The Springboks’ 13 match winning streak.

[pieter blackie]

Suspect selections, but Boks can still win

The greatest rugby rivalry of all time kicks off this year’s Vodacom Tri-Nations when the All Blacks play host to the Springboks on Saturday.

It’s the Test rugby enthusiasts have been looking forward to since the Boks won the World Cup in France last year. It’s the fierce rivalry between rugby union’s superpowers, the number one ranked Springboks versus the second ranked All Blacks.

(Enter our prediction challenge here)

The indifferent Tests against injury-stricken Northern Hemisphere sides are behind us. It’s time for the real deal. For coach Peter de Villiers, who’s on his first Vodacom Tri-Nations tour of Australasia, Saturday’s Test will be the biggest of his career. The same can be said for Adi Jacobs and Odwa Ndungane to name a few.

It also promises to be a vitally important Test for All Black coach Graham Henry. The general public in the Land of the Long White Cloud are still furious with Henry

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[jargan83]

that streak comes to an end tomorow. Should be a pretty good game though
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[pieter blackie]

[robyn <3]

i think its going to be a very very close game. the all black have always been a strong team, but the boks have just come off with some great wins and still have the world cup in their minds. i think a couple of points difference... i think itll be a very very close game

[pieter blackie]

South Africa win with 3 or 4

[jargan83]

i agree it will be close, the boks away form outside the world cup hasn't been good but the world cup will be fresh in their mind and they will be keen to prove that they are the real deal and that they didnt win the world cup by being the last team standing (England don't count as a team). They put Wales away comfortably in the first test, before getting a win in the 2nd test on the back of some refereeing decisions, they looked stretched at times in the 2nd test. Didn't see the Italy game but the only trouble they recieved that afternoon apparently came from the weather.

All Blacks will be looking to defend thier home turf and start again under Graham Henry after the regular 4 year choke and look to prepare for the greatest choke of them all at home in 2011. All Blacks at home is no easy ask, just ask the Irish and the Poms. Ireland matched them for a fair amount of the one off test, before the Kiwi's touched up the Poms and took their foot of the pedal in the 1st test letting the poms score a few conselation tries late. Same medicine a week later if i remember through the beer goggles. This test should be a cracker of a contest, i think at home the Kiwi's will get home but not by much.

This is my first attempt at a serious-ish preview, hope i did a semi-decent job, look forward to watching at JB's tomorow.

Thanks for reading
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[travelling_gerry]

And you can back up your vMouth with some vCash here

[jargan83]

im still boycotting
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[JediKnight]

"Greatest rugby rivalry of all time"....you're having a laugh!!!! That surely has to be the Calcutta Cup between Scotland & England.
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[Harry]

"Greatest rugby rivalry of all time"....you're having a laugh!!!! That surely has to be the Calcutta Cup between Scotland & England.
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After witnessing the last one I would have to agree. Mind you the Kiwis are coming good at the the right end of the world cup cycle - just after it's done!!!

[Moses]

Kiwi's by 30, unless the weather's terrible then Kiwi's by 15.

Can't believe how confident the Saffas are. Haven't beaten the Kiwi's since 2006, and that was by one point, in South Africa! Haven't won in New Zealand since 1998.

But... they did beat England twice and Argentina, so world champions they be!

[zimeric]

Kiwi's by 30, unless the weather's terrible then Kiwi's by 15.

Can't believe how confident the Saffas are. Haven't beaten the Kiwi's since 2006, and that was by one point, in South Africa! Haven't won in New Zealand since 1998.

But... they did beat England twice and Argentina, so world champions they be!

Im with you on that one Moses. The Saffas are all supremly confident and even some of my kiwi mates at work are worried (granted they are only part time rugby supporters so wouldnt have a clue anyway)
Kiwi's at home after some reasonably good performances against a mid strength Pom side. Saffas never travel well to black sheep land!

I say AB's by 12 or more if its dry, 6 to 12 if its wet.

[robyn <3]

that streak comes to an end tomorow.

it did indeed...

i didnt see the game-was it a good one or did the kiwis trounce them?

[travelling_gerry]

Hard match...it was only the Saffers giving away penalities the difference. But towards the end the Kiwi's were unlucky not to score a couple of times.

[gotheforce]

the kiwis did look the better side. Guys like Butch James and Burger had to resort to cheap shots to even it down. The number of late hits by Butch James on DC was astounding.