Wallabies await world champions
Brad Morgan
17 July 2008
The Springbok selectors have made four changes to the starting team for Saturday's Tri-Nations clash against Australia in Perth. After a win over New Zealand in Dunedin, a victory over the Wallabies would put the South Africa in prime position to capture the Tri-Nations title.
One of the changes is injury-enforced, one is as the result of a suspension, and the other two reflect the selectors' preferences.
Francois Steyn takes over from Adrian Jacobs at centre after his provincial teammate injured a hamstring in the 30-28 victory over the All Blacks.
Run-on debut
With John Smit out through injury and his regular back-up at hooker, Bismarck du Plessis serving a three-week suspension, Schalk Brits will make his run-on debut for the Springboks.
The selectors have opted to play Pierre Spies at eighthman, with Ryan Kankowski on the bench, and Joe van Niekerk, who started the first two Tri-Nations tests against New Zealand, left out of the 22-man match squad.
Having seen what a moment of individual brilliance can do for a team when Ricky Januarie won the Carisbrook test for South Africa, it is maybe a little surprising that Spies was preferred to Kankowski, who produced many moments of individual brilliance in the Super 14, and a fan in All Black captain Richie McCaw.
Powerful loose trio
On the other hand, the Wallabies feature a powerful loose trio, including big men in Wycliffe Palu and Rocky Elsom, and George Smith, a ball winner supreme, who becomes the most capped Australian forward in test history on Saturday. No doubt the Bok selectors wanted to counter the Aussies’ size and strength with the powerful Spies.
The last change takes place at fullback where Conrad Jantjes has been recalled in place of Percy Montgomery. Both players have performed well so far this season, although Montgomery, who is closing in on becoming the first Springbok with 100 test caps, offers a solid goal-kicking boot and invaluable experience. Despite this, it is hard to fault Jantjes' selection.
Apart from Kankowski, Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira and Peter Grant have been added to the bench along with newcomer Adriaan Strauss, who will provide cover at hooker. Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker and Ruan Pienaar retain their places among the substitutes.
History
Based on past history, a very tight contest can be expected at Perth's Subiaco Oval. In 1998, South Africa won 14-13. Three years later, the teams shared a 14-14 draw. In 2004, the Wallabies eked out a 30-26 win and the following year South Africa won 22-19.
Four matches:, two wins for South Africa, one for Australia, and a draw. Points for South Africa 76, points for Australia 76. It doesn't get much closer than that.
Australia's coach Robbie Deans has been full of praise for the Springboks in the lead-up to the game, saying they have become tougher to beat under coach Peter de Villiers because they have embraced using the width of the field more than before. It could be true, but it could also be subtle way of trying to get South Africa to move the ball away from their big forwards.
Tri-Nations title
Deans reckons that if the Springboks win in Perth they will be within touching distance of winning the Tri-Nations title; the Boks will have three home matches remaining: against New Zealand in Cape Town, and against Australia in Durban and Johannesburg.
Although the Australians have played three tests under Deans, it is difficult to gauge what form they are in. Against Ireland, in their first international this season, they scored an 18-12 victory, but it was the Irish that dominated the game. The Wallabies then thumped France 34-13 and 40-10, but the French team excluded players involved in the Top 14 playoffs.
No doubt, Saturday's clash will be a step up in intensity and physicality for the Aussies, but they've shown they can handle that. The question is rather how long it will take them to adjust to it; maybe the three earlier tests have prepared them for it already.
New Aussie approach
The South Africans will have to adjust to a new approach from the Aussies under Deans. Playing without their two leading hookers could also affect the Springboks' fluidity, especially at lineout time where the Boks are traditionally excellent.
And that is the nature of the Perth contest; there are many questions that have yet to be answered about both sides.
It seems that this year's Tri-Nations competition will be the most competitive in years but, as Robbie Deans pointed out, a victory for South Africa would go a long way towards winning them the title.
SPRINGBOK TEAM
- Gurthro Steenkamp
- Schalk Brits
- CJ van der Linde
- Bakkies Botha
- Victor Matfield (captain)
- Schalk Burger
- Juan Smith
- Pierre Spies
- Ricky Januarie
- Butch James
- Bryan Habana
- Jean de Villiers
- Francois Steyn
- JP Pietersen
- Conrad Jantjes
Reserves: 16. Adriaan Strauss, 17. Tendai Mtawarira, 18. Brian Mujati, 19. Andries Bekker, 20. Ryan Kankowski, 21. Ruan Pienaar, 22. Peter Grant
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