South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has spent the week stressing the difficulty of the task at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria (kickoff 1505 GMT) when many of rest of his compatriots are looking further ahead to the meetings with Australia and New Zealand in the annual four-nation competition.

“Argentina have always been difficult to play against so we are going out there to play our best rugby possible,” he told reporters.

A bruising forward challenge is expected as Argentina have shown signs of becoming a scrummaging force again and they will have a polished set of exciting backs to boot.

“In the scrum it’s a huge contest, you have to scrum well to get your ball. They have some of the best guys at the breakdowns,”

Meyer added of an Argentine team who have spent close to a month working on their conditioning at a high performance centre in Pensacola, Florida.

South Africa, who have captain Jean de Villiers back from injury, will be firm favourites to get off to a winning start but the unpredictable nature of the South Americans means the Springboks can never be sure of what they will be up against.

Although they are yet to win a Rugby Championship game, Argentina show continuing sign of improvement but usually offer either stout resistance or implode as they did last year when the Springboks romped home in a nine-try 73-13 rout at Johannesburg’s Soccer City.

 Scramble

A week later, however, albeit on Argentine soil, South Africa had to scramble two late penalties to squeeze home 22-17 in Mendoza.

Argentina have a familiar look about their line-up as well as a promise of freshness with the appointment of Daniel Hourcade as coach and hooker Agustin Creevy as new captain.

“South Africa are a thoroughbred team with strong players and a physical game both in attack and defence,”

Hourcade said on Thursday. He was appointed to a two-year contract after the end of last year’s Rugby Championship.

“Discipline will be crucial and we have talked a lot about this and trained hard for this. Defence is key but we will use our opportunities to attack,” he added.

The two countries meet again on Aug. 23 in Salta.

Prediction

As unpredictable as Argentina can be at times, this is easily the best Springboks side we’ve seen in recent memory. In what’s shaping up as the closest Rugby Championship/Tri Nations series we’ve seen in quite some time, I can’t help but feel for the Puma’s.

They will struggle against all opposition this year, and this game won’t be any different.

No matter which way I try to shed light on the game, it’s difficult to find positives for Argentina, and areas of the game where they may have an advantage.

I’m tipping South Africa to win in a canter – Springboks by 20.

Teams

South Africa: 15-Willie le Roux; 14-Cornal Hendricks, 13-Damian de Allende, 12-Jean de Villiers (captain), 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Handre Pollard, 9-Ruan Pienaar, 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Willem Alberts, 6-Francois Louw, 5-Lood de Jager, 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-Jannie du Plessis, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16-Adriaan Strauss, 17-Trevor Nyakane, 18-Frans Malherbe, 19-Eben Etzebeth, 20-Marcell Coetzee, 21-Francois Hougaard, 22-Morne Steyn, 23-Jan Serfontein

Argentina: 15-Joaquin Tuculet, 14-Horacio Agulla, 13-Marcelo Bosch, 12-Juan Martin Hernandez, 11-Manuel Montero, 10-Nicolas Sanchez, 9-Martin Landajo, 8-Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7-Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6-Paul Matera, 5-Thomas Lavanini, 4-Mariano Galarza, 3-Ramiro Herrera 2-Agustin Creevy (captain), 1-Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16-Matias Cortese, 17-Paz Lucas Noguera, 18-Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19-Matias Alemanno, 20-Leonardo Senatore, 21-Thomas Cubelli, 22-Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23-Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino

Del.icio.us

Facebook

TweetThis

Digg

StumbleUpon

The Springboks first international of the year gets underway in South Africa when they welcome the Nick Mallett coached Word XV to Cape Town, before taking on Wales and Scotland in the coming weeks.

Watching Wales talk up a big game before ultimately falling short or seeing Scotland battle valiantly for an hour only to be overcome when it counts carry little novelty. But the chance to watch a team featuring Hosea Gear, Matt Giteau, Steffon Armitage, Mamuka Gorgodze (etc, etc, etc) attempt to punch holes in the Bok defence? That will get me excited, for sure.

