Into the Shark Tank: England
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The wait is finally over. Durban will be the setting for the first of three Tests between South Africa and England in a June series that promises so much.
It has been a long time since the English arrived in the Republic this confident, as they look to banish what happened in June 2007. Those two internationals - in Bloemfontein and Pretoria - saw the Springboks put a combined 113 points on their visitors. Few expect something similar.
Why? Well for once it is not the English being branded with the "team in transition" label as South Africa are the ones in flux. They are without the retired Victor Matfield and injured duo Schalk Burger and Juan Smith. They are also minus overseas-based players Jaque Fourie, Fourie du Preez and Bakkies Botha currently, with the prospect of the latter joining the squad following his Top 14 exploits not being ruled out by both head coach Heyneke Meyer and Botha himself.
That leads me on to the differing levels of readiness for this series opener at Kings Park and yet another reason why the recently extended Super Rugby term has become more trouble than it's worth. Not only has the quality of games dipped due to tired bodies but now it impacts on the June Tests.
Let me paint more of a picture of how the Springboks are coming into this international. Last weekend the Bulls faced the Stormers in a bruising derby fixture while the Lions hosted the Sharks in another draining encounter. Meanwhile, England were on a game reserve.
While there is a similar story in the north going into November, we've yet to see a series impacted such as this even before a ball has been kicked. Once respective Tests are completed, the south returns to Super Rugby before the Rugby Championship starts.
Consequently the notion that this first Test is where England have their best opportunity of claiming victory holds more weight, particularly as they tackle the Springboks at sea level instead of altitude. That is something that has caused personal angst to former skipper John Smit, who would have liked to see his former colleagues holding any advantage they could in the big opener. "Sadly they're taking England to Durban first, which will be the most comfortable venue of the series. I would have liked them to be taken to the dark corners of South Africa for the first week or two. Durban is sea level so the England players won't feel the burn in the back of the throats and the taste of blood after 20 minutes," he told the BBC.
Such passionate words offer those who are unfamiliar with what a series in South Africa holds an idea of what to expect. The intensity of games will be fierce while supporters will be equally hungry to follow up the 2009 British & Irish Lions with an English scalp.
That epic series three years ago was at the top end of what many of the Lions squad and coaches had faced in their careers, and there is undoubtedly going to be unfinished business in the back of people like Graham Rowntree, Ugo Monye and Lee Mears' minds, even if they refuse to admit it. Throw in a subplot of Brad Barritt and Mouritz Botha being South African born and we have many ingredients that I assure you will not spoil the broth.
Meyer's first squad announcement was met with a feeling of inevitability in many corners of South Africa, not least Cape Town where they feel the Bull heavy selection in the 32 will lead to more of a kick-and-chase style. Hence England coach Stuart Lancaster going for two full-backs in his XV as Mike Brown gets the nod alongside wings Ben Foden and Chris Ashton. Expect lots of airtime in Durban as we know what's coming...now, can England counter it?
Ones to watch:
For South Africa: The arrival of Eben Etzebeth and Marcell Coetzee has been greeted with applause by the vast majority as the duo have been in excellent form for the Stormers and Sharks respectively. Etzebeth is being touted as the new enforcer of South African rugby while Coetzee has been at the top end of the tackle and carry statistics in Super Rugby. Both are quality prospects in the green and gold and are by no means a step down from their predecessors. Watch Coetzee get through a great deal of work on the openside flank.
For England: Exeter Chiefs flanker Tom Johnson and Harlequins loosehead prop Joe Marler will win their first caps for England in the Shark Tank, with both impressing for their clubs this season. Johnson was strong against the Barbarians while Marler has been good for the Aviva Premiership champions. But we have not gone for the forward duo this week as there is one positional switch that caught the eye. Ben Foden being shifted from full-back to wing to accommodate Mike Brown has been long overdue. Brown deserves his shot while it will help the visitors that they have two 15s to help combat the aerial bombardment they are set to receive from the likes of Zane Kirchner and Morné and Frans Steyn. A right call.
