who watched the after-match handshakes in Wellington would have seen this clearly demonstrated.
The Dunedine game will be hard, bone-crunching and physical, but probably not very pretty too watch. Simply put, it will be a typical confrontation between rugby's keenest rivals.
TEAMS
SOUTH AFRICA
- Percy Montgomery
- JP Pietersen
- Adrian Jacobs
- Jean de Villiers
- Bryan Habana
- Butch James
- Ricky Januarie
- Joe van Niekerk
- Juan Smith
- Schalk Burger
- Victor Matfield (captain)
- Bakkies Botha
- CJ van der Linde
- Bismarck du Plessis
- Gurthrö Steenkamp
Substitutes
16. Schalk Brits, 17. Brian Mujati, 18. Andries Bekker, 19. Luke Watson, 20. Ruan Pienaar, 21. Francois Steyn, 22. Conrad Jantjes
NEW ZEALAND
- Tony Woodcock
- Andrew Hore
- John Afoa
- Anthony Boric
- Ali Willliams
- Adam Thomson
- Rodney So'oialo (captain)
- Jerome Kaino
- Andy Ellis
- Daniel Carter
- Rudi Wulf
- Ma'a Nonu
- Conrad Smith
- Sitiveni Sivivatu
- Mils Muliaina
Substitutes
16. Keven Mealamu, 17. Neemia Tialata, 18. Kevin O'Neill, 19. Sione Lauaki, 20. Jimmy Cowan, 21. Stephen Donald, 22. Leon MacDonald.
