The penultimate round of the Rugby Championship is on deck this weekend, and sees the return of a couple veterans, and the addition of a couple newbies. Predictions are ahead!
SOUTH AFRICA vs AUSTRALIA
Saturday, September 28, 15:00 GMT, Cape Town
The big news is a first test start for Fourie du Preez since the 2011 World Cup. He looked very good in his brief cameo against Argentina six weeks ago, and should give the Springboks a big boost in speed of service. Adriaan Strauss rotates with Bismarck du Plessis in the only other change to the side that faced the All Blacks.
Ewen McKenzie has dropped James O’Connor after reports of yet another off-field incident, and Nick Cummins misses out due to injury. Adam Ashley-Cooper slides one out to the right wing to make room for Tevita Kuridani, making his first test start at centre, while Joe Tomane is recalled to the left wing. In better news captain James Horwill is fit again and reforms his Queensland second row partnership with Rob Simmons. Benn Robinson has been recalled to the bench in place of Scott Sio, and 19 year old Chris Feauai-Sautia hopes to make his debut as a reserve.
To be frank, an Australian victory at Newlands would be a remarkable achievement. They narrowly beat the Pumas a fortnight ago and haven’t won in Cape Town since 1992. While Horwill will add resolution to their pack, the addition of du Preez will have the Boks humming. Expect the Wallabies to take a bit of hammering, South Africa by 18.
SOUTH AFRICA
Zane Kirchner; Willie le Roux, J.J. Engelbrecht, Jean de Villiers (capt.), Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis; Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe; Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen. RES: Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Juandre Kruger, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, Patrick Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
AUSTRALIA
Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane; Quade Cooper, Nic White; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander; Rob Simmons, James Horwill (capt.); Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen. RES: Saia Fainga’a, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Will Genia, Matt To’omua, Chris Feauai-Sautia.
ARGENTINA vs NEW ZEALAND
Saturday, September 28, 22:40 GMT, La Plata
The Pumas have re-jigged the lineup once again as star second row Patricio Albacete returns in place of Manuel Carizza. Meanwhile Eusebio Guinazu, Martin Landajo, and Santiago Fernandez are rotated back into the run-on side. The indifferent form of Horacio Agulla means that the silky skilled Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino gets a chance on the wing, and Marcelo Bosch returns at the expense of Gonzalo Tiesi at centre.
New Zealand will be waiting patiently on captain Kieran Read, who is now a doubt for the match with an undisclosed illness. Should Read drop out, Steven Luatua will come in to the back row with Dane Coles providing cover from the bench and Conrad Smith captaining. The other changes to the side are Andrew Hore returning in place of Coles at hooker, and Aaron Cruden filling in for injured Dan Carter. On the bench Jeremy Thrush returns in place of Matt Todd, who has torn a pectoral muscle and will be out until the new year.
The Pumas are always passionate at home, and will come out fired up, but this should look a lot like the game in Hamilton last year with the All Blacks eventually pulling away during the final quarter. Take New Zealand by 15.
ARGENTINA
Juan Martin Hernandez; Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Juan Imhoff; Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Marcos Ayerza, Eusebio Guinazu, Juan Figallo; Julio Farias Cabello, Patricio Albacete; Juan Fernandez Lobbe (capt.), Pablo Matera, Juan Manuel Leguizamon. RES: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Lobo, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Manuel Carizza, Benjamin Macome, Tomas Cubelli, Felipe Contepomi, Horacio Agulla.
NEW ZEALAND
Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Owen Franks; Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock; Liam Messam, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (capt.). RES: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Jeremy Thrush, Steven Luatua, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau.
