Two very different sides comes into Perth: the Springboks making a deserved amount of noise, the Wallabies sneaking in trying to avoid any attention whatsoever.
Luckily for the home team, other events have taken some attention away from this clash.
For Australian rugby, there have been the final permutations of the Lote Tuqiri affair, and the early stirrings that the Victorian Rugby Union may be completely overlooked for the Melbourne Super 15 bid.
In Subiaco itself, many regard the flagship clash over the weekend to be Friday night’s AFL clash between the West Coast Eagles and Richmond.
While this may seem unfair, no local media like to give much attention when one of their teams is due to lose, and most parties, from the fans to the bookmakers to most experts, believe it a certainty that Australia will fall to their fourth consecutive loss, something that has not occurred since 2005.
It would also be Robbie Dean’s ninth defeat, making his winning percentage worse than any other Australian coach (John Connelly, Eddie Jones, Rod McQueen or Greg Smith) in the professional era.
For their opponents, one cannot help but feel that they are in a special place, as they look to win their third Tri Nations title and cement what has already been a vintage year.
Peter De Villiers has rolled into town with a confidence that would be infuriating, if it were not for the fact that he has the troops and the record to back it up.
While purists of the north will try to point out that the South Africans were not as impressive against their Lions as they have been against their Tri Nations opponents, history books remember only results.
The Springboks are full strength, with so much class that returning World Cup winner Schalk Burger cannot force his way into the team, and that outstanding full back Frans Steyn has made way for Ruan Pienaar.
While some believe that the son of Gysie is a contentious selection, Pienaar is highly regarded for his rugby nous and while he may not possess the thundering boot of Steyn, he brings far more balance to a solid, if not widely unused backline.
Steyn’s selection was always in doubt regardless, considering his move to Racing in France.
The South Africans have initiated that the All Blacks and Wallabies are playing catch up and are emulating the World Cup holders, and while this is a matter of opinion, their style – labelled by some as a detriment to the entertainment value of the game – is a winning one.
Most importantly, they are fresh and confident (too much so?)
While they may not know how to exactly win a match via an attacking approach, they have the fine art of preventing their opposition from doing so down to a tee.
Add to this the final touch of knowing that certain aspects of their game, such as their lineout, are untouchable, and it will take a titanic improvement across the board for the Wallabies to win.
One doesn’t want to usher consistent pessimism unto Australia, and there are some positives.
Their defence has been sound, and they still have class in key positions. They have also shown within the last 12 months that they can compete at the highest level.
They performed a clean sweep in their early season home tests (Barbarians, France and Italy back to back), and lest we forget evidenced a 2-1 record against South Africa last year. They also have beaten the All Blacks in four straight first halves, but unfortunately comprehensively lost the second stanzas.
This is the Wallabies’ problem.
They are lacking the mental fortitude to win against top class opposition, and unfortunately for them, the pedigree of South Africa is further than that of their traditional black clad foes.
The same black clad demons that inflicted a tremendous amount of physical and mental anguish on the Wallabies; that a mere week may not be enough to heal.
Add to this the loss of their most experienced lineout forward, Nathan Sharpe, and their best performed back of the 2009 Test series, Berrick Barnes, and it shows that this match may even be beyond the classic fighting Australian spirit.
All in all, the Springboks will need to be off their game for the Wallabies to win this one.
Or the key men for Australia, mainstays like George Smith, Rocky Elsom and Matt Giteau, will need to put in mammoth performances to record their first win in two months.
Darryl SA
Guest
Hehe, sorry to disappoint pothale. No criticism coming from me I'm afraid. The poor SA scrum and the loss of concentration in the final 20mins spoiled it for me. Have said as much in a post further down so I won't repeat myself, but suffice to say I'm glad the 80mins was up when it was. I'm possibly being a bit harsh, because it was a good showing by the Boks overall, and they mixed it up instead of relying solely on a kick and chase. What to do about that scrum though? I do note that our scrum always seems to falter when Bakkies Botha is replaced. Coincidence I don't know. But we certainly don't have a Woodcock, or Sheridan level of player in the front row right now. Oh worries me, because good props are not made overnight. Nevertheless well done to the Boks. And well done to the Wallabies. I thought it was a great game, and the Wallabies never gave up. Also no unsavoury off the ball stuff and Burger managed to avoid everybody's eyes. Good game.
Darryl SA
Guest
QC, I can't agree with you I'm afraid. I was relieved that the clock finally hit 80mins. And I can tell you that the bulk of the patrons of the pub I was in here in SA did the same. For the length of time this Wallaby outfit has been together they played really well. As I said in a previous post on a different thread, the Wallabies are perhaps missing one or two key positions. An enforcer type in the forwards, which maybe Elsom is and just needs to hit full fitness again, and a Dan Vickerman type to impose himself on the lineouts. While I'm thrilled with the win, I'm still disappointed in how the Wallabies always looked far more threatening with ball in hand running it down the backline than the Boks ever did. And in those final 10 minutes, the Wallabies never gave up. That one surge that resulted in a try went through more than 14 phases! That's impressive considering I do think the Bok defense was reasonably good. Not perfect, but reasonably good. I am of course thrilled that the Boks managed to actually win with 4 tries under their belts but if I were them I wouldn't be satisfied with the performance. We were absolutely 0wn3d in the scrums, which was again disappointing. Either our props are poor or our scrumming coach is poor. I don't know enough about the front row to say. Be happy if another Roarer would offer their view on that. But suffice to say, that the Bok scrum is definitely their Achilles heel right now. Whenever we managed to secure a turnover through pressure which led to a Wallaby knock on, it was by no means a relief. Still the Boks did well to win scoring 4 tries and showed that they can mix the gameplan a little. To add to that they won on the road, but I by no means think the Wallabies were absolutely pathetic.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Sounds like the Boks finally played well. I'm sure their supporters will marvel at their tries, after saying it didn't matter that they weren't scoring any before. Robbie, come home son.
