South Africa hope to start repairing the damage of a disastrous Tri-Nations championship away leg when they host New Zealand before a sell-out 90,000 crowd at Soccer City on Saturday.
The Springboks defeated the All Blacks twice at home and once on the road last year en route to their third southern hemisphere title in 14 attempts.
But the tables have turned dramatically this season with New Zealand winning 32-12 in Auckland and 31-17 in Wellington and these victories coupled with two against Australia have taken them clear at the top of the table.
With 19 points from a possible 20, New Zealand need just one more from their match in Soweto and their September 11 showdown with the Wallabies in Sydney to win the last nine-fixture championship.
New Zealand stage the quadrennial Rugby World Cup next year and this means the Tri-Nations will be cut to six games while the championship expands the following year to accommodate Argentina.
Although the Boks are pointless after also losing in Brisbane to the Wallabies, there is no shortage of motivation to terminate a 13-match All Blacks winning streak.
It will be the biggest home crowd they have played before, dwarfing the 70,000 at Ellis Park who saw South Africa edge New Zealand in extra time to lift the 1995 Rugby World Cup before then President Nelson Mandela.
It will be the first time the Springboks play at Soccer City, the stadium which hosted the FIFA World Cup final last month.
And the latest chapter in one of the greatest rugby union rivalries will see captain and hooker John Smit become only the second Bok after retired Percy Montgomery to reach the 100-cap mark.
“We owe our supporters a big one,” confessed coach Peter de Villiers, under fire like Smit and the rest of the squad after conceding 93 points on tour and not managing to secure even one bonus point.
“Problems have been identified and small adjustments made.
“We got caught up in two styles of play. When Bulls and Sharks dominated the Springbok team they had a similar style. Now Bulls and Stormers dominate and things are not the same.
“Perhaps it was taken for granted that everyone was on the same page and we did not find or have the necessary time to make sure. We have solved that problem,” added De Villiers who has made seven personnel changes from Brisbane.
The coach stressed he did not want to hear talk of “revenge” against the Richie McCaw-skippered All Blacks.
“Revenge makes you bitter inside. We must show character as a team and not seek revenge. We know what we are capable of and what we must do to become the best in the world.”
South Africa consistently came off second best in Australasian breakdown duels and critics of De Villiers claim he has not learnt the lesson by choosing Pierre Spies at number eight with Schalk Burger and Juan Smith his flankers.
They argue that Francois Louw, considered the best ‘fetcher’ in the absence of long-term injury victim Heinrich Brussouw, should have made the starting line-up with Burger in the middle and off-form Spies on the bench.
So angry have some Bok supporters and critics been with the Boks that once-certain starters like wing Bryan Habana, fly-half Morne Steyn, Smit, lock Victor Matfield and Spies have endured calls for their demotion.
While the Boks seek remedies, the All Blacks are not resting on the laurels of some scintillating running that helped reap 132 points from four Tri-Nations outings while fly-half Dan Carter is back to his goal-kicking best.
“Things are starting to come through with a group of guys who all contribute, especially those who have been around a while. And we are not complacent – there are a lot of areas for improvement,” admitted McCaw.
The outcome could hinge on how much South Africa improve. They were in an even more dire situation four years ago and defeated the All Blacks by a point in Rustenburg to salvage the careers of Smit and then coach Jake White.
South Africa: Gio Aplon; JP Pietersen, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger; Victor Matfield, Flip van der Merwe; Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (capt), Gurthro Steenkamp. Res: Chiliboy Ralepelle, CJ van der Linde, Danie Rossouw, Francois Louw, Ricky Januarie, Butch James, Wynand Olivier
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko; Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino; Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn; Ben Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Re: Corey Flynn, John Afoa, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg
Ben S
Roar Guru
I did make reference to changing names, pothale, but I think only generally with Brett (McKay), and, as I said, it is a big site. KO was a bit of a gimmick, and then Mr S was a bit too much. Even my father doesn't get called Mr Saunders. Beyond that I've been pretty busy post-holidays. Ken Clarke is doing some mad crazy stuff, not least of all making me work later. I'm convinced I read specific references to being ranked 2 or Australia being the 2nd best side in the world. I'll research further as I've only done a brief google search. Is NZ significant opposition for Australia? If anything is so onesided then doesn't it lose significance and or meaning? Probably a moot point now anyway.
