The Hulk was always my favourite superhero. Not just because he was green and had pecs the size of continental plates, but also he was lauded as “Incredible” when he lost his rag and had a tantrum. This isn’t the case when I get cross and throw a man-trum at all – although the difference is probably that he crushes bad guys with his bare hands, whilst I merely get my swear words mixed up to the amusement of those watching. Of course, it does take me quite a while to get that wound up, but the same can’t be said about the typical South African rugby player, who generally relishes any sort of confrontation and can unleash that trademark aggression at any point during the game. Imagine, then, what they will be feeling like after 2 weeks to contemplate the injustice of an abysmal refereeing decision last time out.
In that game Roman Poite ruled a perfectly fair, but hard,
tackle by Bismarck Du Plessis on Dan Carter warranted a yellow card. This came back to bite hard when the hooker
was shown a second yellow in second minute of the second half, when the game
was teetering on a knife edge and the men in green were starting to dominate
territory. Du Plessis may have since had
his red card rescinded, but the thought that they had a chance of a monumental
victory snatched away from them will have been firing the Springboks up for the
last fortnight. That may well be of a
benefit to the hosts, but they will need to temper that energy with
intelligence and incision, and it is partly for this reason that Heyneke Meyer
has brought in veteran Fourie Du Preez for his first start in 2 years.
The Wallabies meanwhile, will be feeling more frustration
than out-and-out rage. Despite a hard-fought
win over Argentina in torrential conditions, the insanely talented Wallaby
backline has looked too flat and devoid of imagination throughout the
Championship, whilst the pack have been unable to hold their own for 80 minutes
as yet. The win against the Pumas, though,
was just what the doctor ordered – full of grit, character and determination,
and proved once again that this side has real backbone, even if they don’t have
the confidence at the moment. And it’s
easy to see why they wouldn’t have, in their home fixture against the
Springboks, the men in gold shipped 4 tries in a thumping defeat. They know it will only be tougher in the
South Africans’ own back yard.
Because if the Wallabies are to turn the tables and upset
the odds in Newlands, it will take one hell of an effort. A super-human one, to be precise.
Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer has opted to make two changes
to the side that lost to the All Blacks ahead of Saturday's Test against
Australia. Meyer has drafted in
scrum-half Fourie du Preez for his first Test start since the 2011 World Cup.
He has been plying his trade in Japan but due to an agreement with his side
Suntory Sungoliath, he is free to play in South Africa's home Tests. And Meyer has also handed a start to hooker
Adriaan Strauss with Bismarck du Plessis and Ruan Pienaar dropping to the
bench.
Starting Line
up: Zane Kirchner, Willie le Roux,
JJ Engelbrect, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez,
Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van
der Merwe, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen
Subs: Bismarck du
Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Juandre Kruger, Siya Kolisi,
Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein
Key Player
Eben Etzebeth. How
somebody who looks like a cross between Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno and a pole
can be this dominant in the tight and the set piece, I don’t know. Ignore the pretty-boy hair, the lock is as
physical and confrontational as they come, and his battle with the abrasive
James Horwill will be brutal. But
Etzebeth has it within him to physically dominate opponents and if he can get
stuck into the opposition lineout – as he has on so many occasions – and
deprive the Wallabies of a reliable set piece, it will become mission
impossible for the visitors.
Australia Team
News
Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie has made three changes to his
team ahead of their game against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday,
according to reports. James Horwill is
named in the second-row after recovering from a hamstring injury. He takes on
the captaincy from Ben Mowen who skippered the team to their round four win
over Argentina. In other changes to the
side, Tevita Kuridrani starts at outside centre with Adam Ashley-Cooper
shifting to the wing to replace the injured Nick Cummins. Joe Tomane is called
upon to step into the suspended James O'Connor's shoes on the other flank. Nic White keeps his place at scrum-half with
Will Genia still relegated to the bench. He will be joined in the replacements
by Benn Robinson and Chris Feauai-Sautia with the latter set to make his Test
debut if he gets the nod from the bench.
Starting Line up: Israel
Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane,
Quade Cooper, Nic White, James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, Rob
Simmons, James Horwill (captain), Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen
Subs: Saia
Faingaa, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Will Genia,
Matt Toomua, Chris Feauai-Sautia.
Key Player
Nic White. Given the
ultimate show of confidence in being selected above Will Genia for the second
game running, there’s pressure on White to justify McKenzie’s faith in
him. There may have been a slight
suspicion that, with the home game against the Pumas being the easiest of the
Wallabies’ fixtures, the selection of White was merely a poorly disguised kick
up the backside for Genia, but following the Brumbies’ man’s assured display in
difficult decisions, those suspicions have been put to bed. White may not be as instinctive or as much as
an attacking threat as Genia, but he has a sharp tactical brain and good boot
on him, and if the Wallabies are to have any hope of upsetting the hosts they
will need him to pin the Springboks back with accurate box kicks and
cross-field touch finders.
Key Battle
Francois Louw v Michael Hooper. The South African openside has been an unsung
hero of this Springbok side, doing the dirty work on the ground whilst his
gargantuan backrow colleagues, Alberts and Vermeulen, use the opposition as
doormats. Hooper, on the other hand, has
at times been a one-man pack for the Wallabies, scavenging to standard that
David Pocock would be proud of and carrying with a frightening degree of
aggression and pace. In an explosive
breakdown contest where physicality will be king, the subtle edges these two
bring may well be enough to tip the balance in either direction.
Prediction
I can’t see the Wallabies being as bum-smackingly bad as
they were in their home game against the Springboks, but it’s surely too much
of an ask for them to come away with a win at Newlands. Their pack is a strong unit – as they proved
in the monsoon in Perth against the Pumas a fortnight ago – but this South African
pack is a different prospect altogether and that back row balance is right up
there with the best in the world at the moment in terms of raw power and
technique in the breakdown. Add to that
the fact that the backline have started cutting some intelligent lines and you
have a very dangerous Springbok side – not least because they have had 2 weeks
to let their anger at the injustice of Poite’s decision to eat away at
them. The Aussies will fight and do
themselves credit – but it’s another home win for me. Springboks
by 12.
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