Put his foot in it: JP Pietersen
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One would be hard pressed to recall an Ireland side as injury-hit as the one that will tackle the Springboks at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.
Missing Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Rob Kearney, Sean O'Brien, Rory Best and Stephen Ferris means their depth is seriously tested. Many home fans would have that sextet as being the Irish's first names down on the sheet, so there lies the concern for coach and supporters alike.
It is therefore unsurprising that the Boks enter this game as favourites - and as some believe a touch lacking in respect for their wounded opponents.
Everyone remembers the one out of the coaching manual that states "do not do your opposition's teamtalk for them". But at a press conference this week, Bok JP Pietersen definitely put his foot in it. Asked about the backline he is set to face this week, his words went a little like this: "I've played against Tommy Bowe and I think the other winger is David Skrela or something, he plays for Ulster." He meant Andrew Trimble in a blunder of note.
Granted many have leapt on this as being an act of cockiness over not researching their respective rival but it's worth noting that South Africa does struggle with their broadcasting of northern rugby, particularly the PRO12. Whether that's an excuse is a grey area to debate.
Ireland coach Declan Kidney may well use that gem before kick-off as he looks around a dressing room that's almost unrecognisable from their first XV. Simon Zebo starts the match at full-back in the absence of Kearney, Keith Earls replaces O'Driscoll, Chris Henry and Peter O'Mahony come in for Sean O'Brien and Stephen Ferris while Mike McCarthy and Richardt Strauss - the latter facing his cousin - replace the crocked O'Connell and Best.
So are they set for something like the hiding they received from the All Blacks in the third Test at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton earlier this year? It shouldn't be that bad but the notion that Ireland are severely under-strength and underdone coinciding with the Boks improving and looking ready to click at any moment does suggest the visitors have a big edge.
Teams news sees Jaco Taute rightly retained in the number thirteen jersey while the performance of just-turned 21-year-old Eben Etzebeth in the recent Currie Cup final in Durban was a sight to behold in terms of carries and workrate. If the northern hemisphere does not know about what the Western Province forward is about, they will by December.
Heyneke Meyer's outfit is definitely stronger on paper and the back-row is a well-balanced trio of Francois Louw, Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen, who are likely to cause the Irish a lot of problems in defence, with Etzebeth and hooker Adriaan Strauss assisting.
Further back there remains some gripes over the non-selection of Juan de Jongh at outside centre, which would allow Taute to slot into the full-back shirt he performed so well in during Super Rugby for the Lions. But it seems that Meyer is set on Taute's future position - and that of Zane Kircher - whilst JP Pietersen returns in place of recently crowned South African Rugby Player of the Year, Bryan Habana, for his wing battle with Ireland's...say it with me.
Ones to watch:
For Ireland: Declan Kidney will hope Cian Healy backs up his June form against what looks to be a formidable Springbok eight. Elsewhere, and it will be interesting to see how Simon Zebo goes at the back in the absence of Rob Kearney. A strong performance could see him cement his position in the matchday 22 for the long-term while the leadership of Jamie Heaslip will also have to be strong alongside the organiser of the backs, Jonathan Sexton. Unlike Heaslip, Sexton has some familiarity around him and if he wants to nail down that British & Irish Lions jersey, Saturday against the Springboks is a great place to start.
For South Africa: Much to the delight of those in Durban and also a large segment of Springbok supporters, Pat Lambie has been given the fly-half reins for this opener. In the absence of injury victim Johan Goosen and ahead of Morne Steyn and Elton Jantjies, Lambie will offer more of a running threat than we saw from Steyn in the recent Rugby Championship. Also worth watching will be Jaco Taute, who is given a second chance in the 13 jersey - it won't be against Brian O'Driscoll which would've been a good watch - so expect the stocky back to push on to bigger and better things in Dublin this weekend.
Head-to-head: It will be a family affair at hooker in Dublin as Richardt and Adriaan Strauss pack down in respective number two shirts. For a long time they were team-mates in the Free State with the Cheetahs before the former was called over by Leinster and Ireland. Both hard workers - with Adriaan one of the busiest carriers in the business - their battle is one that the television commentators are sure to mention before the national anthems.