Derm
Roar Guru
KO/Mr S/Ben S - I must be losing my faculties. VC was spot on. I didn't know you had changed your name - just thought you had disappeared for a while - Egypt or somewhere. I get your point now about New Zealand - was wondering if that's what you meant but the use of the word 'significant' threw me. Relevant? Approrpriate? Comparable? Beatable? Can't think of an alternative word at the moment. Deans did make a comment after the first Bled test that the ABs are the best side in the world right now, and that the Wallabies had lived with them for one half of a match and he saw that as a positive compared to SA. ""I guess what we can take out of it is we have played the first half of rugby (in the Tri-Nations series) where anyone had been competitive with them. We've got to start with that.". Was that what you were thinking about?
Ben S
Roar Guru
Sorry, pothale. Internet tone - I wasn't being self-righteously serious and I didn't proof read. What I meant was that Deans knows that beating NZ is not where Australia is at at this point in time, which is significant because Deans was brought in specifically to redress the Bledisloe balance. Obviously to beat NZ would be special but beating SA is perhaps more realistic. My wording was probably clumsy, however unless I am having a Parick Bateman-esque episode I am convinced that I read an interview with Deans making specific reference to being the second best side in the world. I'll keep on looking. Anyway, I am very much looking forward to the games. -- Thanks for the concern, VC. I did change my moniker, and made reference to doing so prior to the act, but it is a big site. At least you know for sure now.
Derm
Roar Guru
VC You and Ben S may well be right. In fact, you're convincing enough to make me use up another Saturday afternoon to watch it. that aside, my main points of contention were with the other assertions about Australia. The Wallabies certainly do not regard the the ABs as insignificant opposition. I don't believe Ben S meant to say this, but I haven't worked out what he did mean to say. And if Ben S is actually KO or Mr Saunders, I'll eat my traditional Irish battered stovepipe hat. I don't believe he would be that loose with his language nor ascribe such a generalism about the Wallabies based on one quote - it's not his style.
chuck
Guest
Great game rugby about taking the little things into winning and the all blacks just did that catch and move the ball across the field you can look at the stats and it was all their way and it was a matter of time it was going to go bust for the spring bokes missed tackles the bokes should not feel hard done by forward pass they had the lead and control but let silly little digression when they were in the all blacks red zone so please missed tackles & forward pass is no excuse or sympathy this is a test in front of 90,000 and when you score two tries with in 3 mins you have to look at you fitness levels as opposition how did that happen. until the coaching staff recognise that fitness level are not there you going to get the same result you lose the tight games.
Viscount Crouchback
Guest
KO/pothale - why are you falling out? You chaps used to be best chums! (At least, I assume that Ben S is KO/Mr Saunders?) I tend to agree with Ben, btw. Anyone who thinks these games will be "flat" doesn't know the sheer emotion that the South Africans bring to their home fixtures, especially on the high veldt and especially when they are under the cosh. The Boks will be out for Aussie blood. It should be a great spectacle.
pothale
Guest
Ben I'm not calling you a liar - I don't make things that personal. I'm questioning your assertion that the Wallabies have all but rejected NZ as significant opposition. That means the Wallabies don't rate New Zealand as significant opponents. That statement doesn't stand up since NZ have laid waste to every opponent this year including Australia. Perhaps you meant the other way around. Australia are ranked 3rd on the IRB table. And still are after today's result. Perhaps you're mixing up with the fact that the Wallabies are 2nd in the Tri Nations log on 4 points. compared to 23 for NZ. John O'Neill is quoted as saying: "The pressure is on all of us, the (ARU) board, me, Robbie, the team. We still believe he's the right person for that job to take us through to the World Cup. But I think the dogs will be barking a bit and we just have to respond. What worries us is that we appear to be further away than what we were a year ago. In any team sport you have to ask yourself 'do you have the cattle'. We believe we do but it's time they start delivering week in, week out." Believing that your team is worse off than they were 12 months ago is hardly making noise publicly that they're the second best team in the world. Their recent test results support that: Grand Slam tour Beat England Beat Wales Drew Ireland Lost Scotland June Tour Beat England Lost Enlgand Beat Ireland Tri Nations Lost NZ Beat SA Lost NZ And let's face it, Robbie Deans has to make positive - he's the coach. Is anybody else - independent commentators - making that assertion? If they beat SA in just one of the games in SA, then they should overtake them for second spot in the IRB rankings, but they're not there yet. As you said yourself: "I wouldn’t want to be an Australian rugby player on the high veld for all the Guinness in Temple Bar." Anyway - enjoy the game next week. If you believe it'll be a belter, that's all that counts.
