The Challenge Ahead

The Boks have faced the French nineteen times since readmission - 9 home/10 away. Of these we have lost thrice on home soil, but five in France itself. More alarmingly we have not beaten them away from home since the 1997 massacre where the Boks were given a standing ovation after a 10-52 triumph. This is the challenge that presents itself on Saturday, despite the thumpings we've dished out to them in South Africa they remain a threat on home soil.

Du Preez's absence is a tragic blow and will rob the back division of considerable impetus, but also the tactical kicking game. In all departments Pienaar is slow, sluggish even, and the lack of a specialist tighthead could backfire (as the French say; no tighthead, no win). Louw will be needed, and the entire loose-trio need the biggest game of the tour. Nothing but a complete Bok performance will be required.

My prediction: (15) France v South Africa (20)

I can't imagine the French will give the Boks anything but a serious test up front, but I doubt their capacity to strike with any kind of invention against the best defence in the world. I back the Boks recent form and have them to shade a real arm-wrestle.

 Sun-Tzu

Nice thoughts - but thoughts alone will not win the game.   We had a decent scrummie in 1997 and we had a decent flyhalf.   We have none at present - those there has caused us serious grief in the tests against the AB's.   We had a vey good back row combination  then - we have an unbalanced one now with one not being effective at all  -  fat and slow.   In other words we have more than the tight head to worry about - much more.

Are we going to succeed?   I have my doubts.

Sun-Tzu

Forge t about what the drivelling idiot wrote - I can still remember the try scored by Slap Chips in that match in 1997.   Speed those days count - nowadays it does not - as is evidenced by our present slow coach 13.