Springbok team anounced for the tri-nations home legs

BACKS - Province/Club - Caps
Gio Aplon - DHL Western Province - 14
Frans Steyn - Racing Metro, France - 42
JP Pietersen - The Sharks - 36
Bryan Habana - DHL Western Province - 68
Jaque Fourie - DHL Western Province - 62
Juan de Jongh - DHL Western Province - 8
Jean de Villiers - DHL Western Province - 67
Morne Steyn - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 27
Butch James - MTN Golden Lions - 40
Ruan Pienaar - Ulster, N Ireland - 49
Fourie du Preez - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 55
Francois Hougaard - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 8
FORWARDS
Pierre Spies - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 40
Jean Deysel - The Sharks - 3
Danie Rossouw - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 56
Bakkies Botha - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 72
Victor Matfield - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 105
Gerhard Mostert - Stade Francais, France - 1
John Smit (captain) - The Sharks - 104
Bismarck du Plessis - The Sharks - 36
Tendai Mtawarira - The Sharks - 26
Jannie du Plessis - The Sharks - 24
Gurthrö Steenkamp - Vodacom Blue Bulls - 31
CJ van der Linde - MTN Golden Lions - 71



In addition, it sounds like Brüssow is in contention, but will depend on his game for the Cheetahs this weekend.



Lets see what happens... Go Boks!

Great News!!

Brüssow is back!!

Watched the Cheetahs game, in which he played around 30min, looked great considering the little amount of game time he has.

Here it is guys! Starting lineups for this weekends game!

In my opinion, these are pretty much the strongest lineups you will see from both teams! Gonna be a cracker!

Go Bokke!

Sprinboks
15 Frans Steyn (Racing Metro, France), 42 caps
14 JP Petersen (The Sharks), 36
13 Jaque Fourie (DHL Western Province), 62
12 Jean de Villiers (DHL Western Province), 67
11 Bryan Habana (DHL Western Province), 68
10 Butch James (MTN Golden Lions), 40
9 Fourie du Preez (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 55
8 Pierre Spies (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 40
7 Danie Rossouw (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 56
6 Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), 13
5 Victor Matfield (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 105
4 Bakkies Botha (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 72
3 Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks), 24
2 John Smit (captain) (The Sharks), 104
1 Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks), 26
Replacements
16 Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks), 36
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 31
18 Gerhard Mostert (Stade Francais, France), 1
19 Jean Deysel (The Sharks), 3
20 Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 8
21 Morne Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 27
22 Gio Aplon (DHL Western Province), 14

Australia
15. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
14. James O’Connor (Western Force)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, captain)
5. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
4. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
Replacements
16. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
17. Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies)
18. Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs)
19. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
20. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
21. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
22. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)

James? Really? Cooper is going to run rings around him. Habana too? Oi vey! If we don't kill them up front and kick away possession we might stand a chance.

What you smoking?

Butch ain't half bad, been watching him in a few of the Super 15 games, played well. Only 2 worries I have about him are: 1) injury, and 2) discipline.

He will impose himself on Cooper, and don't forget although Cooper is fantastic with ball in hand, his defence is... Think he will put in a few big hits!

Anyone know where the game will be shown this weekend? Better yet, where will games be shown during the world cup?

Been watching most of his games at Bath, when he isn't injured and he has lost a lot of his pace. A LOT! He can still put in the big tackles but only if he can actually catch Cooper. I really hope I am wrong about him, time will tell.

I was thinking Paddy's but it's Street Parade. Not sure what it's going to be like getting there and back again. What time is the match? I might head there anyways. It'll definitely be on at the Shamrock though, and at least it wont be too much of a mission to get to.

Here's the final Pumas line-up:

Forwards: Patricio Albacete, Marcos Iván Ayerza, Maximiliano Bustos, Alejandro Campos, Manuel Carizza, Agustin Creevy, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Figallo, Mariano Galarza, Alvaro Galindo, Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, Mario Ledesma, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Rodrigo Roncero, Martín Scelzo, Leonardo Vicente Senatore, Tomas Vallejos.

Backs: Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch, Gonzalo Camacho, Felipe Contepomi, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Agustin Gosio, Juan José Imhoff, Alfredo Lalanne, Martín Rodriguez, Federico Nicolás Sanchez, Gonzalo Tiesi, Nicolás Vergallo.

BTW, did anyone see the game last night, France vs Ireland ? Ireland played terribly, especially in the first half, in which France swept the field with them. The second half was OK, and Ireland even had a chance to even the score...but missed it again. A real shame, which goes to prove France is not as fit as they could for the RWC.

Springbok team to play the Kiwi's this weekend!

15 Pat Lambie (The Sharks), 6 Test caps
14 JP Pietersen (The Sharks), 37
13 Jaque Fourie (DHL Western Province), 63
12 Jean de Villiers (DHL Western Province), 68
11 Bryan Habana (DHL Western Province), 69
10 Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 28
9 Fourie du Preez (Suntory, Japan), 56
8 Pierre Spies (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 41
7 Willem Alberts (The Sharks), 3
6 Heinrich Brüssow (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), 14
5 Victor Matfield (captain) (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 106
4 Bakkies Botha (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 73
3 Jannie du Plessis (The Sharks), 25
2 Bismarck du Plessis (The Sharks), 37
1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 32
Replacements
16 John Smit (The Sharks), 105
17 Tendai Mtawarira (The Sharks), 27
18 CJ van der Linde (MTN Golden Lions), 71
19 Danie Rossouw (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 57
20 Ashley Johnson (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), 2
21 Francois Hougaard (Vodacom Blue Bulls), 9
22 Butch James (MTN Golden Lions), 41

Not bad!

Come on guys, lets build on last week!

Only a short discssion I am sure.LOL Anyway, think we need a stronger looking SA than we are seeing at the moment for the World Cup. Good Luck

True... As it doesn't look like any of the NH teams will challenge NZ or Aus...

BAD news!

Juan Smith has officially pulled out of the World Cup. Big blow for SA.

NICE.So a win over the overrated All Black team feels good.
Kiwi fruits were resting a few players but still their strongest
attacking team I think.
So onwards and upwards from here on.

Let's hope so.

Bokke clinched well deserved winner against Fiji 49:3 and at the same time sent a message across: if you wanna win the trophy come get it from us We are well poised against Namibia brotherhood match next week. On the other flank, Ireland has stunned everyone by historical win against Australia. Aussie's fall back priceless Lekker RWC2011! Morné Steyn rocked today!

ahem...

Yeah but to be honest I think yesterdays result amazed a lot of people. None more so than the Irish players.

Hey chaps,

Well it's been a while since I posted here. Actually pretty much forgot that I started this thread

Anyway, let's get it going again.

So, the Super 15 is only a couple of days away, or a week and half for the SA teams. And I must say, I cant wait!

With the exception of the Kings, the SA teams are looking good. Of course, I will be routing for the Cheetahs to kick some butt this year!

For anyone who is keen to join the online fantasy league, try http://fantasyrugby.udt.co.za/superr...ed/Dashboard.j

On a last really sad note. Juan Smith has finally called it quits and retired from rugby. It seems that the Achilles injury he suffered 2 years ago just hasn't been able to sort itself out. What a huge loss to SA rugby and rugby in general. All the best to him. He was a mountain of man.

And another fantasy league: http://superrugbyfantasy.foxsports.com.au