Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Planet Rugby Preview: Australia v South Africa

  1. #1
    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    4,952
    vCash
    5000000

    Cool Planet Rugby Preview: Australia v South Africa

    For South Africans, it's an hour of triumph. For the neutral, the Tri-Nations is heading for a big anti-climax. For Australians, it's going horribly south.

    A New Zealand television channel played a clever collage of images this week, with Australia's most howling mistakes replayed, followed by Robbie Deans' instinctive reaction. The crestfallen nature of expressions, the deepening furrows upon the brow and the steady increase in both profanity and length of the whispered comments told a sorry tale indeed.

    Deans' tenure began with such high hope, but it has slipped into a rut. Australia cannot buy a win even when on form and the longer the process of torture goes on the more the defeat will be mental as well as on the pitch. A side that loses consistently may end up not believing it can win, which is when you are in real trouble. A good few of Australia's errors last week were symptomatic of this malaise.

    Excepting the brilliant Matt Giteau, who at times seemed to be taking the Boks on by himself, the Wallabies' best endeavour is coming up short. Change needed to be in the air. It has been.

    The insertion of Will Genia into the scrum-half role is a change long overdue. Luke Burgess has had a miserable year in a Wallaby jersey, with any sort of rhythm between he and Giteau seeming more coincidence than intention. He'll bounce back, he's that sort of man, but his current form is dismal. Genia has been solid and unspectacular when he has come on in this series, which is perhaps what Australia needs right now.

    Berrick Barnes' return is absolutely paramount to Giteau, who now has a handcuff option if he is closed down, as South Africa are sure to be looking to do better. It will also help Genia in crucial moments, with the two having developed a healthy understanding, often in adversity, in Queensland for the Reds.

    Perhaps the most telling change is at hooker, where Deans appears to have become too concerned with the line-outs to care about the vast superiority of Stephen Moore's scrummaging to that of Tatafu Polota-Nau. Where line-outs against Botha and Matfield are concerned, you would do well to simply raise casualty estimates and get on with it, especially when your team is so short of top-class locks.

    In fact, beyond Genia and Barnes, and perhaps the return of Drew Mitchell, Deans seems merely to have lost some faults, only to have them replaced by others. Truth is, Australia's current squad is missing a couple of extra X-factor players beyond Giteau and George Smith, without whom games like these are rarely winnable. The word 'transitional' is often overused, but given the number of youngsters now being thrown to the Lions in place of failing older heads, it appears Australia are very much in that sort of phase.

    South Africa have that kind of X-factor player all over the place. There are some remarkable stats regarding experience around this squad, while the milestones just build up. When Jaque Fourie steps onto the turf, he'll become the seventh player of the starting XV to have 50 caps to his name. Surrounded by that kind of experience, comparative rookies like Morné Steyn simply can't fail to shine.

    The line-out is the best in the world. The back row probably is as well. It's a hell of a centre combination. Bryan Habana is on the wing - they're even using him now. How is anyone supposed to cope with that, never mind Australia?

    South Africa only really need one point to clinch the Tri-Nations. Mathematically it's two, but can you really see New Zealand nabbing two bonus-point wins against South Africa and Australia in their next two matches? Neither can we. But there will be an extra something pushing these Boks forwards, the same mission that has pushed them to the greatness they have achieved.

    The desire to push back boundaries and set benchmarks is always what this team has been about. Two wins separate them from being the first team to claim a Tri-Nations clean sweep under the new extended format. Hamilton next week will be tougher, but for now there's Brisbane and a mentally exhausted Australia team to torture once more. On last week's form, there's little chance of a turnaround.

    Ones to watch:

    For Australia: Will Genia's has been a name long bandied about by Australian pundits as a beginning of a solution to Australia's woes. Australia have run in a few tries even when the half-back service has been awry, but can Genia deliver the kind of solid foundation Australia's backs need to be able to thrive?

    For South Africa: Jean de Villiers' international future is cloudy as a result of his move to Munster and the dislocation of his game from South Africa. A stalwart of this side, his presence will be sorely missed, but a real buster of a performance here would remind his overlings just how hard he could be to replace.

    Head to head: A tale of captaincy is also being writ here, with George Smith toiling in vain and John Smit revelling in one of his finest years yet (2007 will take some matching) while George Smith is Australia's fourth centurion - odds on to break George Gregan's world Test record if he keep going until NZ 2011 - but must be considering that fact ruefully in the light of his team's recent run. Both have shifted positions as their presence is too valuable to leave out of the mix, but can Smith find the leadership skills to help his side believe once more?

    Recent results:

    2009: South Africa won 32-25 in Perth
    2009: South Africa won 29-17 in Cape Town
    2008: South Africa won 53-8 in Johannesburg
    2008: Australia won 27-15 in Durban
    2008: Australia won 16-9 in Perth
    2007: Australia won 25-17 in Sydney
    2007: South Africa won 22-19 in Cape Town
    2006: South Africa won 24-16 in Johannesburg
    2006: Australia won 20-18 in Sydney
    2006: Australia won 49-0 in Brisbane
    2005: South Africa won 22-19 in Perth
    2005: South Africa won 22-16 in Pretoria
    2005: South Africa won 33-20 in Johannesburg
    2005: Australia won 30-12 in Sydney
    2004: South Africa won 23-19 in Durban
    2004: Australia won 30-26 in Perth
    Prediction: No way back for Australia. South Africa by ten!

    The teams:

    Australia: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Will Genia, 8 George Smith (capt), 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 James Horwill, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
    Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Wycliff Palu, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Quade Cooper, 22 Peter Hynes.

    South Africa: 15 Ruan Pienaar, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
    Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Adi Jacobs, 22 Frans Steyn .