Heyneke Meyer has implemented some surprising changes in his Springboks squad ahead of this weekend’s clash, bringing both old faces and new into his side for what should make for some intriguing experimentation.

Veteran second-rowers Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha will start alongside each other for the first time in three years. As exciting as the recall is, this South African squad is far from the youngest around, and it will be interesting to see how so many sets of old legs last on Saturday. But Matfield has shown this term that his standards haven’t slipped, temporary retirement be damned.

South Africa deservedly start as favorites even though the World XV has named a strong side. But, like we’ve see with the Barbarians on so many occasions before, you can’t just throw 23 guys together and expect them to perform in a one off test.

Because of the change of South Africa’s selection policy, we see not only Matfield and Botha reunited in the second row, but also Morne and Frans Steyn in the midfield. The first time they’ve played together for a long time.

How they manage to gel after many years apart will be a major factor in determining as to how large the final score margin will be. With South Africa having many combinations which haven’t played together for such a long time, this is a real blessing for Heyneke Meyer to have before taking on more well organised opposition.

James O’Connor will be up for a big game.

Having failed to earn Meyer’s recognition as a Springbok, Rory Kockottwill take to Cape Town with an added incentive to impress against the stars of his native South Africa on Saturday.

The unpredictable half-back may be deserving of international recognition for some, having stood as a leading figure for Castres in their run to the Top 14 playoffs this season, but his ability to link up with players such as Matt Giteau and James O’Connor will be key for any success.

Key Match-Ups

Francois Louw v Steffon Armitage
Francois Louw will start for South Africa on Saturday, advancing the prospect of a collision against newly crowned European Player of the Year SteffonArmitage. The Rec figurehead has done a sensational job of maintaining his loyalties with both club and country in the past, but there couldn’t be a more in-form challenge coming in Louw’s direction on Saturday.

Matt Giteau v Frans Steyn
Matt Giteau has been in the form of his life and was a major part of the Toulon team which went on to win the Top14 and Heineken Cup double. His form has lead to calls from many for Australia to scrap their selection policy and pick Giteau for the Wallabies.

Frans Steyn has been the key linchpin for the Sharks backline this year. His kicking game has been top class, and at 110kg, is a powerful runner as well.

Our Prediction

Many of the World XV will be keen for a strong showing to gain favour with their national team selectors before next years World Cup, and because of this, we’re not expecting the World XV to go down without a fight.

While on paper the battle in the backs looks close, few of the World XV has played together, and that lack of cohesion will be obvious throughout the game. The South African’s have a clear and obvious dominance in the forwards, and I suspect little respect will be given to the World XV pack.

I’m tipping the Springboks to win by 25.

Teams

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Gurthro Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Fourie du Preez, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Lwazi Mvovo

World XV: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Mamuka Gorgodze, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Juandré Kruger, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Sona Taumalolo.

Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Joe Tekori, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 Jimmy Cowan, 22 François Trinh-Duc, 23 Benson Stanley.

Del.icio.us

Facebook

TweetThis

Digg

StumbleUpon

Wallabies v France, our preview

Australia would do well to be cautious of this French team. We’ve seen what’s happened in the past when opponents underestimate their rivals. Where as few of the Les Bleus will fear the Wallabies after destroying their pack and dominating at their last meeting in 2012, a 33-6 humiliation in Paris.

The Wallabies will be chasing a 3-0 series white wash at home, and are strong favorites to do so. The term “which French team will turn up” is well over used, and over a three test series, you’d expect the French to put at least one game together.

Over the last four years, the Wallabies have lost their opening test of the year and will be keen to turn around their opening match form.

The French finished the Six Nations in fourth place, have not won a match in Australia in 24 years and face a Wallabies team who have won their last four outings against northern hemisphere opposition.

Stephen Moore becomes the 81st Wallabies captain, and Ewen McKenzie has been a breath of fresh air, picking players on Super Rugby form, while giving very little consideration for reputations and incumbency.

