SOUTH AFRICA v AUSTRALIA: Rugby Championship, Mandela Cup

07.09.2013

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Preview
Neither Australia nor South Africa would have been impressed with their last outings. Both teams will need to lift their game if they are to catch hot favourites New Zealand in this competition.

South Africa managed to squeak past Argentina away in Mendoza two weeks ago. After crushing Argentina at home 73-13 that close game was a wake up call. They remain undefeated so far but they have Australia and then New Zealand to overcome.

Australia’s performance against New Zealand in Wellington two weeks ago was an improvement on their first match drubbing but they will also need to lift their game. Their plans have met a wall with the withdrawl of captain James Horwill with injury. Wil Genia will captain Australia tonight in his place.

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

Australia Last Five P 5, W 1, L 4
24.08.2013 v New Zealand L 16-27 in Wellington (Rugby Champ.Bledisloe Cup)
17.08.2013 v New Zealand L 29-47 in Sydney (Rugby Champ. Bledisloe Cup)06.07.2013 v British and Irish Lions L 16-41 in Sydney
29.06.2013 v British and Irish Lions W 16-15 in Melbourne
22.06.2013 v British and Irish Lions L 21-23 in Brisbane

South Africa Last Five P 5, W 5
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)
08.06.2013 v Italy W 44-10 in Durban (Quadrangular Tournament)

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

IRB Ranking Points
South Africa 87.29, New Zealand 85.32

Prediction: South Africa by 11 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

Australia

15		Israel Folau	NSW Waratahs
14		James O’Connor	Melbourne Rebels
13		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
12		Christian Leali’ifano	ACT Brumbies
11		Nicholas Cummings	WA Western Force
10		Quade Cooper	Queensland Reds
9		William Genia	Queensland Reds
8		Benjamin Mowen	ACT Brumbies
7		Michael Hooper	NSW Waratahs
6		Scott Fardy	ACT Brumbies
5		Kane Douglas	NSW Waratahs
4		Robert Simmons	Queensland Reds
3		Sekope Kepu	NSW Waratahs
2		Stephan Moore	ACT Brumbies
1		James Slipper	Queensland Reds
16		Saia Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
17		Scott Sio	ACT Brumbies
18		Benjamin Alexander	ACT Brumbies
19		Benjamin McCalman	WA Western Force
20		Liam Gill	Queensland Reds
21		Nicholas White	ACT Brumbies
22		Matthew Toomua	ACT Brumbies
23		Jesse Mogg	ACT Brumbies
		HEAD COACH: Ewan McKenzie

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