Saturday, June 9, 2012

INTERNATIONAL TEST RUGBY: England in South Africa

09.06.2012 England v South Africa in Durban



Venue: Kings Park

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Preview
This rugby test match series has been long awaited throughout the rugby world. Few other rugby test match encounters breathe more passion, fire and aggression than this.
England arrive in South Africa to play a mini tour. For many years I’ve advocated the return of such tours.Based on the tradition of recent British and Irish Lions tours plus those lengthy tours of yesteryear, the general public are in favour of them.
The English team is, like most other top rugby nations in June, are missing some key players. England, though, are rebuilding the side after the disappointment and indiscipline of the 2011 Rugby World Cup team. To blood some new players on this tour is a logical progression of that rebuilding. But will it be lambs to the slaughter?
Test rugby matches in South Africa have always been just that. Tests! No side comes away unscathed. Only the fittest and brave survive. The South Africans have a bruising, aggressive approach to their rugby.
South Africa are rebuilding after their disappointing 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign. There is a new coach who is certainly more popular than the last. There is a feeling of cohesion and passion that has been lacking in South African rugby since 2007. This is a deadly combination that will urge the South Africans to win and to win well. Nothing less will do.
This will be a hum-dinger of a test match.

Last Five Encounters 27.11.2010 South Africa 21-11 at Twickenham
22.11.2008 South Africa 42-6 at Twickenham
20.10.2007 South Africa 15-6 in Paris (World Cup, Final)
14.09.2007 South Africa 36-0 in Paris (World Cup, Pool A)
02.06.2007 South Africa 55-22 in Pretoria

England last toured South Africa in 2007, just before the Rugby World Cup. They lost both tests by wide margins. England last defeated South Africa in 2004, winning 32-16 at Twickenham. England last won in South Africa, 27-22 during their 2000 tour. England lost the first test 13-18.

South Africa Last Five
09.10.2011 v Australia L 9-11 in Wellington (World Cup, Quarter-final)
30.09.2011 v Samoa W 13-5 in Albany (World Cup, Pool D)
22.09.2011 v Namibia W 87-0 in Albany (World Cup, Pool D)
17.09.2011 v Fiji W 49-3 in Wellington (World Cup, Pool D)
11.09.2011 v Wales W 17-16 in Wellington (World Cup, Pool D)

England Last Five 17.03.2012 v Ireland W 30-9 at Twickenham
11.03.2012 v France W 24-22 in Paris
25.02.2012 v Wales L 12-19 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
11.02.2012 v Italy W 19-15 in Rome (6 Nations)
04.02.2012 v Scotland W 13-6 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-South Africa 4th, England 5th

IRB Ranking Points
South Africa 84.34, England 83.62

Prediction: South Africa by 7 points

Teams

34[1]

SOUTH AFRICA

15 Zane Kirchner  Blue Bulls
14 JP Pietersen  Natal Sharks
13 Jean de Villiers (capt.) Western Province Stormers
12 Frans Steyn  Natal Sharks
11 Bryan Habana Western Province Stormers
10 Morné Steyn  Blue Bulls
9 Francois Hougaard  Blue Bulls
8 Pierre Spies  Blue Bulls
7 Willem Alberts  Natal Sharks
6 Marcell Coetzee * Natal Sharks
5 Juandré Kruger * Blue Bulls
4 Eben Etzebeth * Western Province Stormers
3 Jannie du Plessis  Natal Sharks
2 Bismarck du Plessis  Natal Sharks
1 Tendai Mtawarira  Natal Sharks
16 Adriaan Strauss  Cheetahs
17 Coenie Oosthuizen * Cheetahs
18 Flip van der Merwe  Blue Bulls
19 Keegan Daniel * Natal Sharks
20 Ruan Pienaar  Ulster, Ireland
21 Patrick Lambie  Natal Sharks
22 Wynand Olivier  Blue Bulls
HEAD COACH: Heyneke Meyer

* New test cap

2[1]

ENGLAND


15
Michael Brown  Harlequins
14 Christopher Ashton Northampton Saints
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi Leicester Tigers
12 Bradley Barritt  Saracens
11 Benjamin Foden  Northampton Saints
10 Owen Farrell Saracens
9 Benjamin Youngs  Leicester Tigers
8 Benjamin Morgan  Llanelly Scarlets, Wales
7 Christopher Robshaw (Capt.) Harlequins
6 Thomas Johnson * Exeter Chiefs
5 Mouritz Botha  Saracens
4 Geoffrey Parling  Leicester Tigers
3 Daniel Cole  Leicester Tigers
2 Dylan Hartley  Northampton Saints
1 Joseph Marler * Harlequins
16 Lee Mears  Bath Rugby
17 Paul Doran-Jones Northampton Saints
18 Thomas Palmer  Stade Francais, France
19 Phillip Dowson  Northampton Saints
20 Lee Dickson  Northampton Saints
21 Tobais Flood Leicester Tigers
22 Jonathan Joseph * London Irish
HEAD COACH: Stuart Lancaster
* New test cap

No comments:

Post a Comment