Match Preview - Qantas Wallabies v Sprinboks
July 18, 2008 - 1:44pm
Story by: ARU
It’s difficult to remember a more enticing prospect than the dish we have laid before us in this Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series Tri-Nation’s Test.
In the gold corner – we have the Qantas Wallabies, fresh from a record 40 – 10 thumping of France, with a bucket load of raw talent and with a new energy and vitality driven by their exciting new head coach, the multi-title winning Robbie Deans.
In the green corner – we have the World Champion Springboks fresh from their thrilling 30 – 28 victory over the All Blacks last Saturday might in Dunedin. The win broke a record run of 30 home wins by New Zealand stretching way back to 2003 and was the Boks first win in Dunedin in 87 years of trying.
For both teams – so much is at stake. The Springboks claimed the World Cup crown last October on a magical night in Paris but through no fault of their own they did so without facing the other two great southern hemisphere Rugby powers.
There is still that nagging doubt, within the squad and without, if they really are the best in the world, and they are “desperate”, as Deans pointed out this week, to prove they are worthy of the title World Champions.
In their ranks they possess not only some of the best Rugby talent on the planet but some of the best to ever pull on a green and gold jersey.
Has their ever been a better South African winger than Bryan Habana, the man who races cheetahs, the IRB’s Player of the Year in 2007, the Rugby World Cup’s top tryscorer ?
Or a better lock than Saturday night’s captain, King of the Lineout, Victor Matfield ? Or a better flanker than the “Incredible Schalk” Burger, a player the Wallabies rate so highly hooker Stephen Moore named him as the first player he’d pick in his Fantasy XV?
They are a team full of names that are already passing into legend in South Africa.
They come up against a Wallabies team who are just beginning to write their own legends.
Australian Rugby has entered a new era under Deans and all Wallabies fans are confident it will be a golden one.
Deans has already made strong investments for the future bringing in new talent like: exciting young Tahs scrumhalf Luke Burgess, his clash with the Boks hero of Dunedin Ricky Januarie will be one of many highlights of the Test; Reds winger Peter Hynes, Man of the Match in his first Test; and rugged Reds lock James Horwill, whose most respected opponent is Bakkies Botha and there clash will get the stadium rocking.
A team of the future versus a team very much of the present. Picking a result is difficult.
On paper you might just give it to the Springboks but the loss of powerful young hooker Bismarck du Plessis, close to Man of the Match last weekend, due to suspension perhaps opens a tiny door for the home team.
Du Plessis is replaced by mobile Stormers No.2, Schalk Brits, who from not even being in the squad a week ago now finds himself starting tonight due to the injury to captain John Smit and Du Plessis’ indiscretions.
How will Brits, who arguably brings more mobility to the Bok pack than both Smit and Du Plessis, connect with his jumpers, Matfield and Botha ? A chink in the armour for the Wallabies to exploit. Only perhaps.
And both sides have players nursing injuries – the Boks after their bruising clash with the All Blacks last week, and the Wallabies with winger Lote Tuqiri, No.8 Wycliff Palu and lock Nathan Sharpe all returning from injury layoffs. How will that formidable trio hold up ?
It’s fitting Saturday’s game is also being played in the great new frontier for Australian Rugby, Western Australia. A quick look at the informative Rugby WA website shows the exciting growth of the game in the state and the credit to that must go to all those who have worked so hard to make the Western Force a success and all those supporters who have embraced the new jersey with such fervour.
Indeed, as the teams charge out on to the field tonight it’s clear our great game is in wonderful shape, especially with the addition of the dynamic new ELVs (Experimental Law Variations) that did so much to create a fantastic Super 14 this season. You can only hope our friends in the north discover the delights of the new rules sooner rather than later.
How those in other codes must have watched on the pulsating clash between the Boks and All Blacks in Dunedin, a match watched by millions across the planet, with envious eyes.
How they can only dream of having such an international flavour to their games and have a code that is so healthy and vibrant across the globe. Not just in pockets of our own country.
And this week with another of the game without scrums and lineouts’ biggest names, embarrassingly the face of their ‘international’ tournament later in the year, leaving the charms of Kogarah to play our game in Paris, under an Australian coach, it’s clear the code that split from Union 100 years ago may be heading back our way sooner rather than later.
If there is indeed a battle between the codes – it’s easy to choose which side you’d rather be on. Which side you’re on this Saturday – green or gold ? Is there any doubt ? Go the Qantas Wallabies !
Limited tickets are still available for Saturday night’s Test from Ticketmaster on 1300 136 122 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.au
Tri-Nations Teams
Qantas Wallabies
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), 14. Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), 13. Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies) captain, 12. Berrick Barnes (Queensland Reds), 11. Lote Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs), 10. Matt Giteau (Western Force), 9. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs), 8. Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs), 7. George Smith (Brumbies), 6. Rocky Elsom (NSW Waratahs), 5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), 4. James Horwill (Queensland Reds), 3. Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs), 2. Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds), 1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs).
Replacements: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs),17. Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs), 18. Hugh McMeniman (Queensland Reds), 19. Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs),20. Sam Cordingley (Queensland Reds), 21. Ryan Cross (Western Force), 22. Drew Mitchell (Western Force)
Springboks
15. Conrad Jantjes (Stormers), 14. JP Pietersen (Sharks), 13. Francois Steyn (Sharks), 12. Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11. Bryan Habana (Bulls), 10. Butch James (Bath, UK), 9. Ricky Januarie (Stormers), 8. Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7. Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6. Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5. Victor Matfield (Bulls) (capt), 4. Bakkies Botha (Bulls), 3. CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), 2. Schalk Brits (Stormers), 1. Gurthro Steenkamp (Bulls).
Replacements: 16. Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 17. Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), 18. Brian Mujati (Stormers), 19. Andries Bekker (Stormers), 20. Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 21. Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), 22. Peter Grant (Stormers).
Date: Saturday, July 19
Venue: Subiaco Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 18:.05 (20:05 AEST)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Television match official: Garrat Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch (New Zealand)
