Bok team to be slaughtered at Dunedin.

[Biltong]

First topic message reminder :

The Springbok team that will face New Zealand in the fourth Test in The Castle Rugby Championship in Dunedin on Saturday shows two changes from the side that played Australia last weekend.

Both changes are in the forwards, where lock Flip van der Merwe replaces the suspended Eben Etzebeth while Francois Louw comes in for Marcell Coetzee at flank.

There are four more changes on the bench, where Coetzee joins Dean Greyling, Andries Bekker and Juan de Jongh amongst the replacements.
“The New Zealanders are good on the ground which is why we decided to go for a specialist openside flank in Francois,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer.

“Marcell has been very good this season and has played a lot of rugby, but in this match we feel he will be more useful as an impact option.”
Jannie du Plessis has been named at tighthead prop despite struggling with a hamstring niggle. Meyer said the Springboks’ medical team is working very hard on the injured players and that Du Plessis will be given until Friday to fully shake off his injury, but if he fails to recover in time, Pat Cilliers will start in the No 3-shirt.

“We will not take any chances with injured players and we have time to get him and Pat (Cilliers) match ready,” said Meyer.
Greyling will be on the bench to provide prop cover, while Bekker takes over from Van der Merwe in the No 18 shirt. De Jongh comes in for Lwazi Mvovo on the bench.

The Springboks’ starting XV have a combined total of 482 Test caps – 136 in the forwards and 346 in the backline.

The Springbok team to face New Zealand in Dunedin is:

Position Name Province Test Caps
15 Zane Kirchner Vodacom Blue Bulls 18
14 Bryan Habana DHL Western Province 80
13 Jean de Villiers (captain) DHL Western Province 78
12 Frans Steyn The Sharks 52
11 Francois Hougaard Vodacom Blue Bulls 21
10 Morné Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls 40
9 Ruan Pienaar Ulster, N-Ireland 57
8 Duane Vermeulen DHL Western Province 1
7 Willem Alberts The Sharks 14
6 Francois Louw Bath, England 11
5 Juandré Kruger Vodacom Blue Bulls 4
4 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 17
3 Jannie du Plessis The Sharks 36
2 Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain) Toyota FS Cheetahs 15
1 Tendai Mtawarira The Sharks 38
Replacements
16 Tiaan Liebenberg DHL Western Province 2
17 Dean Greyling Vodacom Blue Bulls 2
18 Andries Bekker DHL Western Province 26
19 Marcell Coetzee The Sharks 6
20 Johan Goosen Toyota FS Cheetahs 1
21 Juan de Jongh DHL Western Province 10
22 Pat Lambie The Sharks 14

[Mr Fishpaste]

AWOP "offloading"and "passing" is very much REAL Rugby,draw the man,commit the tackle,and pass to support IN the tackle is THE basis of back play.

Never. It's just unnecessary basketball-esque frill that has no place in a real man's sport. In fact, both practises should be immediately outlawed by the IRB in favour of at least three more steps in the scrum engagement, and the introduction of some further ruck offences so we can enjoy the spectacle of more shots at goal.

Basketball not a real man's sport...say that to Shaq O Niell's face (you might need a step ladder)

[anotherworldofpain]

I'm thinking:

crouch-touch-pause-hold on-stand up-YOU! not head to head-pause-crouch-touch-stagger-stagger-stand up-crouch-touch-ON THE MARK-touch-RIGHT STAND UP!-crouch-touch-pause-enga...-collapse-he just slipped that's all-crouch-touch-WHISTLE!-time off!-frantic attendance by trainers-water bottles all around-crouch-touch-pause-FREE KICK! Early engagement!

Might be the officially adopted sequence to avoid time and set expectation realistically.

[drsambo1928]

South Africa should do what they did pre 2007 world cup and play a weakend team, so when they lose, there is an excuse. Then Meyer can concentrate on doing a grand slam up north, which they won't achieve(loss to ireland) but will beat everyone else.

[emack2]

Dr.Sambo with respect they ARE picking a weakened team they have no choice due to injuries.

[drsambo1928]

Respect

[emack2]

Nervous, people with nothing to lose are dangerous,and this All Black side is not YET the Great side it was.THIS is the most omportant match for the ABs win and the 4Ns is theres barring miracles.Lose then an away win versus the Pumas and at least a losing bonus point versus theBoks away would be needed.
Boks may just pull off a surprise win since they have been written off.

[anotherworldofpain]

Sa tactics will be simple. Kick for touch near the try line, attack the line out and use the maul

[FerN]

Kick it back to them and they score a try. Nick Mallet is going to have a field day.

[thebluesmancometh]

emack

I was thinking the same thing, and the way the SA pack have started at the breakdown very well, but they need to hit their shots at goal!!

