Midfield mismatches . . .

I think we're going to see a very interesting midfield battle between the two centre pairings when the Springboks take on the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Both teams have an experienced stalwart nearing the end of a great career as one half of the centre partnership and both teams have a young gun at the start of a potentially great career as the other half.

Both teams have elected to play the less experienced young gun in his less favoured position while leaving the more experienced player is his preferred position . . . which seems a bit strange to me given the difference in experience on both sides.

Both teams are expected to mix things up a bit during the match with Jean de Villiers and Jan Serfontein trading places every now and then and Malakai Fekitoa and Conrad Smith doing the same, so there's every chance we'll see the two young guns in a head to head situation a few times during the test match.

As I said in a previous post, I have nothing but respect for Jean de Villiers and he's been a truly great Springbok for a long time, but I'm not sure he still has the ability or the speed to cope with a livewire threat like Malakai Fekitoa and I'd be much happier with Serfontein defending against Fekitoa . . . but having said that, I'm quite sure both De Villiers and Serfontein will get opportunities to test Fekitoa's defence which is not exactly proven at this level.

Either way it looks like a fascinating contest. Let's hope the Springboks persevere with their ball-in-hand tactics because if they do, the battle of the centres alone will be worth the admission.

Go Bokke!
 

Will be very interesting to see, obviously I've spoken about my great admiration of Serfontein, he'll go on to have a huge career for the boks. 
And just how good is Fekitoa? Excellent player.

 Dave, IMHO De Allende is a better 12 than Serf,  but that is yet to be proven at test level. Serf has done better at 13 than De Allende though, but then agaim, he has more xp than DdA and DdA just came off an injury.

 PS, good summary Rooi and yes, Go BOKKKKEEE!!!

Nonsense Draad, de Allende is a finisher not a creator and should therefore play 13. Serf is a creator and should therefore play 12......no debating that  

Ditto what Dave said.

Steppie is a creator, the best young 12 in the game.. ...that is delusional.

 He is by far the best young 12 in the game.....its not eve n close

 Jan is definitely quality, and he's only going to get better with age. i would just love to see the Jan/De Allende centre combo with a half back combo of Du Preez/Pollard. (I still think Du Preez is our best 9, although Houghaard and Reinach are very good. Huge fan of Faf too.)

Spot on APD except Hougaard and Reinach are better than old man du Preez who plays the kicking game well if that is what you after x

I do think Hougaard and Reinach are quality, and it's always nice to have a scrummie with a good running game, I just like FDP's distribution game. My worry is that no matter who we have at 9, they will be instructed to kick from Meyer. btw Saffex, who do you want as the new sharks coach?

 I'd like to see someone like mallet back coaching