Injury-hit Springboks make three changes

the woodster says.... whatever team SA fields you can pretty much be certain it will be good, I havent seen much of some of the new players in the squad (or I just cant put names to faces) but maybe one of the biggest hurdles SA face is themselves and if ireland can keep the saffas in their shells then it wont look good for SA. the woodster predicts ireland to lead at the half and SA to come out of there shell in the second and dominate in the forwards. sounds predictable SA narrow win for my saffa mates but it looks to be close. put it like this if SA was playing eng saffas would win easy otherwise the irish are gonna ask some hard questions.

Sure. I don't think the forwards will be smashed or anything like that, I just think they'll struggle at scrum time, and won't make many inroads like PDV wants them to - you know, bashing the ball up close to the ruck followed by a kick and pressuring the opposition. Also, it depends on who is selected in the backs, but my point (which should have been clearer) is that the younger players like Hougaard and Lambie offer more IMO than the SA forwards.

Good day, Poth ale Doesn' the lack of interest in Saturday reall have more to do with flawed ticketing prices than anything else. I mean the Welsh and English tests are sold out, Scotland are probably having trouble, but their rugby has been in the doldrums for the last decade or so, so that is to be expected. I know we're nor the All Blacks but I'm pretty sure most proud Irishmen would love to be at the game if only because it's the opening of the new staadium. Regarding the rugga itself, well given that de Villiers is probably out, I think our best bet is to keep it tight, the longer we're there and there about the better, Boks to win by 6 with Mvovo scoring the winning try in Campos corner

:) Perhaps, despite being a glass half full sort of person I dont normally talk up players/teams either. However I was genuinely impressed with them as a unit through the latter stages of the CC. A unit that until Bismark came back from injury wasnt available. Reckon it will depend if we actually see enough ball to judge them! and this is where we differ - I think if we do well it will be because the forwards lay the platform and keep the ball. Especially given the chances of the ball going past the centres is getting slimmer and slimmer with each injury.

FYI Pot, Ireland are 5/6 at the bookies with the handicap set at a single point. I think I'm going to have a bit of a wager...

Blush? Moi? Rusty - based on the team sheets - Ireland should have South Africa by the short and curlies this Saturday evening. 'Should' being the key word. The absence of O'Connell in the lineout could be a killer with Matfield and Botha both playing. O'Connell burned them in the lineout this year - ably assisted by Gert Smal. O'Driscoll and O'Callaghan may not have the smarts and/or ability to cope with them. Will we see lots of touchline kicks, keeping it tight in the rucks and mauls, and penalty kicks galore from the World Champions whilst Ireland try in vain to get quick front ball to unleash their backline and expose SA weaknesses? It could well be a rain-sodden day as the new Lansdowne turf gets its first taste of a down n dirty struggle in a slow-moving match. I'll be watching from the warmth of the pub methinks.

Careful Rusty, you'll make Poth Ale blush.

'Must be the pom Irish rivalry that will sell it as England is far more boring the South Africa.' Lol. They sure are. Watch your head, it's a Garryowen!

Currie Cup final isn't Test match rugby, Rusty, and I very much doubt that Jannie du Plessis will own anyone in the loose. He barely managed to stagger from one ruck to the next during the 3N. Mtawarira is obviously good in the loose, but his Test contribution has been basically nothing in contrast to what he does at Super level. Bismarck's game has changed too. In the last handful of Tests he played in he basically stopped carrying spending more time doing tight duties, and in any case what did we see with Thompson in Australia or Ford and Rees in South Africa? No offence, Rusty, but this strikes me as typical SA macho talk. Time will tell. If SA do well then I'd wager that their young backs will save the day, and not the forwards.

Have to agree with you here. I agree in that not sending the best team isnt the right way about things. Although its a bit double edged with 'tired" vs "2nd string" the two are on opposite sides of the spectrum but ultimately are an excuse for losers. Unfortunately we do have 13 first choice players out and a coaching team that lacks logic and reason - so for all intents and purposes this is probably as best as it will be

The last one is pretty electrifying! perhaps a bit helter skelter but as long as the loosies can keep up at ruck time then could do well. Assuming then for fun that this is the backline my loose forwards would be Stegmann, Smith, Kankowski. Speed in 2 and grafter in another

Temba - South Africa are sending yet another "tired", or "second-string" team on tour up North again. If they're not gaining fans, who's to blame? This is what the NH teams get hit with when they tour down south in June. And stadia aren't packed out. However, the main point is that England were asked because of their history in the 1972 game in the 5 Nations. Wales and Scotland refused to travel due to terrorist threats. England came over and were given a standing ovation when they ran out on to the pitch. They were beaten but at the dinner that night after the match, their captain, John,Pullen, famously said: " we may not be much good, but at least we turn up." Cue another standing ovation. That's why England were asked three times to play the inaugural match at Lansdowne, but, despite best efforts, it couldn't be set up. Of course, Irish supporters would turn up. Boring has nothing to do with it.