[FerN]

What do you feed Kieran Read? That was one big hit. Felt it all the way in SA

[maestegmafia]

If you enjoy a bit of Antipodean Commentary. Listen to this link

http://www.youcommentate.com/Stream/View/guid/50542d77ab84b048396632/

[maestegmafia]

Playing better Bill

[FerN]

Playing better Bill

Biltong said he wasn't going to watch it.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

That's for the best. Not a great display of goalkicking.

NZ has to watch their discipline. Their ball retention is awful. A very poor half. Hopefully Smith comes on and we get some urgency in our attack. We don't deserve to be in front. SA are obviously playing a territory game and only M Steyn's goalkicking has stopped them from being in front. Hansen should give a rark up at half time because this is pretty dreadful stuff from NZ.

[chewed_mintie]

I'll never look at Habana as being a Saint again! Bloody liar he is!

Boks are doing their very best to nullify us with a successful spoiling game which is leading to messy ruck ball and some turnovers. They've also got a wonderful maul which I'm wondering if we're going to change our tactics against it 2nd half. I'm thinking that it's just going to click second half but we need to start playing smarter now if we want it to click.

But seriously, how many kicks at goal do you want?

[blackcanelion]

Boks deserve to be out of sight. Better side so far. AB's need to commit more to the ruck and earlier to the maul.Reminds me of the second test against Ireland.

Still think the IRB is encouraging anti rugby. This is just the latest advert. Why would you want to run the ball. No offense to the players or ref. It's pretty dire stuff.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Smith seems a much better communicator at the ruck. That's what's needed to identify threats and for AB players to pick their target and smash away people competing for the ball. Springboks have had too much possession and territory and we need to string some phases together.

It's frustrating stuff. But NZ knows what SA's tactics are. They need to be smarter at the breakdown and keep our discipline.

[FerN]

Brilliant try by Habana

[kiakahaaotearoa]

cruden missed crucial first up tackle and habana individual brilliance to score a great try. I think it's time to bring on Barrett.

M Steyn continues with his aimless kicking and his goal kicking off. Needed a bit of brilliance from Habana. That hopefully bring some life into this game.

[Guest]

Hello, habana where you been? Great individual try!

[FerN]

Dean Greyling gets penelized immediately

[FerN]

8-8 in the second half

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Great advert for northern hemisphere rugby

[kiakahaaotearoa]

SA let NZ back in straight away. Cue walkie talkie violence...

[FerN]

Dean Greyling and Bekker came on and our scrum isn't looking to good. Bekker doesn't look the most physical lock.

[FerN]

4 on 2 and Morne kicks the ball away. Just doesn't make sense

[maestegmafia]

Playing better Bill

Biltong said he wasn't going to watch it.

Might be what has made the difference....

[Guest]

Smith!! Twinkle toes.

[FerN]

Wanted to say good thing Goosen is coming on then he misses a crucial tackle on Smith and he scores

[maestegmafia]

Nice try smith...

[kiakahaaotearoa]

M Steyn finally pays the price for one too many aimless kicks. Goosen finally on. Good move as Smith brilliance gets NZ in front and they´ll need more than the heave ho to break the NZ line.

[FerN]

15-8. I think it is going to be to tough to win the game from here.

[FerN]

Yellow card for Greyling

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Both sides look ragged now

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

haha cracking "charge" to the face on mccaw there, get than man a medal

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Stupid comment PSW. That stuff is ugly and has no place in the game.

NZ in the ascendancy even before the yellow. Looks like another try coming soon.

[Galted]

I see what Meyer means about "impact" players, Greyling has completely changed the game.

[Guest]

SA were looking instantly better with Steyn off, probably because they were keeping ball in hand. Grayling, shame, doesn't do anything image wise.

PSW, that's a knob head thing to say.

[FerN]

I see what Meyer means about "impact" players, Greyling has completely changed the game.

He had an impact yes, just not the right kind.

[maestegmafia]

McCaw was lucky not to get a broken jaw from that..

SA love getting forwards suspended..

[FerN]

A kick over by South Africa. Nail in Morne's coffin right there.

[Galted]

A kick over by South Africa. Nail in Morne's coffin right there.

There are more nails than wood in Morne's coffin but Meyer's too stupid and stubborn to see.

[RDW]

Have to say I can see why Biltongbek is so irate as a South African fan - fairly uninspired stuff! They could sneak this though!

[FerN]

AI, right in front. Should get the lead back to 7.

[offload]

Not a great NZ display but inept from SA. More than enough ball to win this but dreadful game management. Can't see a way back for SA now.

[ChequeredJersey]

You say Smith scored. Which Smith?

[Guest]

Huh, de Villiers is playing

[FerN]

Scrum half Smith(Aaron I think)

[FerN]

Dean Greyling again.

[ChequeredJersey]

Aaron Smith must be the international find of the season then!

[Sponsored content]