Western Province’s Juan de Jongh and the Sharks’ Pieter-Steph du Toit have been added to the squad as the Springboks start an intense fortnight that could culminate in Castle Lager Rugby Championship glory, but Fourie du Preez is the name added subsequent to the overseas leg that should most concern their opponents.
The world-class scrumhalf did not play in the overseas matches against Argentina, Australia and New Zealand because of Japanese club commitments, but he was in the group of 30announced by the South African Rugby Union on Sunday.
The Boks face the Wallabies in Cape Town on Saturday before concluding their campaign against the All Blacks in Johannesburg the following week.
The chances of the Ellis Park match against the world’s best team being a decider will depend heavily on the Boks being able to win with a four-try bonus point against Australia at Newlands, so it is likely Du Preez will come straight into the starting team.
Ruan Pienaar has played well in patches at scrumhalf but he hasn’t been consistent enough to keep out a player who when at his best is a league above any other No 9 not only in South Africa but also globally.
With the Wallabies uncertain about the form of Will Genia, who himself was rated as the best on the planet not that long ago, Du Preez’s decision-making ability and his quick and pinpoint long pass could provide that extra edge to the Boks that will ensure that they respond to the pressure of having to chase four tries on Saturday.
There is also the possibility that the conditions could be wet, as although the forecast for this week is dry, the Cape has experienced a wet spring so far.
The underfoot conditions at Newlands will certainly be a lot heavier than they would be on the Highveld, which is where the Boks have scored all their bigger victories against Australia in the post-isolation era.
Indeed, you have to go back to 1953 for when the South Africans last scored four tries in a match against Australia in Cape Town.
It is the reason why Bok coach Heyneke Meyer may be less delighted about the venue for this game as he is for the following week, with the All Blacks viewing Ellis Park as one of their least profitable venues.
The Boks haven’t lost to Australia at Newlands for 50 years, dating back to the 1963 series which was drawn 2-all, but it will be the try-scoring record there that will most concern Meyer, and may be the reason he will take a greater interest than usual this week in the long-term weather forecast.
What Romain Poite’s Auckland master-class in how not to referee a top-level test match has done, is make a four-try bonus-point win for the Boks a non-negotiable.
The five log points to none picked up by Kieran Read’s team left the Boks with a four-point deficit to make up on New Zealand, who will be expected to pick up a full house of five against Argentina in the later match this coming Saturday.(DONT COUNT YOUR CHICKENS BEFORE THEY HATCH KIWIS)
Going to Johannesburg needing to pick up five log points while preventing the All Blacks from picking up any bonus points would leave the Boks facing a daunting task, and while Jake White’s team did it in Johannesburg in 2004, when they won 42-26, it will be tough to start the game with such an emphatic victory being the objective.
So the Boks have to win big this week. They have scored some big wins over the Wallabies in the post-isolation era, but those that have seen them bank the try-scoring bonus point have all come on the Highveld – 1997 at Loftus when the South Africans won 61-22 in Carel du Plessis’ last game in charge, 2002 when the Boks scraped home in a high-scoring thriller at Ellis Park in the Rudolf Straeuli era, 2008 when Peter de Villiers’ men won 53-8, and of course last year when Meyer’s side won convincingly in Pretoria.
Of course, Meyer and his men are now getting used to confounding and changing the history books.
The Wallabies come to Cape Town still chastened by the big defeat they suffered at the hands of the South Africans in Brisbane two weeks ago.
The Boks scored four tries in their historic first win in Brisbane since 1971, so what’s stopping them doing it at Newlands?
Well a heavy track could be a significant obstacle, which is another reason that Du Preez must surely be considered a certainty for Saturday – his little cameo towards the end of the rout against Argentina at the FNB Stadium a few weeks ago showcased his passing and decision-making, but his field kicking may well be his strongest suit.
With the Bok pack surely favoured to again dominate the Wallabies, Du Preez’s masterful tactical kicking will be relied upon to ensure that the visitors are put under the same sort of early territorial pressure they were in Brisbane.
The suffocation technique, which saps all the fight out of the opponents and then allows the Boks to run riot once they are on top, worked a charm in Brisbane and in the home match against Argentina and Du Preez could be the catalyst for it to become even more effective now.
Well lets hope this article settles ou maaikie's PMT!
Cant think its an automatic 5 pointer for wee abs in Argentina. I am backing the Pumas to come out smoking.
