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Match Preview - Qantas Wallabies v Springboks in Durban
August 21, 2008 - 4:24pm
Story by: ARU
Last Saturday at Newlands in Cape Town the world champion Springboks experienced a very black day.
The All Blacks took revenge for their unexpected loss in Dunedin last month with a crushing 19 - 0, 3 tries to zero, victory. It was the first time in over 100 years of Rugby between the two nations that the Springboks had failed to score a point against New Zealand at home.
Danie Craven, the late godfather of South African Rugby, would not be pleased.
After the game the Springbok coach Peter de Villiers turned to the bible for inspiration saying: “If you look at the Bible, Joseph started out in the pit and ended up in the palace.”
Where exactly the Springboks will rate on the “Joseph pit to palace” graph this weekend is anyone’s guess.
It was all set up for them last Saturday. Percy Montgomery’s 100th Test, the first Springbok ever to achieve that significant mark, Juan Smith’s 50th Test, a packed Newlands, the Tri-Nations title in their sights – and the Boks fell well short. Due mainly to their troubles at the breakdown.
Whether home or away, what has become clear in this Tri-Nations is whoever wins the contest at the breakdown, wins the Test.
The Wallabies in Sydney and Perth, the Springboks in Dunedin, the All Blacks in Auckland and now Cape Town.
Whoever comes up trumps at the collision point seems to finish ahead on the scoreboard.
more of the article here... rugby.com.au | Match Preview - Qantas Wallabies v Springboks in Durban
The Wallabies taking on the Springboks in Durban will be telecast live on Foxsports 1 from 10.30pm this Saturday, August 23. Kick off is at at 11pm (AEST).
Qantas Wallabies : TBA
The Wallabies team will be announced at 9pm on Thursday evening AEST time.
South Africa:15 Conrad Jantjes (Stormers), 14 JP Pietersen (Sharks), 13 Adrian Jacobs (Sharks), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 11 Jongi Nokwe (Cheetahs), 10 Butch James (Bath, UK), 9 Fourie du Preez (Bulls), 8 Pierre Spies (Bulls), 7 Juan Smith (Cheetahs), 6 Schalk Burger (Stormers), 5 Victor Matfield (Bulls) (c), 4 Andries Bekker (Stormers), 3 CJ van der Linde (Cheetahs), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), 1 Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks).
Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 17 Brian Mujati (Stormers), 18 Joe van Niekerk (Lions), 19 Luke Watson (Stormers), 20 Enrico Januarie (Stormers), 21 Francois Steyn (Sharks), 22 Percy Montgomery (Perpignan, France).
Date: Saturday 23 August, 2008
Kick-off: 15:05 (23:05 AEST)
Venue: ABSA Stadium, Durban
Referee: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Romain Poite (France)
TMO: Rob Debney (England)