Knives Out
Guest
You mean you're not a fan of 'Tahu Time', Temba?! I was especially tickled by his speedy and secret return to league. I must just have a very boring sense of humour.
QC
Guest
Give Giteau a good whack upside the head too. World Class No 10 my arse Australia were absolutely pathetic. The funniest thing of all would have to be the commentators going on and on how great the Australian scrum was. Kafer is a crack head as for that other bloke I wouldn't be surprised if he's having a nervous breakdown right now. The Boks made a mockery of the you can't score tries claims, then again I'd put a cool 20 on Fiji to score at least two tries against this Wallabies outfit if they played like they did tonight
reds fan
Guest
haha. yes a kiwi mate asked whether i really wanted the Wallabies forward coach at the Reds...
couchnorm
Guest
I wonder if the Force and Reds really want the Wallaby assistant coaches as part of their coaching set ups???? Just what rugby in Australia needs???? more Wallaby clones
katzilla
Roar Guru
They need to take this years giant wooden spoon and give each of their forwards a good smack with it.
Boundary Rider
Guest
First up, the Bokke deserved the wiin, no debate. I am sick of missing it by 'that much". whilst not wishing to hijack this thread, tonight just highlights the depth issue.. where to from here?? We did not cut it over the 80mins (again), with our midfield letting us down more than other areas, acnowledging some oridinary ball handling from some forwards in the first half, however the upside (modest agreed) is that we are 2 yrs out from the world cup (or perhaps it cant get much worse than his), there were some (small0 positives to consider from the 2nd half...,one major positive is that some of the key bokke players will not be in NZ in 2011, Genia.. crisp pass enabled some forward momentum when he arrived and should start next weekend in brisbane, , Giteau when bumped out to 12 (long argued on this site as his best postiion) seemed to play much better (or were the bokes coasting???) and should play there in Brisvegas next weekend, with Barnes or Cooper running at 10..., The scrum, in my humble point of view dominated the bokke scrum...esp as the game went on and the line-out went ok, we just did not seem to be as aggressive/competitive enough in the first 20 mins. Seems like the same old story though...lots of reasons why for no result....Overall very disappointing.... Given we are looking to 2010.. time to blood a few new players perhaps... Depth is a key issue for Oz Rugby (really no debate required)..... not being exposed to to the next tier like NPC/Curry Cup/NRL (in terms of week in/week out pressure etc) seems to indicate when the pressure is on we (the Oz players) dont know how to react and close out games etc...NSW/QLD metro rugby has an important role, but its not sufficient for LONG TERM SUCCESS. Aust needs a level/tier above what we have now to ensure that the current played have the necessary competition and pressure at a top level to perform when put to the TEST.
Derm
Roar Guru
If that's the best that an SA fan can come up with..... Where's Darryl SA & Co. At least we might get some coherent criticism, and some worthwhile digs in at the Wallabies.
JR
Guest
ha-ha..... For the sake of rugby... The boks all the way.. And the wallabies were playing one dimentional kicking rugby. They put up more boms than the boks...
Harry
Guest
Hello my smug Jappie friend, yes you well and truly thrashed us tonight, the 7 point margin is no reflects the fact this was a fairly comrehensive thrashing ... as I predicted. Timne for Aussie rob to nearn hus big salary, and that means dispensing with never-be's Hynes, Brown, Sharpe and, alas, Burgess. Out of the Wallaby squad all together for these failures.
Jerry G
Guest
That's some witty banter there.
Gerrard
Guest
Shit guys, all of you were really foooked by 2nites games hey. Them jaapies actually ran the ball and completely messed up Deans plans. So who has got them balls 2 come up with an excuse, come on humor me please. Big fucking laughs.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Last time I ever make a prediction about a game of rugby. Someone bring back Eddie Jones to coach the Wallabies because he did a better job in 2005 than this...
Knives Out
Guest
0-12. Could be a long one. There goes yet another bet.
Knives Out
Guest
That reminds me of when a British reporter turned up for a weeks exclusive training with the Springboks. He excitedly told the gathering South Africans that he had bought a special gumshield in the Bok colours - green and yellow. Unfortunately Mark Andrews wasn't too pleased to hear this school boy mistake, and more unfortunately the poor reporter had been paired up with Andrews for tackle practice.
Knives Out
Guest
Promotion as well as weekly wins. They did very well last season despite a points deduction. Every week he and his friend put a tenner on Lampard as 1st scorer. They won £700 from that last season.
sheek
Guest
Do ya think they'd have me?????
bennalong
Guest
More thoughts of a Wallaby win from NZers and SAffers than Wallaby supporters. Sad really, though missing Barnes is significant. The Springbok gameplan will not last and if it falters tonight we will win. Well might I say "we should have won!" "We could have won!" because they're both true. The one point loss has been far too shattering for most Australian bloggers who seem to be in need of psychiatric support. I'd like to point out that the single point had an opposite effect on the New Zealanders who seem to feel that the world is back on its correct axis. Such is the nature of the win vs the loss but let's get real. I guess if we win any of our matches it'll be an upset, eh? Dumb !!!!!