CAPE TOWN: World champions South Africa will be seeking back-to-back wins against arch-rivals New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday to stake a claim for their third Tri Nations title.
The Springboks have rarely managed two wins on the trot against the All Blacks, but will go into the Newlands contest as favourites following their 30-28 victory in Dunedin on July 12. While the Boks have won just one in three games in this year's competition, they have all three home matches to come, starting with New Zealand this weekend.
Peter de Villiers's men have five points from their three outings, while New Zealand sit atop the standings with 10 points, but from four games. Australia are second with nine points from three matches, but they still have to travel to South Africa to play the Boks in back-to-back games on August 23 and 30 in Durban and Johannesburg respectively. South Africa last captured the Tri Nations in 2004. They also won it in 1998.
While the Boks will be banking on their home support in the coming three weeks, they will also go into Saturday's contest with confidence following last week's 63-9 thrashing of Argentina. But they will also know New Zealand are a changed side since they last played each other in Dunedin.
Not only is inspirational captain Richie McCaw back after sitting out the earlier Tri Nations Tests, but the All Blacks are back in the running for the title after their emphatic 39-10 win over Australia in Auckland two weeks ago. So satisfied was New Zealand coach Graham Henry with that performance he has retained the same side for this weekend's match. The only change comes on the bench where Isaia Toeava gets a chance to play Test rugby for the first time this season.
But the Boks have also been boosted by the return from injury in recent days of breakaway Schalk Burger and winger Bryan Habana, who both missed the Argentina match. Also back in the side, and a player rated very highly by Henry, is halfback Fourie du Preez, who will start his first Test of the year.
The Boks will have to do without towering lock Bakkies Botha, who was last weekend ruled out of the remainder of the competition because of a knee injury. His place is taken by beanpole Andries Bekker, who faces the biggest challenge of his promising international career.
Another player who will be hoping to come good on the day is Percy Montgomery who will become the first South African to play 100 Tests.
Montgomery will start in the No.15 jersey, taking over from Conrad Jantjes, and will have to put emotion to one side as he seeks to help his team to a victory that will go a long way in determining this year's tournament winners. "This week is huge for him," De Villiers said. "But Percy knows that the job [on Saturday] is more important than the milestone."
New Zealand though will know their opponents will draw energy and inspiration from their veteran fullback and with conditions expected to be good, there's every chance this is going to be another classic rugby encounter between two of the world's fiercest rivals.
AFP
