Tank’s weekend predictions
September 30, 2011 in Uncategorized
OK – Job done. By beating Samoa 13-5 today, the Boks have topped Pool D, and will thus play the runner up of Pool C at 07h00 on Sunday the 9th of October at the Wellington Regional Stadium.
It was not called the ‘Group of Death” for nothing … That they got a little lucky against Wales, and will be sporting a few proper bruises from the Samoan game is almost superfluous … It’s knockout time now, and the Boks have proved themselves to be not half bad at that in past World Cups.
A few warning bells would have been sounded, though, as Samoa made severe inroads in the second half, often breaking tackles via the big men running at pace. Jacques Neinaber will certainly be earning his keep, and skipper John Smit might want to sit out the post match video session, but that was a very tough, physical game, and the Boks came out on top.
Samoa are the side, to my mind, that have made the most progress in the four years since the last World Cup. That they are now ranked above Six Nations side Italy, bears testament to that. With structure, patience and a solid scrum now very much part of their game, they are no pushovers.
So as said in my last post, the business end of the Rugby World Cup is without doubt upon us, with at least three of the weekend’s fixtures being pool deciders.
Pool C is a real scramble … Australia will go top after their mismatch against Russia, but then Ireland could sneak ahead of them if they beat Italy. Lose to Italy, though, and it’s home time for the Irish, and a quarter final against the Boks for Mallett’s marauders!
There is a potential banana skin for the French in the form of Tonga while the England vs Scotland result will determine the fate of both teams …
My RWC predictions:
Saturday:
04h30 – Australia v Russia – Australia by 68
07h00 – France v Tonga - France by 14
09h30 – England v Scotland – England by 11
Sunday:
02h00 – Argentina v Georgia – Argentina by 15
04h30 – New Zealand v Canada – New Zealand by 86
07h00 – Wales v Fiji – Wales by 24
09h30 – Ireland v Italy – Ireland by 11
And locally …. With three rounds to go before the Absa Currie Cup play-offs, only the Pumas and Leopards are out of the running for a spot in the semi-finals.
The log-leading Golden Lions, fresh off a defeat to the Bulls, face the tough prospect of having to take on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, with the Bloem boys having recorded comprehensive victories in the last two weeks.
The injury ravaged Western Province team travel to Durban to take on The Sharks and are in real danger of losing their third consecutive match and placing their semi final chances in a real pickle.
In the other two matches this weekend, the Blue Bulls, also on the back of two good victories, host the Pumas in Pretoria and Griquas take on the Leopards in Potchefstroom.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Blue Bulls v Pumas, Pretoria – 19:10
Referee: Sindile Mayende
12 August: Blue Bulls won 16-12 in Nelspruit
My prediction: Blue Bulls by 14
Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Louis Fouche, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Jurgen Visser
Pumas: 15 MJ Mentz, 14 Wilhelm Loock, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Siviwe Magaba, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Coenie van Wyk, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Doppies le Roux, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Corné Steenkamp (capatain), 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Boela Serfontein, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1 Dawie Steyn.
Substitutes: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Brett Nel, 18 Eduan van der Walt, 19 JP Mostert, 20 Hendrik van der Nest, 21 Dewald Pretorius, 22 Carl Bezuidenhout.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1
Free State Cheetahs v Golden Lions, Bloemfontein – 15:00
Referee: Marius Jonker
13 August: Golden Lions won 17-10 in Johannesburg
My prediction: Cheetahs by 7
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Lappies Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Andries Strauss
Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Burton Francis, 21 James Kamana, 22 Dylan des Fountain
Leopards v Griquas, Potchefstroom – 15:00
Referee: Pro Legoete
12 August: Griquas won 32-18 in Kimberley
My prediction: Griquas by 8
Leopards: 15 Hofmann Maritz, 14 Jovan Bowles, 13 Charl Weideman, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht (captain), 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Johan Laker, 8 Robert Kruger, 7 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6 Philip de Wet, 5 Bradley Mockford, 4 Brendon Snyman, 3 Dewald Coetzee, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Jean-Jacques Rossouw.
Substitutes: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Alfred Wauts, 18 Christo van Niekerk, 19 Siya Mdaka, 20 Spanner Pretorius, 21 Liam Slatem, 22 Clayton Durand.
Griquas: 15 Rudi Vogt, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Matthew Rosslee, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (Captain), 7 Justin Downey, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Ivann Espag.
Substitutes: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Hanno Coetzee, 22 Monty Dumond.
Sharks v Western Province, Durban – 17:05
Referee: Mark Lawrence
13 August: The Sharks won 21-19 in Cape Town
My prediction: Sharks by 9
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Substitutes: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18, Jan Andre Marais, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Adrian Jacobs
Western Province: 15. Heinrich Steyl, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Berton Klaasen, 12. Marcel Brache, 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Nick Fenton-Wells, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg (captain), 1. JC Kritzinger
Substitutes: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Tertius Daniller, 19. Nick Koster/Pieter Louw, 20. Louis Schreuder, 21. Johann Sadie, 22. Conrad Jantjes
Absa Currie Cup First Division
The final round of the Absa Currie Cup First Division is a mathematician’s dream, with various permutations meaning any of the six teams can still qualify for the semi-finals.
The permutations:
EP (currently on 42 log points) will finish top of the log if the Cavaliers lose and don’t get any bonus points from their match against SWD, otherwise they will be second.
Boland (41) will finish top of the log if they beat SWD (with or without a bonus point) or lose but score one bonus point (for losing with fewer than eight points or scoring four tries). If they lose without scoring a bonus point, they will be second.
