THIS WEEKEND 23 AUGUST
Whilst the Northern
Hemisphere enjoys a warm summer all the action, or lack of it, is way down south.
The only test match on the books this weekend is the visiting Australians
against South Africa.
The South Africans are but a shadow of the World Cup team that swept all before
it. Their new coach is coming under fire over his tactics. The Australians have
slipped fairly quietly into Durban
to begin a double header against a team struggling to keep alive the Rugby
World Cup glory.
23.08.2008
Australia
27, South Africa 15 in Durban (Tri Nations,
Mandela Cup)
Australia won by 12
points. I predicted Australia
by 5.
Reviews
Australia’s convincing win has ended any hopes South Africa
had of winning the Tri Nations tournament for 2008. Sadly the Springbox are not the same side that won the 2007 Rugby
World Cup.
Previews
Australia has not won in South
Africa since winning 19-18 in Durban
August 2000, losing the last nine tests in South Africa between these two
nations since then.
Australia v South Africa
in South Africa
– Historical Notes
- Australia and South Africa
have met on five previous occasions in Durban. Australia
won in 1933 (21-6) and in 2000 (19-18), while South Africa claimed the
honours in 1953 (18-8), 1969 (16-9) and 2004 (23-19).
- Skipper Stirling Mortlock
is the only member of the playing staff that survives from Australia’s
win in 2000 – which is its most recent on South African soil.
Assistant-coaches Jim Williams and Michael Foley also played in that game.
- In South Africa,
the two countries have played 34 matches, with South
Africa winning 27 games to Australia’s seven.
- Overall, the two countries have met on 66
occasions, with South Africa
winning 40, Australia
25, as well as the one draw.
- Prior to South
Africa’s readmission to international sport in 1992,
Australia
had won just seven of the 31 matches played.
- The scoreboard stands 18 wins to 16 in Australia’s
favour, along with the draw, in the time since then.
Thanks to http://www.sarugby.net/default.asp?id=266668&des=article
Related articles
http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_4029430,00.html
http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3555_4024568,00.html
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/wallabies_2008/match_preview_-_wallabies_v_boks_in_durban,106034.html/section/21893
Last Five Encounters
19.07.2008 Australia 16-9 in Perth (Tri Nations; Mandela Cup)
07.07.2007 Australia 25-17 in Sydney (Tri
Nations; Mandela Cup)
16.06.2007 South Africa 22-19 in Capetown (Tri Nations; Mandela Cup)
09.09.2006 South Africa 24-16 in Johanesburg (Tri Nations; Mandela Cup)
05.08.2006 Australia 20-18 in Sydney (Tri
Nations; Mandela Cup)
Last Five Encounters in Durban
21.08.2004 South Africa 23-19 (Tri Nations)
26.08.2000 Australia 19-18 (Tri Nations)
16.08.1969 South Africa 16-9 (2nd
test)
19.09.1953 South Africa 18-8 (3td test)
22.07.1933 Australia 21-6 (2nd
test)
GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Australia 2nd, South Africa 3rd
Teams
South
Africa
15 Conrad Jantjes
14 JP Pietersen
13 Adrian
Jacobs
12 Jean de
Villiers
11 Jongi Nokwe
10 Butch
James
9 Fourie du Preez
8 Pierre Spies
7 Juan
Smith
6 Schalk Burger
5 Victor Matfield (Capt.)
4 Andries Bekker
3 CJ van der Linde
2 Bismarck
du Plessis
1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements
16 Adriaan Strauss
17 Brian Mujati
18 Joe van Niekerk
19 Luke
Watson
20 Enrico Januarie
21 Francois
Steyn
22 Percy
Montgomery
Head Coach:
Peter de Villiers
Australia:
15 Drew
Mitchell
14 Peter
Hynes
13 Stirling Mortlock
(Capt.)
12 Berrick Barnes
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Matthew Giteau
9 Samuel Cordingley
8 Wycliff Palu
7 George
Smith
6 Rocky Elsom
5 Daniel Vickerman
4 James Horwill
3 Matthew
Dunning
2 Stephen
Moore
1 Benn
Robinson
Replacements
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Alistair
Baxter
18 Hugh McMeniman
19 Phillip
Waugh
20 Brett
Sheehan
21 Timana Tahu
22 Ryan
Cross
Head Coach:
Robbie Deans