Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, for the first time at the helm, named an unchanged team for their all important clash with the All Blacks at Soccer City stadium in Soweto.
All Black coach Steve Hansen called in Brodie Retallick at lock who makes a direct swop with Luke Romano. Hosea Gear takes over from Julian Savea on the left wing who will have to keep Bryan Habana in check. Savea falls out of the matchday squad alltogether.
Allthough the All Blacks secured the Rugby Championship title last week against the Pumas, it by no means mean that they will simply let the Boks walk over them. There is alot at stake at Nasrec as the All Blacks would want to extend their unbeaten run to 16 consecutive games and the Springboks would like to build on some impresive momentum picked up against the Wallabies last week end.
Prediction:
Expect an exciting, physical, running game with both teams trying to empose themselves on each other. Both teams are high in confidence and both sides will give everything for a victory. I am simply going with my hart on this one and call the Springboks by 3 points.
The teams:
Springboks: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 François Hougaard, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 François Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Super subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Pat Lambie.
All Blacks: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Samuel Whitelock , 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Super subs: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Tamati Ellison.
Date: Saturday, 6 October 2012
Kick-off: 17.00 SA Time
Venue: Soccer City, Soweto
Expected weather conditions: Mostly
cloudy with a high of 30°C, dropping to
15°C
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France),
Greg Garner (England)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Nice article , Barry. I write this having just returned from FNB Stadium, heavy hearted. We were given a master class by the All Blacks. They were superior in so many ways. Handling,defence,a multitude of attacks.I am a huge SA fan and fairly(I hope) educated in our beloved game. Sorry Heineke, fail mark for year 1. I make no criticism other than what we are playing is just not good enough.Roll on the end of year tours, and be brave with your scalpel.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how you must have felt after the game. Although we were outplayed by arguably the best All Black side in the history of the gane, I beleive there is light at the end of the tunnel. Heyneke Meyer has debutised more young blood in his short stint than Peter de Villiers in four years, he is starting to put his signature on the way we perform not only as players on the field, but as proffesionals off it. He didn't just inherit a team and a plan with senior players knowing exactly how to implement this plan, he is starting from scratch and I believe we should just have a little faith and give him a decent change to prove himself. Remember when Carel du Plessis pleaded to just beleive in him, that he is busy creating a legendary side? Isn't that the exact same side that went on to win 17 consecutive games under the mentorship of Nic Mallett? Heyneke Meyer should be given atleast 18months to settle his side and turn them into an unstopable machine, just like Sir Clive Woodward did with England. Thank you for your great comment and please share my blog with your friends. Have a blessed day. Barry
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