The following frpom News24:-
"The fullbacks, the flyhalves, the open-side flankers and a front-row collision ... these could be critical battles in the quest for overall supremacy when two currently slightly fragile foes, South Africa and Australia, meet in the Castle Rugby Championship on Saturday.
The Perth kick-off is at 12:05 (SA time).
Here is my choice for a potentially very appetising quartet of head-to-heads ...
Israel Folau v Willie le Roux
Finally ... it’s here! Two of the most crowd-pleasing fullbacks in the world game a little belatedly start against each other at Test level. They did lock horns twice in last year’s Championship, of course, but Le Roux was stationed at right wing in both Brisbane and Cape Town - much-maligned Zane Kirchner wore No 15 each time - and registered a try in each Bok victory. He has since blossomed increasingly in the last line of defence, adding pretty consistent defensively solidity and positional sense to his X-factor qualities on attack. Expect the Wallabies to want the explosive, strong-striding Folau bursting through the midfield a fair bit, testing a new-look Bok centre pairing with Jan Serfontein rather out of position in the outside channel. As for Le Roux, look for those trademark little dinks and unorthodox off-loads if the game opens up.
Bernard Foley v Morne Steyn
Halfback is the area of wholesale change by the Aussies after their Auckland mauling from the All Blacks, with Foley now installed at flyhalf and Nick Phipps at No 9. The Boks stay a little more settled with Ruan Pienaar retaining his scrumhalf slot, although the seasoned, less-than-mercurial Steyn is tasked with bringing some “direction” (or read: conservatism, perhaps?) at ten after being deputy to raw Handre Pollard against the Pumas. We know Foley was an assertive factor in the Waratahs’ Super Rugby title-winning campaign this year; Steyn’s big thrust here must surely be to show that he isn’t simply a knee-jerk pick who may impede the new, more up-tempo and vibrant Bok approach to things (until they were uncomfortably forced onto the back foot too often by the Argentineans). Still, one doesn’t want to knock the former Blue Bulls star too much: if the game is played in the predicted damp and windy conditions, he could be a trump-card, especially with the accuracy of his place-kicking game.
Michael Hooper v Francois Louw
Even in the Eden Park walloping, Wallaby open-side flank dynamo Hooper was one of few visiting players who refused to be cowed: he gave ace All Black poacher Richie McCaw another tough contest at the breakdown to only confirm his own class. Hooper also proved his praiseworthy stamina by staying the pace despite the bombardment, and got a try in the brief, late Aussie fightback. It’s another humungous pilfering match-up here as the lean but ever-gutsy customer takes on established Bok “Flo” Louw. The South African is crucially aided in this area by the selection of Marcell Coetzee, so used to No 6 duty for the Sharks this season, at blindside for this fixture.
Sekope Kepu v Tendai Mtawarira
I’ve chosen this particular contest, between meaty Wallaby tighthead Kepu and Bok loosehead favourite Mtawarira, because from a South African point of view I fancy the “Beast” is likeliest front-ranker to produce a genuinely decisive performance at scrum-time. When there’s a bee in his bonnet, the Sharks man can be unstoppable and he is probably due a Vickery-type demolition job on an unsuspecting opponent, isn’t he? Waratahs anchor Kepu will be well aware that his direct rival is probably smarting after being overlooked for Gurthro Steenkamp (who then under-delivered lamentably) at starting loosehead in Argentina, and on a statement-making mission. The Boks are seeking scrummaging redemption after the embarrassment at Salta ... Mtawarira must lead it! "
DISCUSSION
Israel Folau v Willie le Roux
Folau is going to look much better than Le Roux - he wiil get to field plenty of aimless kicks by Morne Steyn and Ruan Pienaar and will get ample opportunities to run at the Springboks, Morne and Pienaar are going to cause major problems for the Springbok defense - Folau to win this one by a disatnce.
Bernard Foley v Morne Steyn
This one-on-one is a joke, We have a top flyhalf (Foley) in competition with a robotic and often-failed flryhalf Morne Steyn - a player to weak to make the starting line-up of his club. No competition here - Foley by by the proverbial mile.
Michael Hooper v Francois Louw
Not much to choose from under normal circumstances - but Hooper is quicker and deadly at breakdowns A very good ball handler as well. He will have an advantage over the stronger and slower Louw - especially since the Springbok Tight 5 will struggle to deliver the goods and Louw will have to play a much toighter game than what is expected from an opensider.
Sekope Kepu v Tendai Mtawarira
Mtawarire shou;ld do the trick - but the problem remains with two other members of the Tight 5 - Jannie du Plessis and Victor Matifled. The latter two is going to weaken the Tight 5 and that makes the tight forward play problematic for SA.
