IRB World Rankings
Welcome back!
South Africa have reclaimed the second spot on the IRB World Rankings after their win over Australia 53-8 in Johannesburg. Australia can reclaim second spot with a win against New Zealand in Brisbane.
No other changes occured in the Top 10 due to a lack of international rugby matches.
The list of the top 10 are below;
New Zealand
Australia
South Africa
Argentina
England
Wales
France
Ireland
Scotland
Italy
IRB World Rugby Rankings
The IRB latest world ranking’s have been a major blow to the South African Springboks as they have dropped from No 1. at ths start of the year to No 3. behind the New Zealand All Blacks and Australian Wallabies.
South Africa have had a horror Rugby Tri-Nations series while Australia have improved dramatically after being fourth at the start of the Rugby Tri-Nations series.
The list of the top 10 are below;
New Zealand
Australia
South Africa
Argentina
England
Wales
France
Ireland
Scotland
Italy
Springboks Botha and Fourie out of Tri-Nations
Bakkies Botha and Jaque Fourie have been ruled out of the rest of the Tri-Nations series. Springbok lock Bakkies Botha had a scan and it was revealed he had ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, this is a major blow to the lock who has been in fine form this year. South Africa will aim to nurse him back into shape for the northern hemisphere tour in November instead of undergoing surgery.
Jaque Fourie is out after a scan revealed a depressed fracture of his cheekbone. Fourie will undergo surgery during the week ruling him out for the rest of thr Tri-Nations Rugby.
Danie Rossouw will replace Bakkies Botha at lock and Francois Steyn gets another crack through the loss of Jaque Fourie to injury. Steyn will be keen to remind Peter de Villiers just what he offers the Boks in the heat of battle.
Rugby: South Africa vs Argentina Preview
Tomorrow the South African Springboks take on the Argentine Pumas in what is looking to be an interesting encounter. This match will answer many questions, not the least is the ability of Argentina to compete against the big gun southern hemisphere nations on a regular basis.
I believe the more internationals Argentina can play the better but I think this match will prove that should they be added into a future four team southern hemisphere rugby competition they would become cannor fodder, much like Italy have in the Six Nations. The upside is that this regular competion will make them stronger much as it has finally started to with Italian rugby.
South Africa have made a number of changes aimed at keeping a large squad in shape for the three make or break Tri-Nations matches ahead, one against New Zealand and two against Australia. The Springboks will be looking to fire on all cylinders and push the Pumas aside with as much venom and firepower as possible. The last thing the Boks will want is injuries to any key stars and will be looking to claim any early advantage to ensure they snuff out any threat from the Argentine’s.
Argentina are in a rebuilding stage and are looking down the barrel of what could be a heavy defeat. The retirement of legendary Puma Augustin Pichot has left a gaping hole in the team at scrum half. The recall of Felipe Contemponi will hopefully add some zeal and resilence to the Pumas but even with his experience it will be hard for the Pumas to come close to the Boks who have far too much firepower.
The Ruck and Maul Verdict: South Africa by 22.
South Africa
Conrad Jantjes, JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Jongi Nokwe, Butch James, Enrico Januarie, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Luke Watson, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Joe van Niekerk, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Percy Montgomery.
Argentina
Bernardo Stortoni, José María Núñez Piossek, Federico Martín Aramburu, Miguel Avramovic, Horacio Agulla, Felipe Contepomi, Nicolás Vergallo, Juan Manuel Leguizamón, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, Martín Durand, Patricio Albacete, Rimas Álvarez Kairelis, Pedro Ledesma, Mario Ledesma, Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: Alberto Vernet Basualdo, Marcos Ayerza, Esteban Lozada, Álvaro Galindo, Alfredo Lalanne, Benjamín Urdapilleta, Rafael Carballo.
South Africa unleash Steyn
The Springboks have made 4 changes to the team that beat New Zealand at Carisbrook Stadium last week in Dunedin. Conrad Jantjes who was benched after the first test returns at fullback as Percy Montgomery has been unluckily left out of the 22 to play in Perth. Jantjes had been in excellent form earlier and deserves a place in the team, Montgomery was expected to make it onto the bench but will have to be content for the time being with 98 tests, a Springbok record.
Steyn has returned to the centres in the place of the injured Jacobs who suffered an injury last weekend against the All Blacks. Steyn will form a damaging centre combination with De Villiers who between them could tear apart the Wallabies defence unless they are on the top of their game. Pierre Spies who comes into the starting lineup for Joe Van Niekerk who placed strongly in the previous two matches against the All Blacks slips back to the bench. Schalk Brits as expected comes into the starting team after the suspension of Bismarck du Plessis. Adrian Strauss takes his position on the bench as the reserve hooker.
The heavily weighted bench of 5 forwards and 2 backs points to where the Springboks believe the game will be decided and we can expect the Springboks to dominate the scrum and turn the screws at the breakdown. The Springboks side looks dynamic and offers tremendous speed around the ground and dynamic forward play, it will be a big test for the Wallabies to hold them in check for the whole 80 minutes. I am happy to see Ryan Kankowski in the team as he was the form No 8 in the Super 14 for the Sharks and could have a strong impact late in the game.
The South African side is;
Conrad Jantjes, JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, Schalk Brits, Gurthro Steenkamp.
Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, Peter Grant
John Smit ruled out of Tri Nations
John Smit has been ruled out of the entire Tri Nations after undergoing surgery last week in Johannesburg on the groin injury sustained in the loss to New Zealand in Wellington. The surgery was reported as being successful but the Springbok Captain would need adequate time to recover which was likely to extend for the length of the Tri Nation series.
With his backup hooker Bismarck Du Plessis ruled out for the Springboks clash against the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday rhe position is likely to be filled by Schalk Brits.
All Black Thorn banned for one week
The New Zealand All Blacks lock Brad Thorn has been banned for a week after a moment of madness against South Africa. Thorn, six minutes into the game lifted Springboks captain John Smit after the whistle had sounded and sent Smit in a spear tackle motion towards the turf. Smit was luckily not injured but the Springboks rushed in to defend their captain and a near all in brawl broke out between the teams.
Thorn was lucky to stay on the paddock after his actions and was dealt with appropriately by the SANZAR judiciary. The All Blacks went on to beat South Africa 19-8.
Springboks Tri-Nations Squad
The South African Springboks have announced their team for the away leg of the Tri-Nations Rugby series against New Zealand and Australia.
The only major addition to the squad from the recent home tests against Wales and Italy was JP Pietersen who took no part in the tests. JP Pietersen who had a strong 2007 underperformed for the Sharks in 2008 and has struggled with match fitness this year. The break will have done him good and South Africa will hope to see him return to the form he displayed in 2007.
John Smit will again Captain the Springboks with his commitment in the French Rugby Championship drawing to a close with his role for Clermont in the final this weekend. Bismarck du Plessis who has filled in the hooker role in recent weeks has been a star performer for the Springboks and is likely to receive more game time in the Tri-Nations series. Two ommisions of note were BJ Botha and Danie Rossouw who were part of the Rugby World Cup winning squad. Both were omitted from the travelling party and will have a hard fight ahead of them to reclaim spots for the home leg of the Tri-Nations.
The South African team for the away leg of the Tri-Nations series is;
Backline: Bolla Conradie, Jean de Villiers, Peter Grant, Butch James, Conrad Jantjes, Adrian Jacobs, Enrico Januarie, Bryan Habana, Percy Montgomery, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn.
Forwards: Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, John Smit, Gurthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Joe van Niekerk, Luke Watson.
South Africa 26 Italy 0
South Africa were dominant in a 26-0 win against Italy at home but will be still looking for more improvement leading into the Tri-Nations series. The South African’s dominated around the ground, in the scrum, lineout and breakdown but a spirited effort from the Italians ensured a respectable scoreline. Heavy rainfall fell throughout the match yet the Springboks continued to play an attacking and open game looking to exploit every possible opportunity.
South Africa were on the scoreboard after 6 minutes with a fantastic try to Steyn after Habana broke open the Italian defence from his own quarter before Steyn kicked behind the defence line on his own half and chased to recover the ball and score a fantastic try. Bismarck du Plessis was next to score after after a solid lineout win to Victor Matfield and a dominant rolling maul allowed du Plessis to dive over for a try.
It was 14-0 at halftime and South Africa came out firing after the break with another lineout win to Matfield and on the back of another rolling maul Bismarck du Plessis was able to score his second try. The South Africans continued to dominate and it was the giant prop Beast Mtawarira who scored in the 55th minute after a series of precision passes and great runs from the Springboks. The score looked likely to blow out from here but it was the end of the scoring. The South African’s had their chances but were unable to capitalise in the final stages.
South Africa will be pleased with their performance but will be hitting the training paddock before their first Tri Nations international in two weeks. Nick Mallett can be proud of his Italian side who gave it their all and were far from humbled despite the loss. The young Italian side will be better for the run and can look forward to further improvements under the South African coach Mallett.
South Africa 26
Tries: Francois Steyn, Bismarck du Plessis (2), Beast Mtawarira
Goals: Francois Steyn 3 conversions
Italy 0
South Africa vs Italy Preview
Upset of the week Italy 31 South Africa 10, not likely you say and I would agree. Italy will be up against it this week and the nightmares of the Rugby World Cup 2007 are likely to come to the fore against South Africa. South Africa have far to much firepower for Italy to to be able to hold out against let alone be able to compete in the breakdown or scrum let alone the scoring on the field.
Italy have also been affected by having several key players still playing in the French rugby championship but South Africa are not unaffected either. Where South Africa have depth Italy have little and new Italian coach Nick Mallett will be hoping for a miracle tomorrow in South Africa.
South Africa by 55. The teams are;
South Africa
Conrad Jantjes, Odwa Ndungane, Gcobani Bobo, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Francois Steyn, Ricky Januarie, Ryan Kankowski, Juan Smith, Luke Watson, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Schalk Brits, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Joe van Niekerk, Schalk Burger, Peter Grant, Ruan Pienaar.
Italy
Andrea Marcato, Kaine Robertson, Andrea Masi, Gonzalo Garcia, Matteo Pratichetti, Luke McLean, Simon Picone, Josh Sole, Robert Barbieri, Alessandro Zanni, Carlo del Fava, Santiago Dellape, Carlos Nieto, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Michele Rizzo. Reserves: Fabio Ongaro, Ignacio Rouyet, Jaco Erasmus, Tommaso Reato, Pablo Canavosio, Enrico Patrizio, Riccardo Pavan.