Head-to-head: Get a pen ready as there are match-ups all over the field that are set to bring sparks. Starting up front, the Beast against Dan Cole should be good while Bismarck du Plessis and Dylan Hartley is sure to flare up at some point, with Doctor Du Plessis set to step in from tighthead prop should anything kick off. Geoff Parling's line-out battle with Juandré Kruger will be key but we opt for former Sharks centre Brad Barritt going toe-to-toe with his old team-mate Frans Steyn in the midfield. The term "unstoppable force meets immovable object" comes to mind. This should be a good battle with a lots of the physical.
Recent results:
2010: South Africa won 21-11 in London
2008: South Africa won 42-6 in London
2007: South Africa won 15-6 in Paris
2007: South Africa won 36-0 in Paris
2007: South Africa won 55-22 in Pretoria
2007: South Africa won 58-10 in Bloemfontein
2006: South Africa won 25-14 in London
2006: England won 23-21 in London
2004: England won 32-16 in London
2003: England won 25-6 in Perth
2002: England won 53-3 in London
Prediction: Not playing at altitude will offer England a level playing field this week. But it won't be enough for Lancaster's men as I see the Springboks squeezing home by 4!
The teams:
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 François Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Patrick Lambie, 22 Wynand Olivier.
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Ben Foden, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 6 Tom Johnson, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Paul Doran-Jones, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Phil Dowson, 20 Lee Dickson, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Jonathan Joseph.
Date: Saturday, June 9
Kick-off: 17:00 (16:00 BST, 15:00 GMT)
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant refeerees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Scotland)
Television match official: Iain Ramage (Scotland)
By Adam Kyriacou
Twitter: @PlanetRugbyAK
Comments
new_j4a says...
@JayStarr, As a matter of fact I like PDV as a person and I liked John Smit and I am sure that he thought he was doing the right thing, BUT the lunitics led by Smit were running the asylum. PDV abdicated his role as coach to the senior players. And the Boks did surprisingly well with a geriatric captain and no coach. And for the record, I didn't like JW, but I do think that quotas are a bad idea and PDV, in as much as he was the coach, did very little of what I consider to be coaching.....and if I were going to shoot you, it would have been because you are a right pain in the arse, not because you disagree with me.
Posted 19:12 09th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@ArmchairGeneral , Dunno mate. I haven't been angry in years.... :) (though, to be honest the red mist was a bit of a handicap in my youth)
Posted 19:04 09th June 2012
JayStarr says...
@ Kiwilad: Singing PdV's praises and defending him against unfair and excessive criticism is two different things. Did you feel cheated when PdV's Boks beat you in NZ too..? That's what I mean with unfair criticism - you say the Boks were so poor under PdV, yet they had a similar win/loss record to when White was coach - and beat the All Blacks in NZ. So what are we judging him on - his track record or the fact that you just didn't like him as a person?
@ bokbevok: Keep up - there was a ;) after I said that... and then later explained to SACanuck that I was pulling his leg. I think White has done a great job with the Brumbies - and can see he has even improved as a coach. But you're obviously a Jake White-lover, which automatically makes you a PdV-hater (implying that Jake White was so good, that his greatness was the only reason the Boks ever won under PdV for the next 4 years... Please). So it's not a conversation I'm going to get myself into.
I'll just state it for the record - for NEW_justice_4_all, Bokbevok and anyone who wants to hear:
I don't think PdV was nearly as bad as everyone made him out to be. I think a lot of mindless criticism came his way - just because people didn't like HIM. I think it's ridiculous that people seriously think all the good things the Springboks did in the 4 years PdV was coach was thanks to Jake White (and the players) and that everything bad that happened was PdV's fault. I think John Smit was a great servant to SA rugby - and that he was the best hooker in SA for most of that time. From a psychological point of view - for the team's sake - I think he was probably the right captain for that WC and for the pressure matches. His selection was more the senior players' decision than PdV's - they made it clear that they WANTED him there.
