The All Blacks’ belief that South Africa will kick the leather off the ball in their Tri-Nations rugby Test on Saturday appears well founded after the tourists announced one change to their team.
The fullback with the booming boot, Francois Steyn, replaces Ruan Pienaar from the side who lost 21-6 to Australia in Brisbane last weekend, a result that kept the tournament alive for New Zealand.
Coach Peter de Villiers resisted any other change for the clash at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium despite his team’s poor performance, easily the worst in a tournament they lead by nine points.
Winger Bryan Habana passed a test on his tight hamstring and was named on the left wing although de Villiers said it would require intensive treatment for the remainder of this week.
As well, No 8 Pierre Spies has overcome a groin strain.
Steyn’s contribution was notable during South Africa’s two defeats of the All Blacks on home soil earlier in the campaign.
He had few running opportunities but his long, accurate punting helped the Springboks win the territorial battle and apply pressure which New Zealand failed to meet.
All Blacks five-eighth Daniel Carter this week predicted South Africa would adopt a kick-first mentality and de Villiers’ comments do nothing to dispel that notion.
“We’ve tried to keep it as simple as possible. But there is a bit of horses-for-courses and Frans can play a major role in Hamilton with his boot,” de Villiers said.
“It’s not a shift in gameplan. We expect Dan Carter to kick more and with Frans we can put ourselves back in position and able to dictate play.”
Saturday will be Steyn’s last Test before his departure to France, where he has signed to play for Racing Metro.
Carter’s response on Tuesday when asked whether the tourists would go to the boot appeared prophetic.
“I can’t see why not, it was very effective for them in South Africa. It put us under a lot of pressure, so I think there are a few similarities they will play this weekend,” he said.
“We will have to be at the top of our game and try to put them under pressure and counter their strengths.”
A poor Springboks scrummaging display against Australia has not prompted de Villiers to alter his front row or introduce extra front rowers on the reserves bench.
Captain John Smit will start again at tighthead prop while Heinrich Brussow retains his place on the openside flank ahead of Schalk Burger despite an ordinary match in Brisbane.
The only change from the starting side who beat the All Blacks 31-19 in Durban is forced by the injury to right winger JP Pietersen, whose place was taken last weekend by Odwa Ndungane.
New Zealand field two personnel changes from the Durban embarrassment, with Kieran Read at No 8 ahead of Rodney So’oialo while Carter is back from injury – effectively for injured centre Conrad Smith – with Stephen Donald and Ma’a Nonu both having shifted out one place in the backline.
SPRINGBOKS: Francois Steyn, Odwa Ngungane, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Heinrich Brussow, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit (capt), Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Res: Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Schalk Burger, Ricky Januarie, Adrian Jacobs, Ruan Pienaar.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
lol that was classic.
Eagle
Guest
CraigB you really open yourself up for Fransie getting you to recant on Saturday :-)
CraigB
Roar Guru
Its certainly not for his running, passing, catching or tackling because he can't do any of those things
Jerry G
Guest
Is there a youtube video of him falling on his arse last weekend?
Spencer
Guest
Pienaar can't even get the Sharks Number 9 jersey!
Temba
Guest
This is why F Styen is in, bring on Carter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKqd5vva82g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvYUnUeAbsY&feature=related
Jerry G
Guest
Your memory is wrong then, cause match doctors don't retrospectively check whether a substitution is for blood, they check at the time of substitution. In Cowan's case, they checked whether he had blood when he went off, the match doctor has confirmed it. I've no doubt he also had a knee injury and had Ellis not then gotten injured, he would have stayed off, just as Habana obviously had a hamstring injury as well as his cut mouth. It's possible one was dodgy, just as it's possible both were or neither were - but seeing as Habana wasn't required to come back on we'll never know.
Temba
Guest
Yeah I thought I was pushing my luck with that one a bit. Such a shame, Pienaar really is a talent but I think the years of not having a solid position broke his confidence a little. He is a great 9 but not as good as Du Preez. No offence to the other teams but Pienaar would take the scrum half world XV before the two from NZ and OZ. We will see a lot of kicking but I think just as we saw in Perth, Jean DV and J Fourie will test the new mid field combo. I like Nanu at 13, he does not distribute the ball and the backline normally stopped at him (12). At 13 he can run straight and pull in defenders to free up the wings. I don’t think Smit will struggle as much as he did against Aus, the scrums should be even, let hope we don’t have an overload of penalties. Let’s hope! This has the makings of a great match, I predict a close one but cannot give you the winner 16-14 either way.
katzilla
Roar Guru
The All Blacks named their team with Injuries in mind. We are three mid fielders down at the moment with no other having had international experience since the 3N started. I think we all know, yourself included that had either Smith, Kahui or McAllister been fit, Donald would not be seeing the pitch on Saturday. Im not surprised by PDVs change, Pienaar was rubbish and deserves to lose his spot.
Lee
Guest
There was more confusion than that in the ABs game - even the Kiwi commentators seemed nervous. And from memory he left the field and then when he came back on they checked to see where he has been bleeding from, he opened his mouth and they looked inside. More suspect than the ref asking when the player actually left the field. I would have had my doubts about Habana except for Wayne Barnes specifically asking "Did you see blood?".
Hoy
Roar Guru
I am not saying there wasn't "blood", but he never came back on, and he would have been beneficial there is no doubt. So at what point was it blood, and at what point did he have a bung hammy, and they were hoping to check it out and get him back on? Must have been bad cut to keep him off for over a half. Anyway, just my conspiracy theory in light of the recent events. Found this on Rucku: According to Springbok team doctor, Craig Roberts, Habana’s hamstring got progressively tighter during the Test and they had no option but to replace him. “He went off with a blood injury just before half-time. This gave us an opportunity to assess him properly during the break. We felt that we would be putting his injury at risk if we put him back on and at that stage we felt it necessary to rather substitute him. The reality is that we would have put Bryan at risk because he is a sprinter. That’s why it was an easy decision to make,” Roberts explained. Rather convenient to give them an oppurtunity to assess his hammy when he had a blood injury, that is all I am saying. I am definitely not saying they are the only ones to do it, but at what point do the lines blur between injury and blood, and fake tactical replacement?
Jerry G
Guest
Wait so you give the Boks the benefit cause the touchie saw blood, whereas you don't give the AB's the benefit when the match doctor indicated he saw the blood?
Lee
Guest
Considering you could distinctly hear Wayne Barnes ask the Touchie if he had seen blood, it sounds like there was blood. Do you honestly think any team would be idiotic enough to try pull something like that now, when everyone is watching. It has been happening though, remember Cowans blood replacement last year. Highly suspect.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I am interested about what people's thoughts are regarding Habana. It is slightly sus that he went off in Brisbane with "blood" and yet has to prove his hammy fitness. In light of recent events, one would have to doubt the truthfulness of the blood claims, and say the 'Boks took him off to look at his hammy, with the view of bringing him back on later in the game if possible.
Temba
Guest
AB’s named their team first, with two kickers in mid field, left and right boots. If we are honest, the All Blacks planned to kick and the boks adjusted their game plan accordingly. Such is the media and this side of the planet. Its going to be a tight but good game, hope the die hard “running rugby” fans can hold out for 80 mins.