This Saturday, 9 June, SA takes on Manu Samoa at Ellispark(kick off at 15h00) and it is likely to be a new look SA starting XV.

Bad news for Sa rugby fans, Bryan Habana picked up an injury to his right knee and early prognosis is that he will be out of action for about 4 weeks. This means the premier winger will miss the home leg of the Tri Nations, and he will be reassesed before the Springboks go to Australasia.

Nine new players have been included in the squad that played England. The players are Bismarck du Plessis(hooker), Luke Watson, Wickus van Heerden, Pedrie Wannenburg(all loose forwards), Waylon Murray, Wayne Julies(centres), JP Pietersen(wing/fullback), Johan Ackerman(lock) and Derrick Hougaard(fly half), with Wannenburg being the only player from outside the original 46 man squad.

It is likely that only John Smit and Enrico Januarie will keep their places in the starting XV and what Januarie is still doing in the squad only Jake will know, he is playing pathetic rugby at the moment! Os du Randt, BJ Botha, Andre Pretorius and Jacques Fourie are all probables for the side if they pass fitness tests during the week.

The Luke Watson controversy will rear its head again this week with the debate raging if he should play or not. SARB would certainly like to see this talented player get a chance to show his worth.

SARB decided to post a likely starting XV against Manu Samoa:15.Frans Steyn,14.Ashwin Willemse, 13. Jacques Fourie,12.Wayne Julies,11. JP Pietersen,10.Andre Pretorius (if fit),9.Enrico Januarie, 8.Pedrie Wannenburg, 7.Bob Skinstad, 6.Luke Watson, 5.Albert van den Bergh, 4.Johan Muller, 3.BJ Botha (if fit), 2.John Smit (captain),1.Os du Randt (if fit)

A player like Waylon Murray should get a run during the game, so to Joe van Niekerk.

Another victory for the Springboks but it has probably left Jake White with more questions than answers. The first half was one of the worst performances by a SA side yet under White but stern words during the half time break had the desired effect and it was a much improved effort in the second half.The first half performance was due to SA not doing the basics correctly and England that put in a spirited first 40 minutes. England defended well and although bordering on the offside line for most of the first half they managed to disrupt SA’s structure. Set phases were a problem again and should be a major concern for Jake two weeks before the Tri-Nations kick off. Another course for concern is the many penalties conceded by SA, particularly at the breakdown. Referee, Joel Jutge from France, did not have the best of afternoons and awarded a very dubious yellow card to Brian Habana. He awarded penalties against SA and then let England get away with the same offenses.

After Half time things started to improve with the big SA forwards starting to carry the ball up and providing front foot ball for the backs. This paid dividends almost immediately with Bakkies Botha crashing over in the corner. Botha’s try was the catalyst for SA to start dominating and a further five tries were scored, giving SA a resounding 55-22 victory. Although SA did not play well it should give the squad confidence going into the much awaited Tri-Nations.

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A resounding 58-10 victory for SA was what everybody expected and wanted to see, revenge for the 53-3 loss to England in 2002 and a promising start to 2007 Test season building towards the World Cup in September in France.

Everything is still not a 100% in the SA camp but enough signs were there to show that Jake Whites’ resting of top players last season during the Currie Cup and the end of year tour might not have been such a bad idea. As a unit SA wasn’t entirely World-class on Saturday but considering that Jake White only had about a week with the squad the interplay between backs and forwards and counter-attacking when England kicked badly was top notch. Hard work is in order this week on SA’s set phases building up to the 2nd test. Much was expected of the macro pack Jake picked, but SA struggled in the scrums and John Smit were not as accurate with his line out throws as we know he can be. Individual players like Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Bryan Habana, Percy Montgomery and Jean de Villiers were outstanding but as a unit things were not cohesive. Individual player ratings after the jump.. (more…)

South Africa kicked off their international season with a crushing 58-10 win over world champions England in Bloemfontein overnight.

The hosts, who ran in seven tries in the 80 minutes, led 30-3 at half-time.

England, minus up to 30 of their leading players who are either injured or were involved in last weekend’s European Cup final, were no match for the South Africans.

The visitors’ preparations were further hampered by a stomach virus which downed several of the team’s players in the days leading up to the game. Wing David Strettle was ruled out on Thursday and then before kick-off centre Andy Farrell and scrum half Pete Richards.

Prop Nick Wood could also not take the field after injuring his shoulder in the captain’s run on Friday.

The English lost several other players during the game, something which will further disrupt preparations for the second Test at Loftus Versfeld next weekend.

It was a slow and rather dull start to the international season for Jake White’s men, who battled to find any sort of rhythm in front of a quiet 30,000 fans.

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Here’s the side which will take the field on Sunday against the poms

15. Percy Montgomery
14. Ashwin Willemse
13. Wynand Olivier
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Bryan Habana
10. Butch James
9. Ricky Januarie
8. Danie Rossouw
7. Juan Smith
6. Schalk Burger
5. Victor Matfield
4. Bakkies Botha
3. BJ Botha
2. John Smit (captain)
1. Deon Carstens
Reserves:
16. Guthro Steenkamp
17. Gary Botha
18.CJ van der Linde
19.Johann Muller
20. Pierre Spies
21. Ruan Pienaar
22. Francois Steyn

The side Jake White picked for the first test is an excellent combination of youth and experience. Notable absentees like Fourie du Preez(shoulder) , Jacques Fourie(groin), JP Pietersen(hand) and Andre Pretorius(hamstring) were not considered due to injury but are expected to make their return to the squad in the next few weeks. Their replacements will surely relish the opportunity to make their mark and stake claims for the world cup squad.

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A Jake White tactical blunder and a poor final 15 minutes snatched defeat from the brink of a Twickenham victory. Can the Springboks turn things around this weekend against a very poor English side? What used to be a walk in the park has turned into mission impossible! Can Jake White’s 2006 Boks win for the first time at Twickenham since 1997? (more…)