And that's that. So shoot me because I DARE to disagree with you...
Posted 17:17 09th June 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
New4ja: what are you like when you're angry?
Posted 14:26 09th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@JayStarr This statement from you "I'm quite impressed with my typing skills and agree wholeheartedly with myself" seems to perfectly sum up your posts, so in the light of this new self realization on your part, I will desist from giving you anymore feedback (until you really piss me off with your self congratulation).
Posted 10:30 09th June 2012
bokbevok says...
@kiwilad not often but I have to agree with you on comment on jaystarr on pdv. I mean what did pdv do apart make enforced changes.
2007 boks was jakes white team with a few enforced changes, white is a legend for getting the boks to where they were under the conditions he was forced to work under. He only stayed in the job and never quit for the team that he brought through from under 20's
It is no surprise brumbies are doing well and as for jaystarr referring that it is because of larkem,jones etc is ludicrous as it was still jakes decision to use there imput. He uses them because he Values different views especially those looking from outside in. All part of what makes him a great coach.
Posted 09:32 09th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@JayStarr, you say "I never said that John Smit was the best hooker in SA (i.e. a better player than Bismarck), which is what you implied originally. It sounds like I was defending his selection for the World Cup squad - and I probably had my reasons, which you so conveniently left out of your quotes.." As a matter of fact you did claim that Smit was a better hooker than Bismarck and that his selection was correct and that you endorsed and agreed with the selection. And as to your accusation "I probably had my reasons, which you so conveniently left out of your quotes" There was no rational argument in your postings (what rational argument could there possibly have been?), so I can hardly be expected to quote these non existent reasons. When I do discuss the reasons for the tripe you write (i.e. that you are an idiot), you threaten to "report me" whatever that means (may I remind you that we are not in Primary School any more and that one of the editors (teachers, in your mind?) you are going to report me to, Richard Anderson, has suffered some abuse from you, as have others on this site). As to my being "sneaky" and changing my name, there was either a technical glitch or a hack that deleted several users...many are back with a 2 appended to their original name i.e. Trinats2. Sorry if the "new_j4a" had you confused, but that has more to do with your inability to read and think because you are so busy spewing tripe.
Posted 08:51 09th June 2012
noord_transvaal says...
@clutchplate
I wouldn't say the Boks are bubbling over in confidence. Far from it. With a back line that still includes Pietersen, Banana and de Villiers I can see England putting not one but two over the Boks. Meyer might as well bring the useless Smit and never say die Butch back too. Hell, why is Percy not on the bench ?! As a Bulls supporter even I am baffled as to why Kirchner is playing at 15 and not Lambie. Basson should be at 11, not has been Banana.
Nope, I think England never had a better chance to win a tour in S.A.
Posted 06:44 09th June 2012
ABlack says...
Steve Walsh will ruin the game. Boks to win by 4
Posted 04:07 09th June 2012
KiwiLad says...
Jaystarr, I must come to the defence of Justice on this one.
You constantly put PDV and Smit on a pedestal, when it was plain for all to see that one of them was better suited to riding a one wheeled bike and the other was needing a Zimmer frame.
As an AB fan I felt cheated whilst PDV was in charge, as I thought we never got to play the best that the Boks had to offer, Yes he was that bad.
And you sung his praises..
Posted 03:50 09th June 2012
three6three6 says...
Should this match become a battle of the up-and-under then I think that the Bokke will probably have the advantage..... However, the Bokke do not need to play this way to beat England. All they need to do is take a leaf out of the Bulls 'playing complete rugby manual' - that is the way that the Bulls demolished the Reds this year... with good quality ball retention, excellent support play and running good lines! Do the Bokke have the 'right' personnel to execute such a game plan? Only time will tell.....
Pierre Spies should also lift his personal intensity - he is a potential world beater, when he wants to be..... but sadly as someone else has already mentioned 'he has the body of Tarzan but plays his rugby like Jane'. He needs to become the beast of old.... smashing into the opposition ball carriers and putting real fear into the Lilywhites! I have no doubt that the Bokke will lift the physical intensity another three notches.... after all the opposition is not just anyone....it is the Old Enemy!
