RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP TEST RUGBY: Boks v Wallabies

29.09.2012
Australia v South Africa in Pretoria (Rugby Championship, Mandela Cup)

Venue: Loftus Versfeld

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

Preview
This test match will be an interesting one. Both sides appear to be striving to play an open, expansive game with some interesting selections.

Australia has won the last five test matches against South Africa but will be up against History on Saturday. They have never won a test match in Pretoria.

Kurtley Beale comes into the pivot position for Australia. Beale has had confidence problems this season and has not been at his best. Although seen as a gamble from Robbie Deans it could well open up the game and create more opportunities for the Australian backline.

Australia has gone for a five-two forwards-back mix on the bench so will be expecting a rough time from the Springbox up front.

Springbox coach has been listening to critics and has dumped Mornie Steyn. This class player will be back but at present his game is not right. His replacement is young Johaan Goosen, a very exciting player. A concern is the injury to Frans Steyn. His replacement is one of two new caps in the side, Jaco Taute.

South Africa will be looking to dominate the Australians up front and create the platform for their backs to excel, something that has been lacking so far this season.

Last Five Encounters
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)
23.07.2011 Australia 39-20 in Sydney (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)
04.09.2010 Australia 41-39 in Bloemfontein (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)

South Africa Last Five P 5, W 1, D 2, L 2
15.09.2012 v New Zealand L 11-21 in Dunedin (Rugby Championship)08.09.2012 v Australia L 19-26 in Perth (Rugby Championship)
25.08.2012 v Argentina D 16-16 in Mendoza (Rugby Championship)
18.08.2012 v Argentina W 27-6 in Capetown (Rugby Championship)
23.06.2012 v England D 14-14 in Port Elizabeth

Australia Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
15.09.2012 v Argentina W 23-19 in Gold Coast (Rugby Championship)08.09.2012 v South Africa W 26-19 in Perth (Mandela Cup, Rugby Ch.)
25.08.2012 v New Zealand L 0-22 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Ch.)
18.08.2012 v New Zealand L 19-27 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Ch.)23.06.2012 v Wales W 20-19 in Sydney

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Australia 3rd, South Africa 4th

IRB Ranking Points
Australia 86.62, South Africa 84.20

Prediction: South Africa by 7 points

TEAMS

South Africa

15		Zane Kirchner	Blue Bulls
14		Bryan Habana	Western Province Stormers
13		Jaco Taute *	Golden Lions
12		Jean de Villiers (capt.)	Western Province Stormers
11		Francois Hougaard	Blue Bulls
10		Johaan Goosen	Free State Cheetahs
9		Ruan Pienaar	Ulster, Ireland
8		Duane Vermeulen	Western Province Stormers
7		Willem Alberts	Natal Sharks
6		Francoise Louw	Bath, England
5		Andries Bekker	Western Province Stormers
4		Eben Etzebeth	Western Province Stormers
3		Jannie du Plessis	Natal Sharks
2		Adriaan Strauss	Freee State Cheetahs
1		Tendai Mtawarira	Natal Sharks
16		Tiaan Liebenburg	Western Province Stormers
17		Patrick Cilliers	Golden Lions
18		Flip van der Merwe	Blue Bulls
19		Marcell Coetzee	Natal Sharks
20		Elton Jantjies *	Golden Lions
21		Juan de Jong	Western Province Stormers
22		Patrick Lambie	Natal Sharks
		HEAD COACH: Heyneke Meyer

* Test debut

Australia

15		Berrick Barnes	NSW Waratahs
14		Dominic Shipperley	Queensland Reds
13		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
12		Patrick McCabe	ACT Brumbies
11		Digby Ioane	Queensland Reds
10		Kurtley Beale	Queensland Reds
9		Nicholas Phipps	Melbourne Rebels
8		Radiki Samo	NSW Waratahs
7		Michael Hooper	ACT Brumbies
6		David Dennis	NSW Waratahs
5		Nathan Sharpe (Capt.)	WA Western Force
4		Kane Douglas	NSW Waratahs
3		Benjamin Alexander	ACT Brumbies
2		Tatafu Polota-Nau	NSW Waratahs
1		Ben Robinson	NSW Waratahs
16		Saia Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
17		James Slipper	Queensland Reds
18		Robert Simmons	Queensland Reds
19		Scott Higginbotham	Queensland Reds
20		Liam Gill	Queensland Reds
21		Brett Sheehan	WA Western Force
22		Anthony Fainga'a	Queensland Reds
		HEAD COACH: Robbie Deans