Rugby Championship: South Africa - Argentina (18/08/2012)

[Sker]

Well here we go:

15. Zane Kirchner (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 15 caps
14. Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks) 4 caps
13. Jean de Villiers (captain, DHL Western Province) 75 caps
12. Frans Steyn (The Sharks) 49 caps
11. Bryan Habana (DHL Western Province) 77 caps
10. Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 37 caps
9. Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 18 caps
8. Keegan Daniel (The Sharks) 3 caps
7. Willem Alberts (The Sharks) 11 caps
6. Marcell Coetzee (The Sharks) 3 caps
5. Andries Bekker (DHL Western Province) 24 caps
4. Eben Etzebeth (DHL Western Province) 3 caps
3. Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks) 33 caps
2. Bismarck du Plessis (vice-captain, The Sharks) 45 caps
1. Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks) 35 caps
Replacements
16. Adriaan Strauss (Toyota FS Cheetahs) 12 caps
17. Pat Cilliers (MTN Golden Lions) uncapped
18. Flip van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 14 caps
19. Jacques Potgieter (Vodacom Blue Bulls) 1 cap
20. Ruan Pienaar (Ulster, Northern Ireland) 54 caps
21. Pat Lambie (The Sharks) 13 caps
22. JJ Engelbrecht (Vodacom Blue Bulls) uncapped

Taken from www.sarugby.co.za

Now I'm still trying to stay positive, but how long do you think we'll still see 9. Hougaard and 10. Steyn? Maybe they'll have one good game vs the Pumas and everyone will be saying "oh wow, HM is awesome he had a great plan all along!" then play shitty against the All Blacks and they'll be like "oh well look at how good they played against Argentina they are obviously good just had a dip in form or a bad game blablablayadyadi"

 

[Gena_ZA]

Shamelessly taken from the SuperSport website

Record watch:
• South Africa and Argentina have played against each other in 13 test matches since 1993, with the Springboks winning all 13.
• The 13 consecutive test victories over Argentina is a record for Springbok rugby. This record was equalled during last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand when South Africa beat Wales 17-16 in Wellington for their 13th consecutive win against Wales.
• This will be the first test match for Argentina at DHL Newlands and the Springboks’ 49th. South Africa’s record here is: P 48; W 32; L 14; D 2; Win ratio 67%.
• The biggest win at DHL Newlands was against Namibia in 2007 when the Springboks recorded the second highest score in South African test rugby history, winning 105-13.
• Bryan Habana is South Africa’s most capped Springbok wing with 76 tests in this position (he has played one test at centre) and is also most experienced player in the squad with a total of 77 test caps. He is the Springbok top try scorer with 40 career tries in tests (all scored as a wing).

Bryan is one of 11 players who scored two tries in a test match against Argentina and needs two tries to equal Jaque Fourie’s Springbok record of nine career tries in The Castle Rugby Championship / Tri-Nations tournament.
• Morné Steyn will surpass Butch James as South Africa’s most capped flyhalf when he plays on Saturday. It will be his 38th test cap and 27th consecutive test. Morné holds the Springbok record for most career tries in tests as a flyhalf â€" 7. He is also the Springbok record holder for most career penalty goals in this tournament â€" 49.
• Morné needs 12 points to equal Percy Montgomery’s Springbok career record of 210 points in this tournament. He needs one drop goal to become the sole record holder for most career drop goals in the tournament. Currently he shares the record of four career drop goals with André Pretorius.
• His first penalty goal will be Morné’s 50th career penalty goal in this tournament. He needs five penalty goals to reach 100 career penalty goals and also needs 11 points to reach 50 career points at DHL Newlands.
• Bismarck du Plessis holds the Springbok record for most tries in tests as a hooker â€" 6. He is one of nine Springboks who have scored three career tries at DHL Newlands and will play together with his older brother, Jannie du Plessis, in their record 24th test as brothers.
• Jean de Villiers is South Africa’s most capped centre with 60 appearances in this position.
• Frans Steyn is one of only three Springboks who have scored two career drop goals at DHL Newlands and together with Naas Botha the only Springboks who achieved this in one test match.
• Springbok career record holders at DHL Newlands are:
Percy Montgomery â€" 108 points, 17 conversions and 23 penalty goals; Nine players have scored three tries; Dawie Snyman, Naas Botha and Frans Steyn â€" 2 drop goals each.
• Springbok test match record holders at DHL Newlands are: Percy Montgomery â€" 35 points; 12 conversions and 7 penalty goals; Four players have scored three tries each; Morné Steyn also scored seven penalty goals; Naas Botha and Frans Steyn â€" 2 drop goals each.
• Ruan Pienaar will become joint second most capped substitute (34 caps) with CJ van der Linde should he take the field on Saturday. Ollie le Roux played in 43 tests as a substitute.
• Frans Steyn needs one drop goal to become the sole Springbok record holder for most career drop goals at DHL Newlands â€" 3.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Jesus, most capped FH for SA with only 38 caps?? That's unreal...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, with our fly-halves moving to Europe all the time, it does make sense.

 

[Sker]

38 too many...