Posted 01:43 09th June 2012
JayStarr says...
@ philipjfry: You insulted me, how else should I have responded? Yes, some of my posts are long. But not all of them - and the last few are to reply to people. I think it's good manners to reply to everyone who commented on your post. Anyway, not so sure about the turnovers - I think the bigger problem might be giving away penalties... Walsh is reffing.
@ SACannuck: True about the coaches - was just teasing - hence the ;) But don't think the Boks have always been playing Bulls rugby. In the last couple of years of Jake White's reign - especially after Jones joined - they were playing total rugby, not 10-man rugby.
Posted 00:37 09th June 2012
JayStarr says...
@ bokbevok: Well, SA only has one plan - Meyer's Plan A (which you keep on doing until you get it right!) - so for them it's more a case of execution. But yeah, if England brings their A-game, and SA executes Meyer's Plan clinically, then I think SA will probably win. But I can't see how the Boks will be clinical in the first test. And my suspicion is that if SA wins, it will not be thanks to Meyer's approach, but more because of individual brilliance. I'll be surprised if we win this one with Morné Steyn's boot. (However, I see it might rain, so then it's more likely).
@ new_j4a: Lol - you're amazing. Are you a Sun journalist? Thanks for cherry picking quotes from conversations I had a year ago... but unfortunately you've taken them out of their context. As I said before, I do recall defending PdV and John Smit back then - but however you want to quote me, I never said that John Smit was the best hooker in SA (i.e. a better player than Bismarck), which is what you implied originally. It sounds like I was defending his selection for the World Cup squad - and I probably had my reasons, which you so conveniently left out of your quotes...
You know what I just realised - your name. You're justice_4_all, in a new disguise... How sneaky. I stopped talking to you a long time ago because you were blatantly harrassing me - you developed some deep, obsessive hatred for me for whatever reason. I could go back and quote some of the vile stuff you said to (and about) me, but I think your last few posts are evidence enough of the obsessive compulsion you have with me... I'd rather just end this conversation right here and continue ignoring you. I don't talk to crazy people. If you start harrassing me again I'll report you.
Posted 00:35 09th June 2012
Dangerous says...
Going to a braai wearing a rose. Hope the food tastes good.
Posted 00:21 09th June 2012
Dangerous says...
Going to a brain wearing a rose. Hope the food tastes good.
Posted 00:19 09th June 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Best of luck to the Boks if they play clean tough hard rugby within the spirit of game. If they drop below whats right in the game then real shame on them and the shirt. Same for England. Yes I think it necessary to say given that the probability is higher than normal that the next game plus mid week will get below what's right in the game. Well let's see. I truly hope to be wrong.
Posted 22:42 08th June 2012
Dingbat32 says...
Zane Kirchner??? Let's hope he does not need to make any tackles, catches, kicks or passes.
Posted 22:13 08th June 2012
new_j4a says...
"JayStarr, you say "I can't remember that conversation...." No surprise there....you do sprout such a vast volume of utter crap, mostly regurgitating misunderstood opinion gleaned from newspapers you read during the many idle hours you spend as a security guard (guessing here, but something similar, I'll bet). I have yet to see an original or interesting thought in this torrent of self congratulation and trivia. I noticed that you once asked PR to employ you as a writer. That was your wittiest moment, though unintentionally so, I think.
Posted 21:18 08th June 2012
SACanuck says...
Yes, Jaystarr, good coaches surround themselves with good people. Thats how a good team is built. Bulls rugby is the way the Boks have played for a 100 years. Nothing new, they have always relied upon the basics and kicking penelties as their base.
Posted 20:33 08th June 2012
davodiablo says...
@jehosophat... You misquote me . Read it again . Also I'm not SA so hardly myopic , just a neutrals opinion .
Posted 19:10 08th June 2012