Griffons (18) will finish fourth on the log if SWD lose without scoring two bonus points and the Valke and Bulldogs draw and they don’t score four or more tries each.
SWD (16) will finish third on the log if they beat Boland or score two log points, either from a draw or two bonus points. If they lose, they will be out of the semi-finals.
Valke (16) will be third on the log if they beat Border and SWD lose to Boland, or fourth if they beat Border and SWD beat Boland. They will be fourth on the log if they draw with Border and SWD lose, but they will not make the semi-finals if they lose.
Border (15) will finish third if they beat the Valke and SWD lose to Boland.
Weekend’s fixtures:
SWD vs Boland
Date: Friday, 30 September 2011, Kick-off: 17:05
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Referee: Rasta Rashivenga
19 August: Boland won 49-24 in Wellington
Border vs Valke
Date: Friday, 30 September 2011, Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: Buffalo City Stadium, East London
Referee: Jason Japtha
19 August: Valke won 57-42 in Kempton Park
Saturday is going to make for some pretty industrial rugby watching …. Best to catch one of the games while on a gym bike, lest that couch actually become attached to your bum! But keep one pick ticket back for that Ireland vs Italy game on Sunday morning …
Enjoy
Tank
Sarchasm said on September 30, 2011
Who is right. Sat or Sun
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/knockout.html
Fixtures
Match times are set to New Zealand time, click here to switch to your local time.
Quarter Finals
08/10 – 18:00
Winner CWinner C
–
Runner-up DRunner-up D
Wellington
08/10 – 20:30
Winner BWinner B
–
Runner-up ARunner-up A
Auckland
09/10 – 18:00
South AfricaSouth Africa
–
Runner-up CRunner-up C
Wellington
09/10 – 20:30
New ZealandNew Zealand
–
Runner-up BRunner-up B
Auckland
Sheriffff said on September 30, 2011
” am thinking John Smit might want to miss tomorrow’s video session … Not special from the Bok captain “
you have lost a lot of respect from a lot of people my man.
so it obviously was you commentating earlier on. . . .rich Tank, very rich
hanjooveres said on September 30, 2011
How good has Smit been this WC(starting)? brilliant hey..You obviously aren’t a fan of the man, you are entitled to your opinion, but stating that as fact isn’t on…John may have been carded for an alleged deliberate knock down(intercept) , but criticizing the man’s game for that is almost like saying Hougaard was pathetic because he picked up an injury just after coming onto the field….
This game just confirmed that John should start, not only did Matfield fail to calm the guys down when we needed some composure, but Bsmarck did nothing special, which proves he’s so much better off the bench. I’d rather have Smit for 60 with Bismarck coming on than the other way around.
Sheriffff said on September 30, 2011
Ya but Tank doesn’t like John Smit so he feels it’s only best to continually bash him in every post or bloody article he publishes
frontrowgrunt said on September 30, 2011
All I said was that John might want to give the video session a skip … Penalised for not throwing the ball into the lineout on time, and yellow carded for a deliberate knock down will not make for a fun session.
I have had my doubts re Victor’s captaincy from the get go, and have often said that someone else should be given the opportunity, with Schalk Burger being an option.
I thought Samoa were good today, and I think the boks did well to win the game.
hanjooveres said on September 30, 2011
The Boks did well to win the game? Tank, we we’re in control from the get go, we should have won further, we didn’t protect or use our ball well, but we were always the better team, even when playing below par…I think John should be captain, we looked comfortable in every game with him there besides the first game, where the majority of the team was still stuck in 1st gear.
Like I said, Alleged deliberate knock down, just because the ref saw it that way doesn’t automatically make it true or fact. I think he genuinely went for the ball, I also didn’t see him take THAT long to throw in at that line-out, but either way, it’s still nothing to be ashamed of.
hanjooveres said on September 30, 2011
wait, NZ by 86??? Now I’m curios to what your prediction for todays game was?? I expect Canada to give some resistance, and you only need about 30min of resistance to cut 30 points(or 50) in those matches, If the do beat the Canadians THAT far I’ll be really disappointed…they could only beat a B-string Japan side by 70 something points, Canada drew with Japan’s A team,
Dal2000 said on September 30, 2011
John Smit does one thing wrong; a debatable yellow card, and people come out with the knives. I thought John has played pretty damn well lately.
hanjooveres said on September 30, 2011
@Dal spot on!! that’s what me and Sheriff are trying to tell Tank, he has done nothing to suggest he shouldn’t be starting, if anything, Bismarck has today confirmed he’s much better when he plays from the bench
uysh said on September 30, 2011
Gurthro struggled when he came on to scrum. Smit hardly played, so yes, no need for him to watch the video session. Finally cannot blame him for a below par performance by the Boks. Bismarck did not do much more than Smit usually does when he starts, but Bismarck did way less than he usually does when he comes on as impact player. Its unfortunate that your dislike for Smit is impairing your objectivity.
uysh said on September 30, 2011
The only reason Owens penalised Smit for the throw in was because he (Owens)was having his period. Likewise the yellow card, your mate Rob Houwing seems to disagree with your view on that yellow card.
Sheriffff said on September 30, 2011
chirp of the century!
StormyRodger said on September 30, 2011
Agree, but I must back PROVINCE!
nugpot said on October 1, 2011
Personally I hope half the Samoan team gets cited for dangerous play. The referee reprimanded for being blind and not having any control in the game.
I am looking forward to Samoa staying the bad rugby playing team they used to be, and hope fully after showing in this game they are not interested in playing rugby but more interested in cage fighting, that they get humiliated by every team they play again.
Fiji are a much better group of players and I will support them in the future until they display such bad sportsmanship as this Sa-moaning team.