Predictions.....

Oz x 12

It all depends on Australia. They are good for 4 tries. Unless the game becomes scrappy I can't see us really hurting them. Australia were able to poke holes in New Zealand's defence in both encounters, which doesn't bode well. This Bok team is set up perfectly for the Aussies. It's going to be a very hard 80 minutes. I look through the entire team and the only advantage we have is Eben, Faf and Willie. To compound matters, Rassie is not going to out coach Cheika; he was already outsmarted by Ledesma - not to say Ledesma is an underling, he is actually a very smart man in general.

I'll say Australia by 10 or less. 

Boks loss by skin. I'm hopi ng for a win though.

I am still thinking about the issue.   There are so me balancing issues involved - both positive and negative iro the SA team

*   The Tight 5 of the Springboks will be much better and that may result in the Aussie loosies having to play a much tighter game than they prefer -  Positive

*    Loosies -  The Aussie loosies is much better: than SA - Negative

*    The flyhalf                                                                     - Negative

*    Centers  -                                                                           50:50 

*    Wings                                                                                50:50

I am still swinging from side to side - but my immediate inclination is a win by 6 points for the Springboks.  .

Oz by 7.

Our back three are good, our centres are at best 10:90. Flyhalf is a mixed bag. We want to have Elton attack, what have we got around him? A running 10 is as powerful as the options around him. Whenever New Zealand put the ball in a player's hands, he has at least one option to work with. That's what opens the game up. We have two cul-de-sacs outside Elton. Who do we play off Willie? We'll be going to our forwards to get anything going and after a period of running to no avail, kicking. 

Well first things first, Mike.

The breakdown is key and Rassie hasn't got the right personnel in place to contest it properly.

We have a light weight 6 & 7 and Mostert isn't going to produce the required grunt at lock. Besides that, he has a new hooker putting the ball in at setpiece.

AND THEN ... we have Jantjies who could easily crack after the first 10 minutes and force Rassie to bring the out of form Pollard on who can't seem to hit a barn door with his boot these days.

We also have Folau competing against Mapimpi for the highball, and a mid field who have to up their game if they want to keep the Ozzies dangerous backline out. 

Is Rassie banking on his bench saving the day? Sure looks like it.