AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA: Rugby Championship; Mandela Cup

28.09.2013

Venue: Newlands, Capetown

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Preview
A lot of media talk this week has been about Jake White and James O’Connor. Not a lot has been said about this important rugby test. Australia must win ease away from the bottom of the table whilst South Africa eyes it’s big clash with New Zealand next weekend.

It’s difficult to see Australia bouncing back from their loss to South Africa in Brisbane. In that rugby testy match South Africa dominated up front with Australia unable to win enough ball to compete. The same could well happen here in Capetown.

A one-point win over Argentina at home is all the Aussie’s have in this competition. Team spirit has been affected by the James O’Connor saga. The return of skipper James Horwell will be a much needed boost. It will be interesting to see how the Brumbies’ mid-field lineup will fare.

South Africa will have to focus hard on this game. With some attention on New Zealand next weekend the South Africa’s will have to keep their game plan and speed up to scratch. A loss on concentration by South Africa could just be what the Aussie’s are looking for.

Last Five Encounters
07.09.2013 South Africa 38-12 in Brisbane (Mandela Cup; Rugby Champ.)29.09.2012 South Africa 31-8 in Pretoria (Mandela Cup, Rugby Champ.)08.09.2012 Australia 26-19 in Perth (Rugby Championship)
09.10.2011 Australia 11-9 in Wellington (World Cup, Quarter-final)
13.08.2011 Australia 14-9 in Durban (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)

South Africa Last Five P 5, W 4, L 1
14.09.2013 v New Zealand L 15-29 in Auckland (Rugby Championship)07.09.2013 v Australia W 38-12 in Brisabne (Rugby Champ., Mandela Cup)24.08.2013 v Argentina W 22-17 in Mendoza (Rugby Championship)
17.08.2013 v Argentina W 73-13 in Bloemfontein (Rugby Championship)22.06.2013 v Samoa W 56-23 in Pretoria (Quadrangular Tournament)

Australia Last Five P 5, W 1, L 4
14.09.2013 v Argentina W 14-13 in Perth (Rugby Championship)
07.09.2013 v South Africa L 12-38 in Brisbane (Rugby Championship)24.08.2013 v New Zealand L 16-27 in Wellington (Rugby Champ.Bled. Cup)
17.08.2013 v New Zealand L 29-47 in Sydney (Rugby Champ. Bled. Cup)06.07.2013 v British and Irish Lions L 16-41 in Sydney

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: South Africa 6th, Australia 11th

IRB Ranking Points
South Africa 88.94, Australia 83.67

Prediction: South Africa by 19 points

TEAMS

South Africa

15		Zane Kirchner	Leinster, Ireland
14		Willie le Roux	Griqualand West
13		JJ Engelbrecht	Blue Bulls
12		Jean de Villiers (capt.)	Western Province
11		Bryan Habana	RC Toulonnais, France
10		Morne Steyn	Blue Bulls
9		Fourie du Preez	Suntory, Japan
8		Duane Vermeulen	Western Province
7		Willem Alberts	Natal Sharks
6		Francoise Louw	Bath, England
5		Flip van der Merwe	Blue Bulls
4		Eben Etzebeth	Western Province
3		Jannie du Plessis	Natal Sharks
2		Adriaan Strauss	Free State Cheetahs
1		Tendai Mtawarira	Natal Sharks
16		Bismarck du Plessis	Natal Sharks
17		Gurthrö Steenkamp	Stade Toulousain, France
18		Coenie Oosthuizen	Free State Cheetahs
19		Juandré Kruger	Racing Metro 92, France
20		Siya Kolisi	Western Province
21		Ruan Pienaar	Ulster, Ireland
22		Patrick Lambie	Natal Sharks
23		Jan Serfontein	Blue Bulls
		HEAD COACH: Heyneke Meyer

Australia

15		Israel Folau	NSW Waratahs
14		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
13		Tevita Kuridrani	ACT Brumbies
12		Christian Leali’ifano	ACT Brumbies
11		Joseph Tomane	ACT Brumbies
10		Quade Cooper	Queensland Reds
9		Nicholas White	ACT Brumbies
8		Benjamin Mowen	ACT Brumbies
7		Michael Hooper	NSW Waratahs
6		Scott Fardy	ACT Brumbies
5		James Horwell (Capt.)	Queensland Reds
4		Robert Simmons	Queensland Reds
3		Benjamin Alexander	ACT Brumbies
2		Stephan Moore	ACT Brumbies
1		James Slipper	Queensland Reds
16		Saia Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
17		Benn Robinson	NSW Waratahs
18		Sekope Kepu	NSW Waratahs
19		Sitaleki Timani	NSW Waratahs
20		Benjamin McCalman	WA Western Force
21		William Genia	Queensland Reds
22		Matthew Toomua	ACT Brumbies
23		Christopher Feauai-Sautia	Queensland Reds
		HEAD COACH: Ewan MacKenzie

If he comes off the bench Feauai-Sautia will make his test debut.