South Africa vs New Zealand

20 August – NELSON MANDELA BAY STADIUM, PORT ELIZABETH. 5PM Kick-off (SA Time)

After 41 years, the Springboks and New Zealand come down to the Eastern Cape to face off against each other in what is South Africa’s last opportunity to test their combinations in proper test match conditions before the Rugby World Cup kicks off on the 9^th of September (only 21 days 1 hour 19 minutes and 15seconds to go, kids – but who’s counting…)

My bags are packed and my flight is warming up as I write this, and I’m pumped! 70 000 people are descending on the windy city over the next 24 hours for what should be a cracking encounter, even though the Springboks are facing – to paraphrase All Black coach Graham Henry – a “very talented B team”.  (Notice how when South Africa select a B-side the rest of our playmates in the Tri-Nations sandpit lose their minds, start crying about disrespect, cease sending aid to the continent and point their nuclear arsenals in the general direction of Johannesburg; when they do it virtually not a word is said or printed?)

Be that as it may, you can only beat the opponents that are actually on the pitch on game day, which is a realistic expectation this week if I compare the team sheets:  the All Blacks have virtually a brand new backline since their last outing against Australia, and surely this should affect their cohesion and rhythm. Contrast that with a Springbok team that has its first game as a combination under its belt and should deliver a more decisive display this week, particularly on attack, where they left a couple of points on the park last week through not taking advantage of some of the opportunities they created.

South Africa’s defensive system will undergo a different type of exam this week to that presented by Australia last week. New Zealand are a lot more structured in their approach to dismantling their opponents than what Australia (who rely heavily on individual game-breakers to spark moments of magic) are, so in a sense the fact that key players like Dan Carter and Richie McCaw have not made the trip over here shouldn’t diminish the threat that they pose too significantly. It’s that old story – knowing what it is that they’re planning on doing and actually being able to do anything about it are 2 completely different stories…

WHAT COULD HAPPEN

55 000 of the 70 000 tickets are controversially sold in one massive block booking to pro-All Black and Crusaders fans from Cape Town, all of whom show up wearing Sonny Bill Williams masks and Dan Carter’s signature line underwear. In a state of dazed disbelief the Springboks fail to hear the whistle for the start of the game resulting in SBW collecting the ball uncontested straight from the kick-offand dotting down under the sticks to the delirious joy of 55 000 traitors, all of whom should be drawn and quartered outside the stadium in a scene reminiscent of a Mel Gibson period drama.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN

The Springboks should prevail against the All Blacks, if only by the narrowest of margins. Morné Steyn at flyhalf provides a decent opportunity for the Boks to play a more traditional type of game focussed on putting the ball into the corners behind the All Black forwards and attempting to dominate the set pieces and breakdowns from there.

SOUTH AFRICA

15.Pat Lambie14.JP Pietersen13.Jaque Fourie12.Jean de Villiers11. Bryan Habana10.Morné Steyn9.Fourie du Preez8.Pierre Spies7.Willem Alberts6.Heinrich Brüssow5.Victor Matfield4.Bakkies Botha3.Jannie du Plessis2.Bismarck du Plessis1.Gurthrö Steenkamp

Reserves: 16.John Smit17.Tendai Mtawarira18.CJ van der Linde19.Danie Rossouw20.Ashley Johnson21.Francois Hougaard22.Butch James

NEW ZEALAND

1.Tony Woodcock  2.Keven Mealamu – captain  3.John Afoa 4.Samuel Whitelock 5.Ali Williams 6.Jerome Kaino 7.Adam Thomson 8.Liam Messam 9.Jimmy Cowan 10.Colin Slade 11.Hosea Gear 12.Sonny Bill Williams 13.Richard Kahui 14.Isaia Toeava 15.Israel Dagg

Reserves: 16.Andrew Hore 17.Ben Franks 18.Jarrad Hoeata 19.Victor Vito 20.Andy Ellis 21.Piri Weepu 22.Cory Jane

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland). Please, oh please, don’t spoil the game…

A. von Molendorff

Pic: port-elizabeth.net