Springboks/All Blacks

Both the first choice locks of ne Zealand are out injured. just waiting now for Meyer to announce his team so that the ABs can start working on their tactics early

Working this one out should not be too difficult, Craig.

Since the inception of the Tri-Nations the biggest winning margin by a Springbok side in New Zealand has been 3 points. In South Africa that statistic improves to 14 although it should be noted that some of the South African results have been skewed by the fact that the championship was already settled when the sides met for the SA leg.

Now all you have to do is make an assessment with regard to your evaluation of the current side versus, say, the champion 2009 side which actually won in New Zealand. And that should give you an answer.

Probably the only 'edge' that SA has when they play NZ is that they may be the only international team where NZ thinks 'can we?' as opposed to 'how far will we win?'

Given the growing NZ injury list SA should actually be relishing the prospect of taking on their tight five. I find myself hoping.......but then I punted horses for nearly 40 years so clearly I am not too bright and continue to dream in the face of form and history.

No one can doubt Meyers fervour, but his outdated Bulls game plan is not working. Unless something drastic is done, we are in for a mauling come saturday

The Boks will come out swinging on Saturday...of that I have no doubt, and the ferocity of their forward play might even knock the All Blacks back and yes, it may even give us a chance of an upset victory BUT I have a feeling the All Blacks will run it at us from anywhere on the park and smash our defence to bits.

We will huff and puff and probably earn a yellow card (or two) and come up short...

I actually believe Meyer to be more than a decent coach but he got caught up in the Bulls era when there was pretty awesome Bulls playing in their prime. What hurts Bok rugby even more than Meyer is the Old Boks trying for one last glory hunt. If they retire he will have no other option but to choose what is in front of him...and most of them aren't Blue Bulls...

1 change to Springbok team. Pollard straight in to 10 and Steyn right out of match day 23. Not sure how that will work but at least Lambie on the bench and could come on anytime. Strong whispers that Lambie considering huge offer from Saracens to play over there!

Craig if it was a whisper re Lambie then it sure would not be on ABC as every whisper regarding horses winning onABC have never materialised

The Bokke doing the haka in 1928, look how skinny the players are

I see Hollywood has pushed the Springboks out a point to +9.5 since Pollard was announced as the Flyhalf!

Is it in the IRB rule book that you have to announce your side publically 4 days before the match or is it just Meyer who is so thick as to let the opposition know his team so that they can work on their tactics?

What time is kick off ?

09h35

09.35 SA time

NZ win +14