Recent results:
2010: South Africa won 23-21 at Lansdowne Road
2009: Ireland won 15-10 at Croke Park
2006: Ireland won 32-15 at Lansdowne Road
2004: Ireland won 17-12 at Lansdowne Road
2004: South Africa won 26-17 at Newlands
2004: South Africa won 31-17 at Free State Stadium
Prediction: Injuries are a massive problem for Ireland and with the Boks having recently been in camp for the Rugby Championship, there is that feeling that if they click it could be long evening for a home outfit that is unfamiliar in terms of partnerships. We expect replacement hooker Schalk Brits and flank Marcell Coetzee to cause some problems late in the piece and if the Springboks can build a lead, it could mean a margin of at least 15.
The teams:
Ireland: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Peter O'Mahony, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Iain Henderson, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Ronan O'Gara, 23 Fergus McFadden.
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Pat Cilliers, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Marcell Coetzee, 21 Morné Steyn, 22 Juan de Jongh, 23 Lwazi Mvovo.
Date: Saturday, November 10
Kick-off: 17:30 GMT
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Luke Pierce (England)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
By Adam Kyriacou
@PlanetRugbyAK
Comments
BackingLeinster says...
@TVaddict
Ok so you can get your DeLorien up to 88mph, stop rubbing our faces in it.
Posted 15:09 09th November 2012
HenryFitz says...
I read on munsterfans that Pietersen was winding Trimble up, as they know each other from church missions and other do-gooding stuff.
Oh yeah, the match: two fairly ordinary backlines (Pietersen and Bowe apart), and South Africa with a definite edge in the set pieces. Both sides will struggle to put points on the board, for slightly different reasons. I have a feeling Ireland will soak up a lot of pressure and take their scores when they come, but ultimately won't have enough of the ball to win the game. 17-17.
Posted 15:00 09th November 2012
BokAvenger says...
Struggling with broadcasting of northern rugby? What utter drivel - did you dream that up during your beauty sleep? We have televised rugby of under 9 barefoot rugby in the Karoo for gawds sake (and I'm not joking, we really do). We have just about everything from up North, it's just that it's not really that popular.
The editor says.... See reply to JayStarr
Posted 13:54 09th November 2012
99call says...
I agree that SA have their injuries and arent able to put out the best side but when youve got 600 professional players in SA to choose from as opposed to 120 in Ireland a few injuries has less of an impact.
No matter what anyone says thats a good SA side with any of those players being able to make the first 15 even with everyone fit, and too be honest with 1 positional change ie Bowe to 13 and Earls on the wing we've not got a bad side either, there are few boys who could count themselves unlucky for example Marshall who should at least be on the bench instead of Reddan and it is a mystery how Tuohy isnt even in the 23 but what ever we Ulstermen are used to being ignored by Kidney
Really hope Henderson gets a run, its only a few months ago he was playing the babyboks now hes getting a go at the full sized version the boy is a future star
Anyway my predicition is Ire 12 - 18 SA although I hope its the other way round
Posted 13:26 09th November 2012
TVaddict says...
I'm going to go for a more detailed prediction for this one for some added fun because I'm just that kind of guy.
If South Africa don't score a try within the first 10 or so minutes I expect Ireland to win the first half by about 3 points or less. However in the second half South Africa will dominate and only a late try from Ireland will make bring to score back to a respectable 6 point difference (ish).
I expect Brits to be brought on and shine but he won't actually manage to score. In the second half the south African scrum is going to take dominance. Zebo to do surprising well at fullback apart from one awful blunder which will ultimately lead to a try/yellow card for someone, probably early in the second half.
Posted 13:17 09th November 2012
atg77 says...
An interesting fact is that Ireland have never beaten a top tier nation when O'Driscoll wasn't playing(since he started playing in '99)... and often loose quite heavily as well.
Posted 13:06 09th November 2012
Sincero says...
@jaystarr I note you don't mention the Pro XII, which Adam specifically made his point about. However, if we go with you, and you've great coverage of rugby down there- then Pietersen, a professional rugby player, not knowing who Trimble, a seasoned leage, cup and international player, is, and confusing Ireland with France... well, that would be utterly moronic.
So your theory is: Pietersen is a moron. Ok. I can go with that.
Posted 12:53 09th November 2012
JayStarr says...
Mr. Writer of the article, the Springboks are missing Bismarck du Plessis, Andries Bekker, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Johan Goosen, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana, Jaque Fourie and then some (Coenie Oosthuizen, Tiaan Liebenberg, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski, and and and)... And we might as well be playing without a full-back - the invisible replacement would contribute about as much as Zane Kirchner...
So neither team is even close to full-strength - but you can't quite call either team 2nd string either. So get over it Adam Kyriacou.