Jerry
Guest
Great game. Boks can feel a bit hard done by for the missed forward in the leadup to McCaw's try, and that TMO decision was a close as it could possibly be. Felt bad for Smit missing that tackle on Nonu (but at least he got his boot, by the looks of it). But just a great, great game.
Ben S
Roar Guru
' “Wallabies all but rejected NZ as significant opposition?” They have? Despite losing two tests to them?' Pardon? After the first loss to New Zealand when Deans was interviewed by Growden he made references to Australia being ranked 2nd in the world or being the 2nd best side in the world, as if to reinforce that his tenure wasn't a failure. This was around the time of 'the dogs are barking'. I can't find the article (it was on RugbyHeaven) and I trust you're not suggesting that I'm lying, but one could only infer so much from such a comment. It is clear to most rugby fans that there is a gulf between NZ and Australia. There is, however, arguably less of a gulf between SA and Australia, therefore in that context the coming two Tests are most certainly not ... 'flat as a pancake'.
darwin stubby
Guest
nothing to play for ?? ... perhaps a couple of coaching careers might just swing on the results
Derm
Roar Guru
"The Wallabies have all but rejected NZ as significant opposition, and have started to publicly make a lot of noise about being the 2nd best side in the world. In that context these coming two games have a lot riding on them." Sorry?!!! "Wallabies all but rejected NZ as significant opposition?" They have? Despite losing two tests to them? They make "a lot of noise" about being 2nd best side in the world? They have? Where? I regularly follow SH media and have seen no such assertions.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I don't really care if there is anything to play for. As a European based rugby fan I'm excited about seeing Australia play what is effectively a two Test series on the high veld. I think the games will be atmospheric and furious. The Lions had nothing tangible to play for during their 3rd Test, but that didn't affect the quality or relevance of the match. I'm looking forward to the games, and I disagree that they'll be 'flat as a pancake'. The Wallabies have to prove that they're developing, and the Springboks have to prove the same. The Wallabies have all but rejected NZ as significant opposition, and have started to publicly make a lot of noise about being the 2nd best side in the world. In that context these coming two games have a lot riding on them.
Derm
Roar Guru
I do. Doesn't matter matter about the intensity - there's nothing to play for. NZ have thrashed all comers this year - competition over. You could argue that South Africa will be mentally out of it next week, and Australia could go to town on them. Either way, will I be staying in to watch? Nope.
katzilla
Roar Guru
Meh tell em it was Karaoke, Im sure the Japanese can appreciate late night Karaoke?
katzilla
Roar Guru
Did Steyn really David Knox that penalty kick at the end? How disappointing for the Boks to tackle so well the entire game then for two tacklers to fall off Nonu like jelly was sad. As always the ABs make em pay for the single slip up (great pass btw Nonu) Credit to Smit for reaching 100, definately a great of the game. Also great to see Juan Smith back, brings a level head to the forward pack, hope nothing comes from his hit on the ref LOL, it shouldnt. He probably thought that it was Hougaard (saw him and Burger shove Hougaard out of the way to get at Read early in the test which was funny) Was it just me or did Izzy Dagg just look like something was going to happen each time he touched the ball? Hes got that Jared Hayne casual and cocky approach to him that makes defenders wait off him a bit.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'Next week is going to be flat as a pancake as the dead rubbers are played out.' You think? I wouldn't want to be an Australian rugby player on the high veld for all the Guinness in Temple Bar.
Derm
Roar Guru
Now that was a proper test rugby match. First I've seen in the Tri-Nations this season. Not a yellow card in sight. There were errors from the refs/linesmen - like the forward pass leading up to McCaw's try - but that's rugby. Absolute cracker and congrats to NZ for pulling it out of the bag at the end. The look of total anguish on John Smit's face at the end said it all. Both teams gave it everything. Full credit to PdV for his selections of de Jongh and Aplon - I thought they played superbly. And great to see Juan Smith back for the Boks - he makes a big difference in the loose. Overall I thought the Boks played better, but give the ABs half a chance, and they kill you. Next week is going to be flat as a pancake as the dead rubbers are played out.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I'm sure my neighbours didn't appreciate my voice break at 1:45 in the morning but that was something else.
thesportsguy
Roar Rookie
i have never been as happy for an AB win as right now..........amazing.
Tui
Guest
Im in Moscow and just been watching the live updates, OMG what a win!! Dagg you beauty! Cant wait to see the highlights!