AUSTRALIA JUST EDGE OUT SOUTH AFRICA RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP; Saturday 6 September

06.09.2014
Australia 24, South Africa 23 in Perth (Mandela Cup; Rugby Championship)

Reviews
Australia scored a very late converted try to just edge out the touring South African side in Perth. Australia has now won their last two encounters against RSA in Perth.

That man Israel Folau played magic and scored an early try but the first half was an arm-wrestle and a kick-fest as both sides tested each other out. South Africa were expected to dominate up front but in a very physical first half honours were about even. Australia infringed more frequently and Morne Steyn punished them through the posts. South Africa led 14-11 at half time.

South Africa began to gain more control in the second half with the signs ominous for Australia. Then the matched turned at the 64th minute. Playing in his 100th test Bryan Habana was yellow-carded for a high tackle. Down 17-23 Australia sniffed an opportunity as the momentum shifted and they moved up a gear. A late try to Rob Horne after some silky work from Folau and others was the result of some relentless pressure from Australia. Foley still had to kick the conversion which he did the match finally ending with an Australian win.

Australia’s win puts them back on track. They face Argentina at home but South Africa now travels to New Zealand to face the All Blacks in Wellington.

Horne’s late try sealed the game.
Image thanks to www.theguardian.com

SOUTH AFRICA v AUSTRALIA: Rugby Championship and Mandela Cup

06.09.2014

Venue: Patersons Stadium, Perth

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Preview
Australia, whose scrum was demolished by the All Blacks two weeks ago, can expect another tough day up front when they face South Africa in Perth. Outclassed up front by Argentina two weeks ago (virtually a hanging offense in the republic) South Africa will be out to prove the pundits wrong about their ‘weak’ front five.

The South Africa scrum. No excuses accepted this Saturday.
Image thanks to kerikerirugby.com

Australia is not without their problems. Hooker has been a headache position for coach McKenzie as he is down to hooker number 4 to start because of injuries. In addition to a scrum that can be very wobbly the coach has revamped his backline with proven Super Rugby combinations.

Of the two Rugby Championship games this Saturday this could well be the closest. There is certainly a lot more at stake. If Australia lose that could well be the end of any Rugby Championship victory in 2014. South Africa will need to win well as they are two bonus points behind competition hot favourites New Zealand.

Last Five Encounters
28.09.2013 South Africa 28-8 in Capetown (Rugby Champ., Mandela Cup)
07.09.2013 South Africa 38-12 in Brisbane (Rugby Champ., Mandela Cup)
29.09.2012 South Africa 31-8 in Pretoria (Rugby Champ., Mandela Cup)
08.09.2012 Australia 26-19 in Perth (Rugby Champ., Mandela Cup)
09.10.2011 Australia 11-9 in Wellington (World Cup, Quarter-Final)

South Africa has dominated Australia in their last three outings. However Australia won the last time these two teams clashed in Perth and who can forget the shock of Australia eliminating the Springbok at the 2011 Rugby World Cup?

South Africa Last Five P 5, W 5
23.08.2014 v Argentina W 33-31 in Salta (Rugby Championship)
16.08.2014 v Argentina W 13-6 in Pretoria (Rugby Championship)
28.06.2014 v Scotland W 55-6 in Port Elizabeth
21.06.2014 v Wales W 31-30 in Nelspruit
14.06.2014 v Wales W 38-16 in Durban 

Australia Last Five P 5, W 3, D 1, L 1
23.08.2014 v New Zealand L 20-51 in Sydney (Rugby Champ., Bledisloe Cup)16.08.2014 v New Zealand D 12-12 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Champ.)
21.06.2014 v France W 39-13 in Sydney
14.06.2014 v France W 6-0 in Melbourne
07.06.2014 v France W 50-23 in Brisbane

Stats www.rugbyinternational.net

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Australia 2nd, South Africa 3rd

IRB Ranking Points
South Africa 89.34, Australia 87.19

All rankings here at www.rugbyinternational.net

Prediction: South Africa by 5 points

Teams

Australia
15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matthew Toomua, 11 Robert Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nicholas Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper (Capt.), 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Robert Simmons, 4 Samuel Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 James Hanson, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements
16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill,
20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Matthew Hodgson, 22 Nicholas White, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Head Coach: Ewan McKenzie

South Africa
15 Wilhelm le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (Capt.), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements
16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Patrick Lambie,
23 Damian de Allende.
Head Coach: Heyneke Meyer

TEST RUGBY RESULTS: Saturday 28 September

28.09.2013
South Africa 28, Australia 8 in Capetown (Rugby Championship; Mandela Cup)
New Zealand 33, Argentina 15 in La Plata (Rugby Championship)
Finland 35, Greece 20 in Turku (ENC 2D)
Estonia 24,Finland ‘A’ 17 in Turku (Friendly)

Briefly
For South Africa to win the 2013 Rugby Championship they need to defeat New Zealand in Johannesburg next Saturday and score a bonus point. New Zealand need a win or a draw.

New Zealand’s bonus point win over Argentina has placed them in a good position to retain the Rugby Championship. Australia’s loss to South Africa will mean they face Argentina in Rosario next weekend to avoid the competition ‘Wooden Spoon’.

Finland dragged itself off the bottom of ENC 2D with a bonus point win over the visiting Greek side in Turku up the road from Helsinki.

Estonia announced it is ready for their entry into the ENC competition defeating Finland ‘A’ also in Turku.

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.