As for South Africa "struggling with it's broadcasting of Northern Rugby": POPPYCOCK! We not only see all South African rugby (even schools and university rugby) and Super 15 on Supersport's DEDICATED RUGBY CHANNELS (who of you have that?) - we also see ALL the games in the ITM Cup, the Heineken Cup, the French Top 14 and the Aviva Premiership an hour or two after the match ended, or live if it's an important game. That is FAR more than SKY UK can say with their 3 or 4 Super Rugby games a weekend (if you're lucky)..! So once again, get your facts straight Adam. We have the best rugby coverage in the world.
Anyway, back to the game. Our forwards look good on paper, but if they don't show up on the day, that won't help us... And they will need to work extra-hard, because our backs don't look convincing: Zane Kirchner is a liability as far as I'm concerned, Jaco Taute is playing out of position and was poor at 13 in his previous test, JdV has been out injured for a while and was not playing well before his injury and Ruan Pienaar and Patrick Lambie has never played together. So there won't be any "clicking" - it definitely won't be plain sailing. However, Patrick Lambie is the type of player who can make those around him look good... so I believe we'll still do well. I just hope HM has not instructed him too much...
The editor says.... JayStarr, the article states that the Pietersen mishap is a grey area for debate so thanks a lot for your contribution. On the broadcasting topic, there is no doubt South Africa provides a wide range of rugby, but as Adam says, the PRO12 is not covered. He was merely giving a balanced look at why Pietersen might have slipped up in midweek. Ireland's depth is being tested like never before (a problem area for them) and you should take it as a compliment (as a Bok fan) that despite missing Bismarck, Habana and Steyn, that such a strong team has been named by Meyer. Enjoy the game.
Posted 11:58 09th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Ireland by 4. Going to Ireland with one bash it up game plan won't work.
Posted 11:42 09th November 2012
Chopper says...
...this sounds like the same old story - us Saffa supporters expecting the Boks to give the opposition a hiding only to get a narrow victory.
I expect a win by less than 10 points, but how often do the Boks destroy opponents by 30 points? I'd love to see it but it hardly ever happens - nevertheless, Go Bokke!!!
Posted 11:39 09th November 2012
Zambokke says...
Bismarck du Plessis, Andries Bekker, Bryan Habana, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Frans Steyn, Heinrich Brüssow,Tiaan Liebenberg, Pierre Spies, Johan Goosen, Coenie Oosthuizen, and even Siya Kolisi and Jacques Potgieter- could have all been considerations for SA. This article should not talk down Ireland because of injuries. How good are the guys above? If you mentioned their names as being part of The Barbarian squad, they would sell tickets - most are world class, just like O'Driscoll etc are for Ireland. I'm not convinced by Kirchner and never will be - he is a great player but not International level. I hope that Taute will deliver at this level, but I don't feel that he is a J.Fourie. I'm really looking forward to watching the forward battle. Go Bokke.
Posted 11:12 09th November 2012
Sincero says...
Come on now, be fair to Dickie K.... Zebo at 15 could world... it's not as if you really need a specialist there, because the Boks love nothing more than belting endless Garyowens down his channel to press for mistakes as their primary and only game-plan. Should be grand.
I'd go Boks by 20+ and return to my catchphrase of 2010-present: Kidney out. Well done to the I.R.F.U. on that contract extension in the year of a world cup... again. Not long now, folks... but the boycott rages on.
http://kidneyclock.net/
Posted 11:11 09th November 2012
rorygilmore says...
Ireland may be struggling with a few missing players, and everyone is commenting on the missing Australians in the Wallaby camp, but the Springboks are missing almost an entire team of x factor players for reasons of either injury or non availability due to playing in Japan etc. The list of missing Springboks is a who's who of SA Rugby players. Imagine a team with these 11 players available: Bismarck DuPlessis, Jacques Fourie, Fourie DuPreez, Bakkies Botha (on standby), Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussouw, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Bryan Habana, Goosen, Ryan Kankowski. These guys would make many country's first teams. So this Bok team is almost a 2nd team. So if the Boks come home from this tour undefeated.... and "new" talent exposed (Lambie esp) it will be a fantastic result for them, given the unavailable players.
Posted 11:09 09th November 2012
99call says...
Its time for some of our boys to stand up and be counted, the big names arent there but some of the biggest wont be there at all in a couple of years.
Ive been at head of the line when people have been having a pop at Darcy but now he has to prove everyone wrong, hes the senior man in the backline and needs to show some leadership by example, yeah he doesnt score many tries but I doubt this will be a try fest more like an 80 minute all in wrestling match so in that case I'd have Darc in my team all day long.
