Burger back for Boks to face Wallabies

The scoreboard - you heard it here first.

8.5 Honestly, I think the WBs lack speed in the back three, heft in the 10-12 channel, and enough of a hard grafting loose trio.

And therefore you pick South Africa by 8??

Burger @ 8 and Kriel @ 13 probably not what Cheika expected a month ago, and NOBODY--not even Willie--knows what Willie will do. I think I know what Cheikaball looks like just as much as Meyer-ball. (Australia have averaged fewer than two tries in their last eight games against the Springboks).

Hi bb if the tricks were legal i would call it using the rules of rugby to my advantage better than a one trick pony scrum them to death run over them kick the ball away come Saturday if the Boks lose it might be to the fact that in certain positions they have too much experience for those that have experience must play rugby to win so inexperienced teams did the best in Super 15 whether as Harry believe go with the Flo i believe a certain percentage of rugby is played between the ears and the fact is before the Boks run on the field the oppsition already knows what to expect but what do i know.

It's the Cheika-Skelton-Giteau Factor!

Don't obfuscate by throwing in some 'facts' BB! '-) I am surprised the 'Boks aren't favourites considering form over the past couple of seasons/current rankings etc.RSA have been undisputed #2 for a while now and though you can't rely on past deeds indefinitely---I still think the bookies at least would be more cautious.

Old Bugger, the bookies are banking on Cheika outsmarting Meyer. The form book between these two teams isn't supporting the G&GR 18-point Wallaby spread. Hell, in the last seven OZ-SA tests, Australia has averaged about 14 points per match. The big story isn't being discussed: can Australia score tries against South Africa? The big problem appears to be Bismarck-Etzebeth-Louw-Coetzee-Burger; they will tackle Wallabies back over the gain line.

Splinter, come again with Ireland playing at fast pace? They have a quality high on tricks. They play a technical game of when to dupe the opposition, they play a game of slowing down the game at every stoppage, slow to arrive at the line outs, fake injuries prior to every set piece, they frustrated and tricked the Springboks and won the game

Louw is a specialist fetcher.

We are huge underdogs. Because of Giteau, Cheika, and Super Rugby. And the enormously reformed Wallaby scrum. And because of Hooper's transcendent skills. :)

Ruan Pienaar had a blinder in Brisbane in 2013.

1. start of season vs end of season. 2 weeks conditioning. boks will have enough puff. 2. cant argue here. pienaar box kicks have to be the slowest, most telegraphed kicks in world rugby. 3. burger is a better ball player, better fetcher, much more experienced and has a much bigger impact on a game. massive net gain imo. 4. François Louw. seriously. watch northern hemisphere rugby. or stormer games from a few years back. also: bismark du plessis usually gets a couple of turn overs per game. which is on par for most recognised fetchers. Marcel coetzee and Burger also contribute in the fetching department. honestly, South Africa are well represented in this department. 5. I imagine this is a criticism of pollards option taking. will admit he’s still inexperienced and having de allende and pienaar on either side of him will mean he will have to grow up very quickly. let’s see how he goes. 6. heh. This is a first. never thought I would see the day that someone accused heyneke meyer of not having a game plan. kick-and-chase? territory? pressure defence and counter – attack? one thing meyer ALWAYS has is a plan.

t-man I agree too except, the bookies think otherwise...I reckon the SBs have some key identities in the pack and backline, who will not be wasting time thinking about what to do. This game will be an absolute doozie IMO, because so much is riding on Cheika's first team selection, at home - that I suspect, will be much to Meyer's delight.

1. start of season vs end of season. 2 weeks conditioning. boks will have enough puff. 2. cant argue here. pienaar box kicks have to be the slowest, most telegraphed kicks in world rugby. 3. burger is a better ball player, better fetcher, much more experienced and has a much bigger impact on a game. massive net gain imo. 4. François Louw. seriously. watch northern hemisphere rugby. or stormer games from a few years back. also: bismark du plessis usually gets a couple of turn overs per game. which is on par for most recognised fetchers. Marcel coetzee and Burger also contribute in the fetching department. honestly, South Africa are well represented in this department. 5. I imagine this is a criticism of pollards option taking. will admit he's still inexperienced and having de allende and pienaar on either side of him will mean he will have to grow up very quickly. let's see how he goes. 6. heh. This is a first. never thought I would see the day that someone accused heyneke meyer of not having a game plan. kick-and-chase? territory? pressure defence and counter - attack? one thing meyer ALWAYS has is a plan.

I checked a couple of non aussie sites and wallabies were also favorites.

taylerman reasons why the Boks may lose 1Game played at fast pace Boks will fade Wales and Ireland 2014 2 Pienaars kicking 3 Burger does miss tackles Whitely best tackler 2015 SR 4 No specialist for the loose ball 5 Descision making 6 Game plan lacking

Bookies don't deal in guessing, they split and device the bets placed to give the odds and keep a % Wallabies a re favourites because people are backing them with money. I don't know if they are favourites outside of Aus.

How is the 6th ranked team considered 'favourites' playing against the 2nd ranked team?

Taylorman Cooper will be hiding at full back or wing but seeing as Hooper is always in the back line Pollard might send it wide a few times :)