Saturday, June 23, 2012

FINAL RUGBY TEST IN SOUTH AFRICA: England Looking for the Elusive Victory

23.06.2012
England v South Africa in Port Elizabeth

Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Preview
England should consider themselves in the best position to steal an elusive win off South Africa today. South Africa are without two key players, Willem Alberts and Frans Steyn, and England scored 17-11 in the second half last week. Will that give England the edge?

England have their own selection problems. Captain Chris Robshaw and scrum half Ben Youngs have been ruled out. This will put pressure on the England scrum and at the base of rucks and mauls.

South Africa have never really looked in any serious danger against England in this series. If they can lift their game and play top rugby for the full eighty minutes, England could be in big trouble.

Last Five Encounters
16.06.2012 South Africa 36-12 in Johannesburg
09.06.2012 South Africa 22-17 in Durban
27.11.2010 South Africa 21-11 at Twickenham
22.11.2008 South Africa 42-6 at Twickenham
20.10.2007 South Africa 15-6 in Paris (World Cup, Final)

South Africa Last Five
16.06.2012 v England W 36-27 in Johannesburg
09.06.2012 v England W 22-17 in Durban
09.10.2011 v Australia L 9-11 in Wellington (World Cup, Quarter-final)
30.09.2011 v Samoa W 13-5 in Albany (World Cup, Pool D)
22.09.2011 v Namibia W 87-0 in Albany (World Cup, Pool D)

England Last Five
16.06.2012 v South Africa L 27-36 in Johannesburg
09.06.2012 v South Africa L 17-22 in Durban
17.03.2012 v Ireland W 30-9 at Twickenham
11.03.2012 v France W 24-22 in Paris
25.02.2012 v Wales L 12-19 at Twickenham (6 Nations)

GWC Rugby Rankings

World Table-South Africa 4th, England 5th

IRB Ranking Points
South Africa 85.47, England 82.49

Prediction: South Africa by 9 points


Teams

34[1]

SOUTH AFRICA


15   Gio Aplon Western Province Stormers
14   JP Pietersen  Natal Sharks
13   Jean de Villiers (capt.) Western Province Stormers
12   Wynand Olivier  Blue Bulls
11   Bryan Habana Western Province Stormers
10   Morné Steyn  Blue Bulls
9   Francois Hougaard  Blue Bulls
8   Pierre Spies  Blue Bulls
7   Jacques Poitgieter * Blue Bulls
6   Marcell Coetzee  Natal Sharks
5   Juandré Kruger  Blue Bulls
4   Eben Etzebeth  Western Province Stormers
3   Jannie du Plessis  Natal Sharks
2   Bismarck du Plessis  Natal Sharks
1   Tendai Mtawarira  Natal Sharks
       
16   Adriaan Strauss  Cheetahs
17   Werner Kruger Blue Bulls
18   Flip van der Merwe  Blue Bulls
19   Ryan Kankowski Natal Sharks
20   Ruan Pienaar  Ulster, Ireland
21   Elton Jantjies * Golden Lions
22   Bjorn Basson Blue Bulls
       
    HEAD COACH: Heyneke Meyer

* Test debut

2[1]

ENGLAND

15   Alexander Goode Saracens
14   Christopher Ashton Northampton Saints
13   Jonathan Joseph  London Irish
12   Manusamoa Tuilagi Leicester Tigers
11   Benjamin Foden  Northampton Saints
10   Tobais Flood Leicester Tigers
9   Daniel Care Harlequins
8   Thomas Waldron Leicester Tigers
7   James Haskell Otago Highlanders, NZ
6   Thomas Johnson  Exeter Chiefs
5   Geoffrey Parling  Leicester Tigers
4   Thomas Palmer  Stade Francais, France
3   Daniel Cole  Leicester Tigers
2   Dylan Hartley (Capt.) Northampton Saints
1   Joseph Marler  Harlequins
       
16   Lee Mears  Bath Rugby
17   Paul Doran-Jones Northampton Saints
18   Mouritz Botha  Saracens
19   Phillip Dowson  Northampton Saints
20   Lee Dickson  Northampton Saints
21   Owen Farrell Saracens
22   Bradley Barrit Saracens
       
    HEAD COACH: Stuart Lancaster

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