We need to take the game to the SAFAs, hit them hard and fast lets be honest they dont have the most imaginative game plan bascially its kick the ball at you chase it and then try and beat you up to get a turn over or penalty.
Im not holding out alot of hope for a win but then we havent fielded a team like this without the majority of our big stars for years so a good commited perfomance and anything less that 10 points will be acceptable.
Posted 10:59 09th November 2012
SACanuck says...
Boks by 10, Ireland have a lot of heart and will not lay down. If the Boks want a big score they will need to bring their A game. Scum time could be a lot of penalties.
Posted 10:43 09th November 2012
papachinzo says...
Dan Tuohy, Darren Cave, Luke Fitzgerald and 'Ireland's no.1 scrum-half' Paul Marshall are also not present...
I have no problem giving Zebo a chance at full back given the circumstances, but I really don't understand why Keith Earls is still there. Not only has he had several chances and failed all of them, but we have a form 13 playing for Ulster, Darren Cave.
Also, Murray just isn't gelling with Sexton, its quite obvious, yet he still starts ahead of Reddan and Marshall... as for McCarthy, I'm not going to waste more of my time, that's just a joke!
@IRFU Kidney has GOT. TO. GO !!
Boks will have too much pace and power for this thrown together Irish outfit.
Boks by 20+.
Posted 10:42 09th November 2012
melkdave says...
As most posters will know ,ive been in despair over the Ireland selections,for the original squad ,and for this match.I dont realistically see anything happening ,but a SA victory ,and a substanial one to boot.Apart from the frontrow ,i think SA have the edge in every department,even FB.I do hope im wrong i really do ,and that somehow Ireland nick it.But just cant see it so SA by 20 +
Posted 10:38 09th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
how is Juan Smith? he is coming back right? He's better than Ritchie McCaw. When Smith plays NZ loses. Smith has that Richard Hill silent assassin thing going on, but he's getting on now, isn't he? The Boks miss him.
anyway, back to the match. Nice to see Tommy Bowe fit again. Lambie vs sexton will be classic! The packs will probably decide thast battle before the 10's do though.
Ireland have a humilating defeat to address. they were sent away from New Zealand with their tail firmly stuffed between their legs. I hope to see a backlash on saturday. The Boks were disapointing in the rugby championship, their away form was flakey at best. A completley different beast to the team that played in SA. We all expect the Bok pack to slowly grind the Irish forwards into the mud but rugby can be 50% Ability 50% Passion. Passion, the willingness to put your body on the line and rtake the pain for your team mates and your country. Ireland know a bit about passion. Don't write them off. The Boks will have to earn this win.
Then there's the coaches. Meyer and Kidney have had questionable moments this season and both of them are under pressure to perform. Ireland can be really stodgey under Kidney. I hope he appeals to their honour and lets them cut loose. their back line is attack minded. if they sit back and defend then Earls and Zebo will get trampled. Play to their strengths and if the boks kick, then hold onto the ball. On paper the boks win, but Ireland are not about names on paper. They are about getting caught in the moment and giving it an almighty crack. They've been written off, THEY'LL LOVE IT!
Posted 10:20 09th November 2012
carpelone says...
The Boks have everything to lose here and it will be closer.
For all those claiming that SA is without Burger and Smith, well, I do not think we are going to see them again in green and gold. They are ageing and being a back row in SA cuts your life shorter. Smith for sure, and it is a pity.
This side are far from being a finished article (up to five position are not consolidated), they are young with high potential, but they allowed New Zealand to get back in a game when they should have not.
Ireland are a decent side, with obvious weakness in the midfield (pity that they can not field Skrela at inside centre).
Let's see if Baby Face Lambie can deliver
Posted 10:16 09th November 2012
GCP_jones says...
@PR....
GET REAL Boks by at least 15 I think your being very generous there. South Africa look the stronger side and I won't be surprised if they win.
BUT, Ireland's pack is a decent one, Murray is selceted for his defence,the boy needs to become a man to-morrow evening, if he does nothing else he hasto be getting to the rucks quickly and move ball moving.
The Boks are big alright but lumbering. Ireland are stronger at wing and outhalf and are a match for South Africa in the front row
Ireland/Kidney needs a performance after the hamilton disgrace and more importantly to win the Irish public back.
South Africa will not win by 15.
Posted 10:10 09th November 2012