RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: Do or Die in Perth

08.09.2012
South Africa v Australia in Perth (Rugby Champ; Mandela Cup)

Venue: Paterson’s Stadium

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Preview

Rugby Championship Trophy. Image thanks to sanzarrugby.com

Both these teams in this competition or destined to scrap over second and third places. Neither have shown they are up near the play of the Kiwis. For Australia it is do-or-die, for South Africa a quiet little win would secure second place and restore some faith in the new selector and his style of play policy.

Australia has been cruelly hit by injuries. Take out original captain James Horwill, next-in-line captain David Pocock, James O’Connor, Stephan Moore and Drew Mitchell and your have the back-up players. Add in some out of form players like Quade Cooper,Kurtley Beale and even Will Genia, Australia’s lack of depth is being exposed. Coach Robbie Deans may not survive another loss. The Aussies desperately need a win.

South Africa has also been struggling. Coach Meyer has come under fire as his team and his rather old-fashioned style of play (kick and chase). A number of changes have been made in an attempt to bring a little more fire into the attack.

It will be an interesting rugby test match.

Last Five Encounters
09.10.2011 Australia 11-9 in Wellington (World Cup, Quarter-final)
13.08.2011 Australia 14-9 in Durban (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)
23.07.2011 Australia 39-20 in Sydney (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)
04.09.2010 Australia 41-39 in Bloemfontein (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)
28.08.2010 South Africa 44-31 in Pretoria (Mandela Cup; Tri Nations)

Australia Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
25.08.2012 v New Zealand L 0-22 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Champ.)
18.08.2012 v New Zealand L 19-27 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Champ.)23.06.2012 v Wales W 20-19 in Sydney
16.06.2012 v Wales W 25-23 in Melbourne
09.06.2012 v Wales W 27-19 in Brisbane

South Africa Last Five P 5, W 3, D 2, L 0
25.08.2012 v Argentina D 16-16 in Mendoza (Rugby Championship)
18.08.2012 v Argentina W 27-6 in Capetwon (Rugby Championship)
23.06.2012 v England D 14-14 in Port Elizabeth
16.06.2012 v England W 36-27 in Johannesburg
09.06.2012 v England W 22-17 in Durban

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Australia 3rd, South Africa 4th

IRB Ranking Points
Australia 86.05, South Africa 84.77

Prediction: This will be very close. Australia by 1 point

TEAMS

South Africa

15		Zane Kirchner	Blue Bulls
14		Bryan Habana	Western Province Stormers
13		Jean de Villiers (capt.)	Western Province Stormers
12		Frans Steyn	Natal Sharks
11		Francois Hougaard	Blue Bulls
10		Morné Steyn	Blue Bulls
9		Ruan Pienaar	Ulster, Ireland
8		Duane Vermeulen *	Western Province Stormers
7		Willem Alberts	Natal Sharks
6		Marcell Coetzee	Natal Sharks
5		Juandre Kruger
4		Eben Etzebeth	Western Province Stormers
3		Jannie du Plessis	Natal Sharks
2		Adriaan Strauss	Freee State Cheetahs
1		Tendai Mtawarira	Natal Sharks
16		Tiaan Liebenburg	Western Province Stormers
17		Patrick Cilliers	Golden Lions
18		Flip van der Merwe	Blue Bulls
19		Francoise Louw
20		Johaan Goosen *	Free State Cheetahs
21		Patrick Lambie	Natal Sharks
22		Lwazi Mvovo	Natal Sharks
		HEAD COACH: Heyneke Meyer

* Test debut

Australia

15		Kurtley Beale	Melbourne Rebels
14		Dominic Shipperley *	Queensland Reds
13		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
12		Berrick Barnes	NSW Waratahs
11		Digby Ioane	Queensland Reds
10		Quade Cooper	Queensland Reds
9		William Genia (Capt.)	Queensland Reds
8		Radiki Samo	NSW Waratahs
7		Michael Hooper	ACT Brumbies
6		David Dennis	NSW Waratahs
5		Nathan Sharpe	WA Western Force
4		Sitaleki Timani	NSW Waratahs
3		Benjamin Alexander	ACT Brumbies
2		Tatafu Polota-Nau	NSW Waratahs
1		Ben Robinson	NSW Waratahs
16		Saia Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
17		James Slipper	Queensland Reds
18		Scott Higginbotham	Queensland Reds
19		Liam Gill	Queensland Reds
20		Nicholas Phipps	Melbourne Rebels
21		Michael Harris	Queensland Reds
22		Anthony Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
		HEAD COACH: Robbie Deans

* Test debut