NEW ZEALAND v SOUTH AFRICA: Rugby Championship

14.09.2013

Venue: Eden Park, Auckland

Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Preview
This is the big one! It doesn’t get much bigger that two super giants of world rugby slugging it out. It is the Brazil v Germany of world soccer; it’s an AFL final for two Melbourne teams; it’s the Muhammad Ali v Joe Fraser clash.

All New Zealand and South African supporters will be cancelling EVERYTHING to watch this game. Eden Park is a sell-out and millions will be watching on TV.

Both teams arrive at the park undefeated so far this year. Both have been impressive leading up to this game. New Zealand has continued to set the highest of standard at this level of rugby whilst South Africa has managed to shed a lot of the baggage around the dimensions that this side plays its rugby.

During the week I wrote ‘The big game of the year so far will be South Africa against New Zealand at Eden Park. Both are undefeated in this competition and in all games so far this season. The number one and number two teams in the world lock horns. It’ll be a cracker! New Zealand will face their biggest challenge since the 2011 Rugby World Cup final and will be without Richie McCaw injured. South Africa’s team is unchanged from last weekend.’

New Zealand has an amazing record at Eden Park which will under threat tonight. They have not lost a rugby test match here since 1994. South Africa overcame to hoodoo of Brisbane last weekend. It will be a phenomenal occasion if they can break another hoodoo tonight.

New Zealand is not the same team without McCaw. He has been in blinding form since his return to the test scene. New Zealand has to be a better team without him if they are to defeat South Africa tonight. I believe they can-just!

Last Five Encounters
06.10.2012 New Zealand 32-16 in Johannesburg (Rugby Championship)
15.09.2012 New Zealand 21-11 in Dunedin (Rugby Championship)
20.08.2011 South Africa 18-5 in Port Elizabeth (Tri-Nations)
30.07.2011 New Zealand 40-7 in Wellington (Tri-Nations)
21.08.2010 New Zealand 29-22 in Johannesburg (Tri-Nations)

New Zealand Last Five P 5, W 5
07.09.2013 v Argentina W 28-13 in Hamilton (Rugby Championship)
24.08.2013 v Australia W 27-16 in Wellington
17.08.2013 v Australia W 47-29 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Champ.)
22.06.2013 v France W 24-9 in New Plymouth
15.06.2013 v France W 30-0 in Christchurch

South Africa Last Five P 5, W 5
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)
15.06.2013 v Scotland W 30-17 in Nelspruit (Quadrangular Tournament)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: New Zealand 4th, South Africa 6th

IRB Ranking Points
New Zealand 91.64, South Africa 88.94

Prediction: This could go either way it will be that close. In the end New Zealand will just edge South Africa by 2 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		Ruan Pienaar	Ulster, Ireland
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		Bismarck du Plessis	Natal Sharks
1		Tendai Mtawarira	Natal Sharks
16		Adriaan Strauss	Free State Cheetahs
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		Jano Vermaak	Blue Bulls
22		Patrick Lambie	Natal Sharks
23		Jan Serfontein	Blue Bulls
		HEAD COACH: Heyneke Meyer

New Zealand

15		Israel Dagg	Hawkes Bay
14		Benjamin Smith	Otago
13		Conrad Smith	Wellington
12		Ma'a Nonu	Auckland
11		Julian Savea	Wellington
10		Daniel Carter	Canterbury
9		Aaron Smith	Manawatu
8		Kieran Read (Capt.)	Canterbury
7		Samuel Cane	Bay of Plenty
6		Liam Messam	Waikato
5		Samuel Whitelock	Canterbury
4		Brodie Retallick	Bay of Plenty
3		Owen Franks	Canterbury
2		Daniel Coles	Wellington
1		Tony Woodcock	North Harbour
16		Keven Mealamu	Auckland
17		Wayne Crockett	Canterbury
18		Charlie Faumuina	Auckland
19		Steven Luatua	Auckland
20		Matthew Todd	Canterbury
21		Tawera Kerr-Barlow	Waikato
22		Beauden Barrett	Taranaki
23		Charles Piutau	Auckland
		HEAD COACH: Steven Hansen

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