SOUTH AFRICA could virtually seal the 2008 Tri-Nations rugby title if they beat Australia at Subiaco Oval today.
The Springboks put a week of turmoil behind them last Saturday when they beat the All Blacks 30-28 for their first win in Dunedin, and first in New Zealand in a decade, following a 19-8 loss in Wellington the week before. They meet the Wallabies in
Perth before heading home for a two-week break ahead of a test against Argentina, and then their final Tri-Nations games against New Zealand and Australia (twice).
Springboks second-row Victor Matfield said the Springboks would not be taking the Australian pack lightly. "We've come here before and been troubled at scrum-time," he told reporters. "Good scrumming is like good defence, it's all about focus and what you do on the day. We're going to have to be aggressive."
Australian coach Deans has rushed veteran lock Nathan Sharpe back from injury to try and counter the dominant Springbok second row pairing of Matfield and Bakkies Botha. However, Australia's greatest challenge will come in the scrum, which struggled against a second string French side in the lead-up to the Tri-Nations.
South Africa will be missing their two first-choice hookers, with John Smit out injured and Bismarck Du Plessis suspended. Schalk Brits will start in the number two jersey with the uncapped Adriaan Strauss on the bench. South African coach Peter de Villiers has opted for five forwards and two backs on the replacements bench, signalling his intention to attack the Wallabies through the forwards.
Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper; Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri; Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess; Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
South Africa: Conrad Jantjes; JP Pietersen, Francois Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Ricky Januarie; Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, Schalk Brits, Gurthro Steenkamp.
TV: (Live on Sky Sports 3, 10:30am today. Kick-off 11:05am)
The full article contains 356 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
