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World champions South Africa will be seeking back-to-back wins against arch-rivals New Zealand here on Saturday to stake a claim for their third Tri-Nations rugby title.
The Springboks have rarely managed two wins on the trot against the All Blacks, but will go into the Newlands contest as favourites following their 30-28 victory in Dunedin on July 12.
While the Boks have won just one in three games in this year’s competition, they have all three home matches to come, starting with New Zealand this weekend.
Peter de Villiers’ men have five points from their three outings, while New Zealand sit atop the standings with 10 points, but from four games.
Australia are in second spot in the table with nine points from three matches, but they still have to travel to South Africa to play the Boks in back-to-back games on August 23 and 30 in Durban and Johannesburg.
South Africa last captured the Tri-Nations in 2004. They also won it in 1998.
While the Boks will be banking on their home support in the coming three weeks, they will also go into Saturday’s contest with confidence following their 63-9 thrashing of Argentina a week ago.
But they’ll also know New Zealand are a changed side since they last played each other in Dunedin.
Not only is inspirational captain Richie McCaw back after sitting out the earlier Tri-Nations Tests, but the All Blacks are back in the running for the title after their emphatic 39-10 win over Australia in Auckland just under two weeks ago.
So satisfied was New Zealand coach Graham Henry with that performance he has retained the same side for this weekend’s match. The only change comes on the bench where Isaia Toeava gets a chance to play Test rugby for the first time this season.
But the Boks have also been boosted by the return from injury in recent days of flank Schalk Burger and wing Bryan Habana, who both missed the Argentina match.
Also back in the side, and a player rated very highly by Henry, is scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, who will feature in his first Test of the year.
The Boks though will have to do without towering lock Bakkies Botha, who was last weekend ruled out of the remainder of the competition because of a knee injury.
His place is taken by beanpole lock Andries Bekker, who faces the biggest challenge of his promising international career.
Another player who will be hoping to come good on the day is veteran fullback Percy Montgomery who will become the first South African to reach the 100 Test mark.
He will start in the No.15 jersey, taking over from Conrad Jantjes, and will have to put emotion one side as he seeks to help his team to a victory that will go a long way in determining this year’s tournament winner.
“This week is huge for him,” admitted De Villiers. “But Percy knows that the job (on Saturday) is more important than the milestone.”
New Zealand though will know their opponents will draw energy and inspiration from their veteran fullback and with conditions here expected to be good on Saturday, there’s every chance this is going to be another classic rugby encounter between two of the world’s fiercest rivals.
South Africa
Percy Montgomery; JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers, Adrian Jacobs, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield (capt), Andries Bekker, CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Res: Adriaan Strauss, Brian Mujati, Danie Rossouw, Luke Watson, Ricky Januarie, Frans Steyn, Conrad JantjesNew Zealand
Mils Muliaina; Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino; Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Res: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava
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