iafrica.com columnist BJ Botha previews the upcoming Test between the Springboks and Wallabies and, despite being impressed with the Wallabies last week, predicts another victory for the Boks.

It has been a great week for us here in Belfast and the weather has really played its part. The sun is visible for most of the day and the rain is staying away!

We have just finished 'phase two' of our four scheduled warm up games and it was a great result for us as we downed Newcaste Falcons at our home ground Ravenhill on Friday night!

It was also not surprising for me to see when I went through the opposing team to find the names of my fellow countrymen and old teammates Chris Micklewood and Gcobani Bobo in the starting line-up. It was great to catch up and it just ilustrates how many South African players there are in the UK and in France, as I stated in my last column. It is really enjoyable to play against guys that you would have played against in the Currie Cup and Super 14 and now to be playing against them in a totally foreign competition makes it special.

I managed to watch bits and pieces of the All Blacks-Wallabies Test over the weekend and it was an entertaining game of rugby. There was some good running rugby on the day and the guys went out hard against each other with Dan Carter stealing the show once again with his general play and, of course, that match-winning penalty.

Some of the Australians definitely stood out for me, but ultimately as a team I think they let themselves down. Some of things they did were just very unlike them and if they were a bit more streetwise in Sydney they could have won the Test.

Australia now face the trip to Perth with some major injury concerns with Berrick Barnes and Nathan Sharpe already ruled out and concern over Rocky Elsom to boot.

Barnes has been brilliant for Australia and has acted as the first centre General, a lot like Tim Horan was when he was playing. Barnes takes a lot of pressure off Matt Giteau and plays a big role in the decision-making of the backline, so he will be a massive loss to the Wallabies.

The loss of Sharpe is also huge. The veteran lock has heaps of experience and had a massive game against the All Blacks over the weekend — both in the line-outs and general play, but it is his experience that will be most missed. He has played a lot of Test rugby and is one of the leaders in this side already missing regular captain Stirling Mortlock — and he is going to be hard to replace.

Rocky Elsom is doubtful, but the Wallabies will be desperate for him to play, knowing how much he brings to their pack, both in terms of skill and aggression, which will be very much needed against a very physical and aggressive Bok side.

All those injuries means the Australians build-up to Perth is far from ideal, while they are also struggling with selection issues, particularly up front with Al Baxter struggling and very little else to choose from at tighthead.

A home away from home

Perth, meanwhile, is barely even considered as part of Australia because it's so far away(6 hours flight from Sydney), while the Springboks know that they will have a huge amount of supporters in the stands. Historically it has been that way and I am sure John and the team will be looking to use that to their advantage.

Despite Graham Henry claiming that we play 'boring' rugby, we will continue to play to our strengths against the Wallabies on Saturday. We will stick with the aerial game, use our wings to chase, and look to dominate up front. We won't move away from what has worked — we're winning and that is what Test rugby is about. The Springboks won't be bothered by what Henry and company have been saying, nor will they let it dictate how they play.

Everything has been going well for the Boks ahead of this game. They have had some time off, had time to acclimatise, and the flight from Johannesburg to Perth is far better than Johannesburg-Sydney. There are a lot of positives for the Boks leading into this test in Perth, knowing that a win will see them putting one hand on the Tri-Nations trophy for 2009.

The Wallabies, of course, still have a chance to secure a win. They are a proud nation and while they may not have a chance of winning the Tri-Nations, they will want to continue building on the platform they have built this year. But I feel they are going to struggle without the likes of Sharpe, Elsom and Barnes.

They have a very young backline, which Robbie Deans is trying to bring through, but in Test matches poor decisions can cost you the game. It is that lack of experience in the Wallaby side that could cost them in the end, but the Boks cannot afford to take them lightly because they will come out all guns blazing to get a win in Aus and to spoil it for the Boks!

In that light, I think the Boks will look to stick to the gameplan, take the points on offer — whether it be through kicking or tries and close them out. We can play both conservative and expansive rugby, and will definitely look to mix it up, but we will want to keep the scoreboard ticking over. That is always important, but on an overseas trip, it is even more so.

BJ's prediction: At the end of the day I think the Boks are quietly confident going into this match. They have been dominating both sides this season, and should come out victorious with a 10 point margin.

  • Do you agree with BJ? How do you see the game going? Leave a comment below!
    RSS
    Digg
    de.li.cious
    facebook
    LATEST FEATURES
    The game is in disrepute (c) backpagepix The only people bringing rugby into disrepute are the very people running it, says Rob Peters.
    BJ backs the Boks Despite being impressed with the Wallabies last week, BJ predicts another victory for the Boks.
    Keep an eye on... Federico Macheda celebrates after scoring for Manchester United. backpagepix iafrica.com's Carl Blacker takes a look at ten of the Premier League's brightest young talents.


    Print this page
    Send this article to a friend