Tri-Nations Cup 2011: New Zealand vs South Africa - Match Preview Rugby
The second clash of the Tri-Nations Cup 2011 is going to be played between All Blacks and Springboks on July 30, in Wellington. All Blacks will play their first match of the tournament whereas the Boks will see out their second competition of the event.
The South African side is coming off an awful defeat by the Wallabies in the opening match of the Tri-Nations Cup. Meanwhile, motivated and fully armed, All Blacks had an excellent match against Fiji on July 22, in which they defeated the Pacific Nation
side by a massive margin of 60-14 in Dunedin.
The well prepared New Zealanders are set to tear apart the limping World Champions as the South African side has been crippled by large injuries. The Boks left away as many as 21 front line players from the first two matches of the Tri-Nations due to various
injuries. The causality list was further increased with a couple more returning home after sustaining shoulder and knee injuries in the first clash of the Tri Nations.
The South Africans have an inexperienced side compared to the All Blacks. The number of new players being included for the very first time in the national team will put the Boks under immense pressure playing against the World Number one side.
The Boks have made four changes in their side from the last match after two more injuries. Among the four changes, they have recruited Mostert and Patrick Lambie to make their international debut.
On the other hand, the All Blacks have also rested four key players from this particular match, including Kieran Read, Brad Thorn and two others. Richie McCaw, who will lead New Zealand, has missed a number of Super Rugby games due to a foot injury. The
All Blacks coach, Graham Henry, has made a strange move by seating Sonny Bill Williams on the benches and has given the 12 number jersey to Ma’a Nonu.
A close contest was seen between the sides when they last met in Tri-Nations Cup 2010 and All Blacks finally came out the winners by 29-22, in Johannesburg.
Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith and Sam Whitelock will be the players to watch out for in the All Blacks pack. Meanwhile, the Boks will be expecting Morne Steyn, Jean Deysel and John Smit to contribute for their team.
All Blacks should defeat the Springboks by a reasonable difference in the absence of key South African players.
The side will enter with following players:
All Blacks: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Andrew
h**e, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Liam Messam, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
Springboks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Gerhard Mostert, 3 Werner Kruger,
2 John Smit (captain), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Ryan Kankowski, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Wynand Olivier, 22 Odwa Ndungane.
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