Injuries cause delay in naming Springbok XV
Ahead of their highly anticipated match-up with the no.1 ranked rugby team in the world, the New Zealand All-Blacks, the South African Springboks are being forced to delay naming their starting line-up by at least 48 hours as they deal with at least two significant injuries, and perhaps more.
Bakkies Botha and Danie Roussouw have knee problems and are both questionable to start against the Kiwis on July 10. Nursing minor injuries, the team wants to give them the best chance of recovering before they are forced to make a decision on which 15 players will take the field against the All-Blacks.
The July 10 match will open up the Tri Nations tournament, and there are few games that have more highly anticipated all year. Though the All-Blacks are recognized as being the world’s best, the Boks rolled through them in last year’s event, winning all three games to take the tournament, which is contested between Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The Boks are ranked no. 2 and are essentially considered to be equally likely from a betting perspective to win the tournament.
The captain of the green and gold, John Smit, said he thought both players were an asset to the team, but didn’t seem too concerned about now having them, especially as they’ve been without Botha and Roussouw in their pre-tournament Tests.
"They are two good players. Any change in the tight five would have an effect on how you play. But we have been lucky enough to play without either of them in the lead-up to the Tri-Nations and it has run pretty smoothly so far," he said to Stuff.
"We feel we have guys to take their place."
Decision likely last minute
With the decision on whether to start Botha or Roussouw hinging on whether each of those players can recover from their injuries within the next two days, the decision is likely to be taken and announced at the last minute, something South African coach Peter de Villiers acknowledged. But de Villiers is playing his cards close to his chest and isn’t revealing too much about who will start for the Springboks.
"It is going to be very tight, as it usually is," South African coach Peter de Villiers said. He further hinted that he was willing to chance his team around from last year’s incarnation that snapped a four-year Tri Nations winning streak by the All-Blacks.
"If we don't look forward we won't move forward," he said.
"What worked for us in 2009 will not work for us this year and we will have to find new and different ways to get the results we want.”
Anticipation building before crucial first match
The game is going to be one of the most closely-watched in 2010, as it establishes several things. The Springboks have humbled the All-Blacks by winning their past two trips to New Zealand, although the Kiwis have not lost a match at Eden Park, where the match will be played since 1994.
Because both teams are seen as having a significant advantage over the Australian Wallabies, the three games New Zealand and South Africa are playing against each other will be an important way of determining who wins the tournament, and also who win reign supreme at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. In part because of the Springbok injury woes, the All-Blacks are favourites to take the first match, with bookmakers giving them 5/8 odds, compared to the Springboks at 18/11. But whatever the case, injuries or no, the Springboks are looking to prove themselves against the Kiwis.
"It's always good to come here," Smit said.
"There is a great rivalry between us and the All Blacks and we expect a tough contest."
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