 

[Gena_ZA]

That means we have wasted 38 matches to breed a proper flyhalf in, the rest of the rugby playing world so happy about this

 

[big ginger 8]

At least Lambie isn't at fullback...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Man, I just can't believe we are sticking with the Hougaard/ Steyn combo. That critical spine of 8, 9, 10 and 15 is our weakness. I'd say Steyn, Spies and Kirschner have never been great test level players (made to look good by the rugby god FdP- and looked average when Du Preez dropped form after his operation) and with them holding down those jerseys will we ever give anyone else a chance who may step up (I don't think Daniel is an option looking ahead)? Hougaard isn't the best option at 9 at this stage, at least not in conjunction with Steyn. Damn you, HM!

Pat Cilliers on the bench in the absence of Oosthuizen is the right move IMO. Also can't wait till end of year as JdV (much as I love him) has to move on sooner rather than later. Pienaar and Lambie to come on with 30min to go and force HM's hand for the next test.

 

[Sker]

Anyone else think that F.Steyn with his long hair looks like a French pirate?

 

[Gena_ZA]

lol, last time he cut his hair as one of the support staff kept on calling him Mrs Steyn

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Happy to see Daniel, Alberts and Coetzee. Spies' injury is a good thing for us. Sad to see van der Merwe on the bench. I prefer Kruger there. J. Potgieter on the bench means Alberts won't be playing the full 80. Pienaar and Lambie look to be the cover for the halfback-combo, and Engelbrecht will come on for Kirchner (I hope).

Cilliers on the bench is the best news.

 

[Icemn]

38 too many...

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH give that man a bells!!!

 

[welshglory]

Happy to see Daniel, Alberts and Coetzee. Spies' injury is a good thing for us. Sad to see van der Merwe on the bench. I prefer Kruger there. J. Potgieter on the bench means Alberts won't be playing the full 80. Pienaar and Lambie look to be the cover for the halfback-combo, and Engelbrecht will come on for Kirchner (I hope).

Cilliers on the bench is the best news.

What a surprise!!!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Hahaha, not because they're Sharks, because it's the best three options at the moment. I preferred Daniel-Coetzee-Kankowski, which has been the form backrow in world rugby these last few months, but Kanko is not available.

Did you guys know this will be the first Test match in 10 years without a Bulls player in the forward department? With 6 Sharks and 2 Stormers, the pack only consists of coastal players. The last time we were without a single Bull in the starting pack, was 17-08-2002, when we beat Australia at Ellis Park, 33-31. We had 5 tries and 4 conversions. Not a single 3-pointer. Let that be an omen! Without Bulls in the pack, we don't kick for goal!

Starting XV:

Natal: 8 (Mtawarira, B. du Plessis, J. du Plessis, Coetzee, Alberts, Daniel, Mvovo, F. Steyn)
WP: 4 (Etzebeth, Bekker, de Villiers, Habana)
N. Transvaal: 3 (Hougaard, M. Steyn, Kirchner)

On the bench:

N. Transvaal: 3 (van der Merwe, Potgieter, Engelbrecht)
Natal: 1 (Lambie)
Transvaal: 1 (Cilliers)
Free State 1 (Strauss)
Overseas: 1 (Pienaar)

 

[Gena_ZA]

I would love to see Verrmeulen, Burger and Coetzee there, that would be a killer trio with Alberts of the bench

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Ah, that would be amazing, although I get the feeling Burger won't be a Springbok for long, now with the emerging Kolisi and Coetzee. It seems both are destined for long Bok careers.

 

[Icemn]

when is the ARG starting 22 annouced :?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

when is the ARG starting 22 annouced :?

14th of August.

 

[big ginger 8]

when is the ARG starting 22 annouced :?

Already has been.

Pumas squad announced:

<article>Team (15-1)
Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino; Gonzalo Camacho, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Horacio Agulla; Juan Martin Hernandez, Nicolas Vergallo; Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (capt), Alvaro Galindo, Julio Farias Cabello; Patricio Albacete, Manuel Carizza; Juan Figallo, Eusebio Guinazu, Rodrigo Roncero
Replacements: Bruno Postiglioni, Marcos Ayerza, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Tomas Leonardi, Leonardo Senatore, Martin Landajo, Martin Rodriguez
Coach: Santiago Phelan


</article>

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] South Africa [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] Argentina [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Zane Kirchner [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Lucas González Amorosino [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Lwazi Mvovo [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Gonzalo Camacho [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jean de Villiers © [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Marcelo Bosch [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Francois Steyn [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Santiago Fernández [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Bryan Habana [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] Horacio Agulla [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Morne Steyn [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] Juan Martín Hernández [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Francois Hougaard [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Nicolás Vergallo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Keegan Daniel [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe © [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Willem Alberts [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Ãlvaro Galindo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Marcell Coetzee [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Julio Farías Cabello [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andries Bekker [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Patricio Albacete [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Eben Etzebeth [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] Manuel Carizza [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jannie du Plessis [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Juan Figallo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Bismarck du Plessis [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Eusebio Guiñazú [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Rodrigo Roncero [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Adriaan Strauss [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Bruno Postiglioni [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Patric Cilliers [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Marcos Ayerza [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Flip van der Merwe [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Juan Pablo Orlandi [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Jacques Potgieter [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Tomás Leonardi [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Ruan Pienaar [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Leonardo Senatore [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Patrick Lambie [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Martín Landajo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] JJ Engelbrecht [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Martín Rodríguez [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]