Rusty Its good, not bad with what you had to work with but it’s hardly a convincing backline. Here ill have a shot, again the boks leave late with only one training session on the wet Irish soil and with the lack of grunt in the midfield they will have to go with the running game. Not such a bad idea given the circumstances and the stock 9. Pienaar He has been there for a while now and adapted to the conditions. He also suits the running game a bit more. 10. Morne Steyn 11. Hougard 12. JDV With Lambie covering 10 and 12 13. Habanna. It must be said the last time Habanna played on at 13 was against the Irish and it did not end well 14. Aplon 15. Zane Still I feel that they could have done better by taking one more centre along… This selection has 2 x 9 and 3 possible 10. Or Drop Zane to the bench Aplon to 15 and Mvovo in on 14 starts looking more exciting. 9. Pienaar 10. Lamby 11. Hougard 12. JDV 13. Habanna 14. Mvovo 15. Aplon We won’t win but at least it will be entertaining.

9. Hougaard 10. M Steyn Ok on to the challenging part 11. Aplon 12. JdV - if injured then Lambie who played CC here with Terblanche at 13. He also played 10, 15 and I think 14? 13. Habana 14. Mvovo 15. Kirchner There you go and to the criteria! Hell we could even throw Ruaan into wing or FB if we had to. Do they ship Boags to Sydney? ;)

4 wings but only 2 centers? If anyone can come up with a back line from this please be my guest. Backs: Gio Aplon, Bjorn Basson, Jean de Villiers, Francois Hougaard, Bryan Habana, Adrian Jacobs, Elton Jantjies, Zane Kirchner, Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo, Ruan Pienaar, Frans Steyn, Morne Steyn. A couple of rules apply, if you pick a new player he cannot play out of position and must have at least one experienced player on his side. This is what the coaches should be thinking anyways, If you can come up with a semi convincing back line id send you a slab of beer. Keep in mind that F Steyn cannot play this weekend. You can pick JDV but have to include a replacement as he is injured. Replacement has to fit into the rules above. Its should not be this challenging but lets try the fun side of it all shall we?

You had me all the way to 9 lets hope, no pray that JDV is fit because blooding Lambie out of position next to the Jacobs is asking for a beating... A 5 year old girl on crutches will run through them. Not to mention none of them have ever played together. In fear of sounding like a complaints only type guy ill pick your 1-10 but! 11. Spies 12. I just dont know with this team, if JDV is out then I dont know 13. You could Move Habanna in, only because he can defend and has a boot. 14.Aplon. 15. Zane Send AD home. Or through caution to the wind, add a uncapped specialist center, through the new kids into the deep end and dont worry about winning. What scares me the most is that they are sending a touring squad with 2 centers, one injured and other who has playd 32 seconds of rugby in a year. Mixed with a bunch of new face in the backline... Maybe is Juan is still injured move Morne Styen to 12... no wait what the hell are we talking about... we sound like a team thats been on tour for 6 weeks, they are yet to leave the country and we struggling to make a team from the squad... What a joke.

IRELAND (v South Africa, Dublin, Saturday): R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O’Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D’Arcy (Leinster), L Fitzgerald (Leinster); J Sexton (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), T Buckley (Munster), D O’Callaghan (Munster), M O’Driscoll (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster). Subs: S Cronin (Connacht), T Court (Ulster), D Ryan (Munster), D Leamy (Munster), P Stringer (Munster), R O’Gara (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster) or A Trimble (Ulster) or K Earls (Munster). Ok - that is a very good team. Ireland by 15

given this is the first game for both teams and I havent seen the lineup for Ireland - what are your thoughts?

Fark - forgot that F Steyn cant play this weekend and if JdV remains injured..we are in the kak then, especially with BOD being declared fit.. Ok so how is this team then 1. Beast 2. Bismark 3. Jannie 4. Botha 5. Matfield 6. Stegmann 7. Smith 8. Alberts 9. Hougaard 10. Steyn 11. Habana 12. JdV...Jacobs!?! 13. Lambie 14. Mvovo 15. Basson 16. CJ 18. Strauss 19. van de Merwe 20. Kankowski 21. Pienaar 22. Aplon Forwards look solid but centre is a mess - time to call up Bosman who is a pretty useful replacement/cover

Must be the pom Irish rivalry that will sell it as England is far more boring the South Africa.