For most of the world’s rugby fans, it has become
commonplace practice every autumn to compare their team to New Zealand or
closely analyse their performance against the All Blacks and use it as a
barometer for next year’s 6 Nations or an upcoming World Cup. This year however
South Africa can provide at least as stiff a test for the Northern Hemisphere
nations, starting with 6 Nations Champions Wales.
Henyke Meyer’s men have taken some time to find their feet
under their new coach but they seem to have found the perfect formula this year
and have put in some spellbinding performances in this year’s Rugby
Championship. Style of play was a criticism of Meyer’s early performance and
its true that he hasn’t changed the South African style and gameplan but the
incredible intensity they produced twice against Australia and in THAT test –
the game of the year so far, here for your viewing pleasure – the rugby
championship decider where they had the title in their sights for a brief
moment before New Zealand broke away to win.
It was without a doubt the hardest that Steve Hansen’s side
have been tested since England took them apart in London last year – with the
aid of the Norovirus to boot – and a performance even better than their 38-12
dismantling of Australia midway through the Rugby Championship, their biggest
defeat at home to the Springboks,
It’s a run which has seen them jump to second in the world
and also second favourites for the World Cup in two years, but Meyer’s taking
no chance and is introducing different faces to bring his team upto speed and
test tactics and squad depth, including Pat Lambie, JP Pitersen and Jacque Fourie
in a blast to the past. Half of the team that started that incredible game to
end the Rugby Championship are still present, with the whole backrow,
halfbacks, and two thirds of the front row still intact from their Ellis Park
encounter.
Wales’s epic dismantling of England to snatch the 6 Nations
in March was a sublime display and at that intensity any team will struggle to
match them, while most of the side that will run out today – including the
fearsome Lydiate/Warburton commination and two thirds of the front row that
dismantled Australia in the final test – were integral to Lions success. It’s
fair to expect a very close encounter with the mental confidence from that
success and Rhys Priestland’s form season is a dangerous sign for their
opponents this time around with a backline including two on fire centres sure
to get better service this Autumn than last year.
However this will be a game of incredible force in the
forward pack and I’m yet to see a team consistently produce the intensity that
this South African pack has this year and they can take the spoils. Having lost
just once to Wales in 14 years South Africa are giving up either three or four
points but their larges winning margin in the last four meetings has been five
points and a 1-12 winning margin bet makes more appeal.
Advice
4 pts South Africa to win by 1-12 points (13/10 Paddy Power)
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