Same again: SA retain winning recipe
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Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer has named an unchanged starting line-up for their Rugby Championship finale against New Zealand on Saturday.
It's the first time this season that the Springboks will field an unchanged starting line-up for consecutive Tests, with the team being the one that beat Australia by 31-8 in Pretoria last week.
The only change is on the bench, where Coenie Oosthuizen takes over from Pat Cilliers as prop replacement.
The last time the Springboks started two consecutive Tests with the same starting XV was in 2009 in the home victories over New Zealand (31-19 in Durban on August 1) and Australia (29-17 in Cape Town on August 8).
"It's always a good thing if you don't have to make any changes and after the late replacements we had to call in last week, it's especially nice to be able to select an unchanged starting team for Saturday's Test," said Meyer.
"We've been hit hard by injuries this year, but thanks to the great work done by our medical team, we've managed to sort out a few of the little niggles left over from the Wallaby match for our final Test on home soil this year.
"Last week's win was very satisfying, but we all know we will have to make another step up against New Zealand on Saturday. They recorded a good win in Argentina and will be confident, but so are we."
The Springboks' starting XV has a combined total of 430 Test caps - 162 to the forwards and 268 to the backs.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.
Date: Saturday , October 6
Venue: Soccer City, Soweto
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Greg Garner (England)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Comments
safehands says...
@Jaystarr....my ¿ignorant¿ and ¿generalised¿ comments are exactly on the mark when it comes to your previous comment on this thread. You said and I quote "Saturday has nothing to do with the Rugby Championship. It has everything to do with "who is the best team in the world".
Sorry champ¿but winning on Saturday (at home) will in no way, shape or form make SA the best team in the world, other than in the often over excitable minds of many bok supporting saffas.
I won¿t rehash over all the points I made about that solitary snippet (as quoted above) within your thread, so if you like please re-read my comments and understand what actually makes a particular team THE best team in the world. I wasn¿t commenting on your entire thread, just that silly little statement you haphazardly threw into the mix.
Enjoy the game on Saturday and may the best team (on the day¿not in the world) win :)
Posted 03:32 05th October 2012
BillyMutt2 says...
@JayStarr: wrong again boet. It is a game between the best team in the world and the team that is currently ranked second.
A win for the Springboks on Saturday (unlikely, in my humble opinion) would mean nothing more than they have won a home game, as they should be expected to do. It really won't prove anything other than the fact that they may have started on a path to a better game plan and better selection of players.
You really are getting ahead of yourself here.
Posted 20:01 04th October 2012
Capedcrusader says...
Reality check - sud Afriiiica are woeful at best outside of the republic in S15 & RC. The gap is simply widening. Get a proper game plan & stop boring us.
Posted 13:16 04th October 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
Bring back Juan Smith!!!!!! :)
Out of interest: Is he retired or just injured? That guy is / was one of the greatest backrowers in the world... EVER.
Posted 11:37 04th October 2012
JayStarr says...
@ makemehappy: I didn't mean the Springboks can overtake the All Blacks at no.1 - I meant it is a game between the two best teams in the world, with a lot of pride at stake. It doesn't get bigger than the All Blacks vs. the Springboks - especially when they're both in form. So I stand by my statement.
@ BillyMutt: Well, you can only be no.1 in the world if you are no.1 in the world... innit? If the Springboks beat the All Blacks they'll not only be closer to that position, but they would've also beaten the no.1 team in the world. Wouldn't that say something about the Springboks? They certainly came very close in Dunedin, so even though the All Blacks beat other teams "emphatically", they have not done so with the Springboks recently. Their last loss was in fact against the men in green and gold...
One battle does not win the war, but a moral victory goes a long way.
@ scot_rsa: Thanks. That's a good point actually about the French.
@ safehands: What are you talking about? Your sweeping, ignorant generalisations are not applicable to me or what I wrote. Last time I checked you're only as good as your last game, so leave your history book on the shelf. The best team between these two sides will be the one who wins on Saturday, whether you like it or not.
@ sukkadoits: I don't think I'm overstating it. They are not being vocal in comparison to other teams - they are just being vocal in comparison to what they are normally like (not at all). I am talking about the coaching staff and their rugby analysts - for once they seem like they are not quite sure what to expect. Normally the first thing they say is "well, we all know what to expect". The uncertainty seems to have caused a few ripples - and that might be a good thing. That's all I meant.
Posted 10:19 04th October 2012
Ferdie says...
Jaystar: "who is the best team in the world"
talking things up rather a lot. One side has won all eight matches this year and a points diff of +190, the other has four wins, points diff +41. A SA win would put them at 1-1 with NZ in 2012, and 5 wins from 9 v a team 8 wins from 9.
I struggle to see how this equates to 'best in the world' - unless they can win by 232 points or more (your logic would say so)
Saying it on a forum doesn't mean it'll come true.
Posted 09:47 04th October 2012
Carpelone says...
To be honest, the Boks were good but New Zealand were outstanding against Argentina. It is true that the potential is there, but I would be surprised if it is unleashed this week end. It would be a close game though, with the strategy for replacements playing a major part.
Posted 09:20 04th October 2012
sukkadoits says...
@JayStarr you overstate how vocal the ABs have been this week. Carlos doesn't count. All I've read, and probably the same articles you have, is that the ABs expect the Boks to open up a bit more with the sublime Goosen at the helm. I read a comment from Foster that it would be wise of the AB's to send traffic down the rookies channel, nothing else. And please give more credit for the AB's opening up the Arg. defence. It was the pace and power that denied Arg. time to regroup and make the big tackles they are known for.