However, the way he gave himself little flexibility in the backline is curious. Picking both Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale as fly halves, and removing the option of using both as a 10 and 12 combination, which we’ve seen used to much success by the Waratahs this year. As well as pigeon-holing arguably, the form Australian centre (Adam Ashley-Cooper) on the wing.

Les Blues coach, Philippe Saint-André has seemingly given the Wallabies a head-start, with the exception of a couple of backs on the bench, he has picked non of the players which appeared in the Top14 final for this weekend’s match.

McKenzie made some tough calls for his match day 23, but his ability to leave some players, which many considered an automatic selection out is indicative of the depth currently available in Australian rugby.

It was a slight surprise to leave Matt Hodgson off the bench, obviously banking on vice-captain Michael Hooper to play a full 80 minutes. It was a little more of a surprise to see Scott Higginbotham left out of the team, in favor of Wycliffe Palu and Ben McCalman. McKenzie is obviously looking to counter the size of the French pack with some size of his own.

But the biggest surprise of all was to see the improving Will Genia’s omission, in favor of Nic White and Nick Phipps.

Fofana, his blistering try in 2012

The French squad lacks only three of their first-choice players. Although their touring group is solid if everybody is match-fit, however, their side for this test is not.

The starting front row will be fine even though their best two hookers, Dimitri Szarzewski and Benjamin Kayser, are crocked at home. Old warhorse lock Pascal Papé is left behind to rest, but the starting second rowers for Suncorp are strong fellows; however Sébastien Vahaamahina is not a regular starter.

The backrow is undistinguished by France standards though no. 8 Damien Chouly has been in prime form for Clermont this season.

Scrum half Maxime Machenaud is one of the best in Europe but his partner Frédéric Michalak, who plays either 9 or 10, couldn’t even get onto the Toulon bench in the Top 14 final as a utility, he hasn’t played for a month, so his omission really isn’t a surprise.

James Slipper becomes the second youngest player to gain 50 test caps as a prop. The two teams have played 42 times, with the Wallabies ahead, 23-17, with two draws.

Australia have won five out of their last six they’ve played against France, and the French have never won in Brisbane, or Melbourne. The French have only won four times in Australia, the last time being in 1990.

Key Match Ups:

Front Row:
The French loose head, Thomas Domingo is short, at 178cm he is 15cm shorter than both of the Wallabies props and he’s known for screwing in. It won’t be so bad for James Slipper against Nicolas Mas, but the whole French front row likes to ‘squeeze in’ on the opposition hooker.

The Wallabies will have to look for a way to counter that, without relying on referee, Craig Joubert, who rarely makes calls in that area.

Centres:
One of the strengths of the France squad is their midfield. Although Lamerat will be on the bench, and Mathieu Bastareaud won’t be playing at all, their most athletic and elusive centres, Wesley Fofana and Gael Fickou, will be running on.

Aussies fans will remember Fofana’s excellent try in 2012 with a shudder.

Toomua and Kuridrani are different players to the French centres. Toomua will be like a second flyhalf and will scan the geometry of the field and the distribution of players on it, both theirs and his, whereas Fofana will be looking to the main chance for himself or his immediate neighbour.

Fickou is much the same as Fofana but Kuridrani, though he can find a gap on his day, will want to brutalise his centre opponents whether he has the ball or they do.

The Loose Forwards:
The French usually play their loosies on the same side of the scrum throughout the whole game, Bernard le Roux comes out of the typical South African mold, a brute and strong at the line out. However, he lacks the tact and match brain of his opponent, Scott Fardy.

Fulgence Ouedraogo is a hard worker, but not in the class of Michael Hooper. And it’s little surprise  Saint-André sees Hooper as a threat.  The battle of the number 8’s will be tight, both big, bruising and hard running.

Our Prediction:

Sure, the last time they played, the French smashed the Wallabies, but I can’t see this team doing it in Brisbane. While the battle at the coal face looks like it’ll be close, the Wallabies are a class above in the backline, and that should reflect in the final score.

I’m tipping the Wallabies by 14

Del.icio.us

Facebook

TweetThis

Digg

StumbleUpon