Bok team for Saturday

Did you see the support the AB's got on arrival in SA... 2000 ''South Africans'' (non supporters) at the Airport to greet them...()

Were they SAMWU supporters singing and dancing ..... emptying the dustbins for the hosts?

Interesting game on Saturday. I believe the AB's will win fairly confortably because:
1) Looking at the SA side picked there are 2 full front rows which to me means they will use the dead rubber for them as a training exercise and try to set up lineouts and moves instead of always taking the 3 points.
2) The AB's are playing their fringe players who would do anything to get a World Cup starting line up spot so will be giving every thing to put in a good perfomance and try and take out a few of the first choice players.
3) If the AB's win on Saturday barring Aus beating them and scoring 5 points to 0 they will win the Tri Nations so they have everything to play for.

13/20 Looks reasonable value so throw the AB's into any doubles or trebles for the weekend, even 19/20 on -3,5 looks good.

Shrek I am a novice at Sports betting, what is -3.5??

Hi Greg -3.5 is the handicap on New Zealand so if NZ win by 3 or less or lose then you lose if they win by 4 or more points you win. Similarly SA are +3.5 so if the win you win and you would also win if the lost by 3 or less points. Hope this helps.

Thanks Shrek, New Zealand by 10 points ... what odds?

Also think the All Blacks by a big margin

I am punting SA to win on Saturday because they will.
Ex players, coaches, scribes are optimistic about our "GOOD CHANCES" in the World Cup.
Now after a win on Saturday, these same will talk about "World beaters SA RETAINING Webb-Ellis trophy".
However, I see them battling to make it past the first round. IMVHO

Cape Town - The Springboks have received a massive blow with the news that star flank Juan Smith will not be available for the World Cup.

WIN your very own personalised Bok jersey

Click to BUY the Springbok kitchen recipe book

Smith has not sufficiently recovered from an injured Achilles and has therefore withdrawn himself from the South Africa's World Cup squad.

"I am not 100%," an emotional Smith told the Volksblad newspaper.

"I won't be able to give everything and realise I should put my team, team-mates and the Bok fans first. I must stop lying to myself - what I've been doing these last three weeks - and realise that I'm not ready," said Smith.

This is a huge blow for Smith, as he would have had the opportunity of playing in three World Cup's after he represented South Africa at the 2003 and 2007 tournaments.

Smith said he endured immense pain in the last while, but still carried hopes of being ready in time for the showpiece in New Zealand.

"The pain-level that I have been practicing with, was seven out of ten, which means I had to endure a lot," said Smith.

Smith says from the first day he sustained the injury he was very positive and tried everything within his ability to go to the World Cup.

"I really cannot describe how disappointed I am...immensely," said Smith.

Smith will soon undergo an operation and will then focus on returning for the Cheetahs in next year's Super Rugby tournament.

No conspiarcy theories,mine is that SA are roping a dope and will hit back in NZ><

IMVHO Phil is smoking that green stuff if he thinks we will battle to get passed the 1st round. LOL. Bob is not far wrong and I believe we are one of the only teams that will improve as we get into the games. Many of the top teams are at their best already.

I agree we will see a much improved SA side in the World Cup, why not use this match on Saturday to experiment we have nothing to lose.

Wales are playing well and beat England last weekend and just lost to England at Twikenham the week before and will be our danger side but we should beat them and top the group. In all likelyhood we will be up against Ireland in the Quarter Finals who who should beat. Our massive test will be against the All Blacks in the Semi's and I battle to see anyone beating them at home this year. It would be no disgrace to lose to them in the Semi's and we could hold our heads high.

Our biggest problem is that we do not have a visionary like Carter at Fly Half but rather a solid kicker.