Du Plessis Ruled Out
Jannie du Plessis has been ruled out of South Africa's second Tri Nations match against New Zealand through injury.
The prop strained his calf during the first defeat to the All Blacks and the world champions wanted him fit and ready to play again as they look to make up for their sloppy effort during the first encounter.
Du Plessis did not play badly during the 32-12 loss at the hands of the Kiwis and there is no doubt at all that his absence from the side will be a massive blow. There are many parts of his game that make him important in the South Africa team and there will be a lot of pressure on the person who takes his place.
However, this will mean a chance for someone who may not have been expecting it. There will be nothing better for one of the South African fringe players than to come in on the biggest stage against one of the Springboks' main rivals.
Big Blow
There are many elements of du Plessis' game that make him a vital component of the way that South Africa operates. At prop he is often right in the heart of the action being used to try and break up attacks and throw his weight around.
His experience will be missed and this will be important regardless of the first result between these two countries. He would have suffered defeat at some point in the past and he would have been able to guide the rest of the team in reacting in the right way and manner.
His presence will also be missed right in the middle of the South African team. It's important for sides to have big and imposing players when they come up against stronger and bigger units. Du Plessis was someone who could make the size difference look unimportant.
A Chance
You cannot ignore the fact that his absence from the side means a chance for someone else. This will probably not worry too many South African fans because they will argue that whoever comes into the side could hardly do any worse.
There are a number of fringe players who could possibly come into the team but it's important to remember that they will still play at prop, they won't have the opportunity to run around like mad men trying to score.
The chance will mean that the player who gets the start will be likely to raise his performance levels. This will make him more determined, and it should not be a surprise if you see the Springbok defence being a little tighter and more stubborn during the second game.
South Africa are going to have to attack from the back and this makes the props in the side very important. It means that the unit stays well organised and pushes slowly up the field and into key enemy territory. From here the more influential players can go about their business and get South African rugby looking more respectable.
Betting Advice
The Kiwis were the favourites for the first encounter between these two sides and nothing will change ahead of the second match. The absence of du Plessis will weaken the side regardless of the benefits for someone coming into the team.
Be wary of backing the person that takes his place because they will play at prop just like du Plessis. This means they will not get many, if any, scoring chances and you will waste money if you back them to do this. It could be a good idea to wait until the match starts before betting.
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