That said, I agree that this is the strongest Bok team of the new era. Maybe replace Kirchner who does not have the flair that his dreadlocks indicate, and although i am a big fan of Adriaan Strauss, Bizzy Du P is the best in the business. As always, this game will be won or lost in the forwards, and although Goosen is the real deal, i know it is the Bok forwards that scare AB fans the most, and probably the ABs too. Either way, what an epic encounter we have to look forward to.
Posted 04:58 04th October 2012
kiwilad says...
This should be a cracker, and to help wash this veritable feast of rugby down, we get to watch Aussie get spanked by the Argies, Oh what a weekend ahead!!
Posted 03:17 04th October 2012
safehands says...
@Jaystarr....zzzzzz....bore off dude. Typical saffas to get so excited about winning one game, coming second in a tournament and shooting their mouths off that they are the incumbent world champs etc etc....zzzzzzz!!!
RC (formerly 3N) locked away for another year....again....and your lot have about 8 points to catch up to be able to claim that you are the best team in the world!! To me winning a world cup does not make the world's best team!! Winning grand slams up north year on year and winning the premier SH title just about every year is the true test to a teams greatness....not a solitary victory at home after the championship has already been awarded to another.
Try not losing to one or other of the NH teams this autumn (again) and actually prove you are the world's best, rather than trying to pinch the title by claiming a 'nearly' win in NZ and by winning a home game, at altitude, in front of 90000 saffas against the actual best team in the world. By the way, if you win....guess what....you should have....it's a home game for a tier one nation and that in itself is justification enough to expect a home win, no matter who you are playing.
The fact that many of your countrymen will be surprised if you do win is testament enough that the Boks are simply not as good as the AB's.....even with Goosen in the team.
So....calm down son, enjoy the game and possibly a victory, but understand that your team has a hell of a lot of work to do over many years to actually convince those who really understand rugby that the Boks are indeed the best!!!
Posted 01:44 04th October 2012
whizz52 says...
Rolland...ahhhhhhhh. Game ruined already!
Posted 00:03 04th October 2012
ManWarrior says...
@new_j4 - nicely put! Did you "prayerfully" consider that remark before posting it?
Bokke by 10 points (4 tries to 2) and yes, this the start of a Spring era at the top of the pile...or so I pray. Go Bokke!
Posted 22:52 03rd October 2012
firepower says...
@SACanuck i totally agree with you mate
Posted 22:08 03rd October 2012
scot_rsa says...
JayStarr - that's a great analysis and I totally agree about predictability. Much as I respect the ABs they struggle against innovative players as much as any other side. Look at how France often upset them in their own back yard. I think they can be rattled and the Boks are getting their tails up despite not being the finished article yet. Bring it on.
Posted 21:24 03rd October 2012
BillyMutt2 says...
@JayStarr: no, it is not about which is the number 1 team in the world, that question has already been answered, quite emphatically. And it has been the All Blacks for quite some time now.
The Springboks should be competitive this week, and who knows they may even sneak a win against NZ. But one good result doth not make a world number one team. Not by a long shot. I think your enthusiasm has clouded your judgement a little in this case.
Posted 18:43 03rd October 2012
makemehappy says...
@JayStarr - you're getting carried away! It might well be a good game, and its good to see the SA team competing well and playing an expansive game. The number one team in the world will remain the AB's regardless of the outcome - there's not a stat around that suggests anything else!!
Posted 17:10 03rd October 2012
kahui says...
very good team
Posted 16:28 03rd October 2012
JayStarr says...
Same team again, same ref as last week and playing on the Highveld where, unlike Australia, the All Blacks have not had time to acclimatise. That should favour the Springboks. It is also a rather different Springbok team from the one who should've beaten the ABs in Dunedin - a much better one in my opion, especially with Goosen, Etzebeth, Bekker and Oosthuizen there. So I beg to differ with Carlos Spencer who believes the ABs will thrash the Springboks...
Yes, the ABs are correct for pointing out that we faced a very weak Wallaby team last week and that we are getting ahead of ourselves. But they faced an Argentinian side who were not as aggressive in defense as in previous weeks, which allowed them more space and time on the ball - so they shouldn't get ahead of themselves either...
The ABs have been uncharacteristically outspoken this week. That says to me they are uncharacteristically nervous. They know how close the Boks came in Dunedin, when both teams weren't firing yet, and that this Springbok team is significantly better than that one. And I think they realised last week that with Goosen there the Boks are less predictable too. They haven't forgetten that Goosen was the top point scorer in the S15 until he got injured... and almost helped the Cheetahs beat the Crusaders at home. The fact that the ABs are now guessing how we are going to play (saying they think we're going to spread the ball, etc.) proves that for once they're actually wondering what we're going to do instead of going "yeah, we know what to expect from them - we just have to stop them"...
Saturday has nothing to do with the Rugby Championship. It has everything to do with "who is the best team in the world". This is about pride. It's about the team who is no.1 and their biggest rivals who have made it clear that they want to be no.1...
It doesn't get better than this!
Posted 16:09 03rd October 2012
Willem says...
Hougaard wil once again mess up in defence and cost us a try. He did so in Dunedin (Dagg's try) and in Pretoria (Harris' try). He is hopelessly out of form and has been all year. Move Taute to wing an bring in de Jongh.
Posted 15:43 03rd October 2012
new_j4a says...
Against the ABs, its always going to be tough to win, but I hope that the Boks play well enough and the game is close enough to take advantage of the odd twist of fate...an interception, a favorable bounce,....and that this game is a cracker that puts the best of champagne rugby on display and demonstrates that the Boks are the future world champs with the talent and a clear plan to knock the kiwis off their very deserved pedestal in the next 3 years.
Posted 14:24 03rd October 2012