3N: Wallabies vs. Springboks preview

August 4, 2006

South Africa is back to Australia to face the Wallabies at Sydney. The Springboks must be frustrated as hell at the schedule-maker. None of the tournament is played in the republic the first six weeks, then they return home to wrap up the series playing three straight weeks. For the Boks to have any chance of winning the comp -- and right now that prospect looks highly unlikely -- they would have to win three straight weeks against New Zealand (twice) and then the Wallabies the following week.

Can't see that happening.

But if they want any chance of hope for their return to South Africa, they have to come up with a huge effort on Saturday.

Rugby Planet has their preview up. They predict Australia by six points; bookmakers Totalbet.com see Australia winning by fifteen points.

Sydney Morning Herald rugby columnists Ben Kimber and Greg Growden have their video preview. Short clip runs 3:26 mins. They discuss the rumour that Bok flyhalf Butch James will be targetting Stephen Larkham's head. Both Growden and Kimber forecast a Wallaby victory by 15-20 points.

Former Springbok and current Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus is pessimistic about his teams' chances.

“I hear the Boks talking about how good the spirit is in the camp, but the spirit is only good when you’re winning,” said Erasmus. “It’s been a long tour and I really think we will struggle on Saturday.

“Like other South Africans, I’m hoping the Boks surprise us all and beat the Wallabies, but I really can’t see it happening.”

Match details:

Australia: 1 Greg Holmes, 2 Tai McIsaac, 3 Rodney Blake, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 5 Dan Vickerman (vice-captain), 6 Rocky Elsom, 7 George Smith, 8 Wycliff Palu, 9 George Gregan (captain), 10 Stephen Larkham, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 12 Matt Giteau, 13 Stirling Mortlock (vice-captain), 14 Mark Gerrard, 15 Chris Latham. Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Phil Waugh, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Mat Rogers, 22 Clyde Rathbone.

South Africa: 1 Os du Randt, 2 John Smit (captain), , 3 CJ van der Linde, 4 Johann Muller, 5 Victor Matfield, 6 Solly Tyibilika, 7 Juan Smith, 8 Jacques Cronjé, 9 Fourie du Preez, 10 Butch James, 11 Bryan Habana, 12 Wynand Olivier, 13 Jaque Fourie, 14 Akona Ndungane, 15 Percy Montgomery. Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Eddie Andrews, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

Date: Saturday 5 August
Venue: Telstra Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 20.05 (10.05 GMT)
Weather: Dry, strong northerly wind, 13°C
Referee: Joël Jutge (France)
Touch judges: Paul Honiss, Kelvin Deaker (both New Zealand)
Television match official: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Assessor: Dick Byres (Australia)

The Wallabies vs. Springboks test will be broadcast live online at Mediazone’s Rugby Channel. Full live coverage kicks-off at 6:00 am ET early Saturday morning, August 5th. Tape-delay downloads are available 2-4 after test match ends. Cost is $7.99.

Rugby Channel also has all the live action of South Africa's Currie Cup competition and New Zealand's National Provincial Championship (NPC) and Ranfurly Shield matches. Click here for full details.

In related news, SMH's Greg Growden reports:

Broadcasters and high-ranking officials have called on SANZAR to speed up the game amid concerns fans are becoming bored by too many stoppages.

That was the strong message to come out of a series of meetings of SANZAR broadcasters and officials in Brisbane and Sydney this week.

At the broadcasters' meeting, there was concern that many telecasts were going past the scheduled finishing time because of endless stoppages, especially during the Super 14 tournament. [...]

Referees highlighted the fact that the amount of stoppages had increased remarkably in recent years, with one of the most obvious ploys being teams deliberately faking injuries in a bid to get their breath back.

Whole story.