    Date: Saturday, September 5
    Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
    Kick-off: 20.05 (10.05 GMT)
    Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
    Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
    TMO: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

    By Danny Stephens

    http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...536496,00.html

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  2. #2
    Player rick boyd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Mt Hawthorn
    Posts
    262
    vCash
    5000000
    Planet Rugby is a South African-owned site. They do a very nice line of gratuitous self-praise, don't they?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  3. #3
    Veteran zimeric's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Mandurah
    Posts
    3,128
    vCash
    5000000
    tonights our night.. i can feel it in my bones!

    Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me??

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  4. #4
    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    4,952
    vCash
    5000000
    Quote Originally Posted by zimeric View Post
    tonights our night.. i can feel it in my bones!

    Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me??
    I'm with you Zim... its our night...

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  5. #5
    Legend Court Reporter
    Contributor
    James's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Bridgetown, WA
    Posts
    6,103
    vCash
    20000
    Australia by 12 or more. South Africa to trip over own egos.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.

  6. #6
    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Rockingham
    Posts
    20,508
    vCash
    1296000
    There's a lot said in that article that one-eyed Wallabistas like myself have to just take, because it's true, but I surely get pissed off when hacks like this write articles without actually paying attention to the team they're writing about.....some examples
    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    Excepting the brilliant Matt Giteau, who at times seemed to be taking the Boks on by himself
    Accurate, yes...but a flyhalf is hardly brilliant if taking the opposition on alone. the 10 man fly uses his forwards, the 15 man fly uses hus backs. Giteau only ever uses a support player to take offloads after he fails to break the line. You're hardly brilliant when Quade Cooper shows you up in two minutes!
    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    Genia has been solid and unspectacular when he has come on in this series, which is perhaps what Australia needs right now.
    That's just crap.....Genia has been revelatory at scrummie, long, wide, accurate passing finally allowing Giteau to stand outside the opposition fly and run some lines he's actually good at!
    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    Perhaps the most telling change is at hooker, where Deans appears to have become too concerned with the line-outs to care about the vast superiority of Stephen Moore's scrummaging to that of Tatafu Polota-Nau.
    OK, it's quite obvious that this guy hasn't been following the career of either TPN OR Moore, Moore is by far the most reliable thrower into the lineout in general....for some reason he's been throwing as bad as TPN lately and Deans has finally decided to get the more energetic and powerful guy on the field......at the EXPENSE of the lineout!
    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    given the number of youngsters now being thrown to the Lions in place of failing older heads
    I don't think the cleanout has gone very far at all.....not far enough IMHO, we need to prepare for next year, and throwing young guys to the lions will do that, even if they're not up to it just yet. It'll kill the complacency in the older players like happened to Sharpie last year!

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    C'mon the

  7. #7
    Champion welshrugbyfan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    2,014
    vCash
    5000000
    Quote Originally Posted by zimeric View Post
    tonights our night.. i can feel it in my bones!

    Who'll come a waltzing Matilda with me??
    If you want to do weird stuff with sheep then your on your own. I gave that up when I left Wales.

    ---------- Post added at 10:06 ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 ----------

    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    I'm with you Zim... its our night...
    Then the two of you can have some fun together.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  8. #8
    Veteran mudskipper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    4,952
    vCash
    5000000
    Here you go Welshrugbyfan... sounds like you miss your Welsh nights out...



    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  9. #9
    Immortal Contributor
    Moderator
    Burgs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Country WA
    Posts
    22,644
    vCash
    334000
    The author clearly has their cranium up their fundamental orifice.
    No acknowledgement of being outplayed in the Frontrow last weekend.
    All of Giggity’s points.
    No recognition of so many new combinations.
    And anyone who rates Gits (currently) and Drew (often) as the saving graces should lay off writing post match revues at the bar with their mates…

    So long as you stay out of my matilda I’ll waltz with you Zim

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    "Bloody oath we did!"

    Nathan Sharpe, Legend.

  10. #10
    Champion welshrugbyfan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    2,014
    vCash
    5000000
    Quote Originally Posted by mudskipper View Post
    Here you go Welshrugbyfan... sounds like you miss your Welsh nights out...


    You'll get the kiwi hearts fluttering with images like that muddy.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  11. #11
    Legend Court Reporter
    Contributor
    James's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Bridgetown, WA
    Posts
    6,103
    vCash
    20000
    Quote Originally Posted by welshrugbyfan View Post
    You'll get the kiwi hearts fluttering with images like that muddy.
    Which part of the Welsh flutters then?

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.

  12. #12
    Veteran TOCC's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    QLD
    Posts
    3,597
    vCash
    5000000
    as a Reds fan i learned/chose to stop paying to much attention to Planet Rugby's game previews

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

  13. #13
    Player
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Karratha
    Posts
    261
    vCash
    5000000
    The excuses have already started from PDv. So crap about their sleep patterns. We took it to them tonight. Pure an simple. No means perfect. Still much improvement to be made. But my optimism has returned for a yong wallby team.

    ---------- Post added at 20:15 ---------- Previous post was at 20:14 ----------

    My spelling in that post was crap.

    0 Not allowed! Not allowed!

Similar Threads

  1. 3rd Play-off: Australia 5-32 South Africa
    By travelling_gerry in forum Junior Rugby World Cup
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 21-06-09, 20:51
  2. Australian team likely to get nod in expanded Super 15
    By mudskipper in forum Super Rugby
    Replies: 34
    Last Post: 15-03-09, 07:03
  3. Australia and South Africa at odds over Super expansion
    By travelling_gerry in forum Super Rugby
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-03-09, 10:00
  4. Springboks facing black dawn
    By Burgs in forum International Rugby
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 09-11-07, 08:13
  5. South Africa Win RWC2007
    By slomo in forum Front Page News
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: 24-10-07, 06:39

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •