| No. | South Africa | Rating | Australia | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tendai Mtawarira – Struggled against Argentina but made up for it in the first test against Australia. Will revel a home crowd behind him. | 7.5 | James Slipper – Slipper has shut a lot of people up after strong performances for club and country this year. Carries and tackles well for a prop. | 8 |
| 2. | Adriaan Strauss – Once again, Strauss is strangely preferred to Bismarck. Still a worthy replacement though and very strong in the loose. | 7.5 | Saia Fainga’a – The hooker crisis continues. Is he an international-level player? The set piece could be a real issue. | 5 |
| 3. | Jannie du Plessis – Another player who has been hit and miss throughout the Championship. Expect a strong showing in the scrum. | 7 | Sekope Kepu – Had a great season with the Waratahs but needs to show that form for country. A strong scrummager and ball carrier. | 7 |
| 4. | Eben Etzebeth – If he keeps a cool head, then he’ll have a good game. Needs to get his hands on the ball and carry more. | 7.5 | Sam Carter – Hard-working lock but again, doesn’t produce the goods on the international stage. Surprised he hasn’t been dropped. | 6.5 |
| 5. | Victor Matfield – The old enforcer. Slightly past it now but still the main man in the lineout and doesn’t miss a tackle. | 7 | Rob Simmons – Australia aren’t blessed with talented locks and Simmons is another player who has struggled to find form. | 6.5 |
| 6. | Marcell Coetzee – One of South Africa’s best players in the tournament. His work rate is phenomenal, as is his tackling. | 8.5 | Scott Fardy – Will struggle against the Bok back-row but Fardy has shown in the past he’s made of stern stuff. Needs to tackle well. | 7 |
| 7. | Tebo Mohoje – A remarkable season for the flanker culminates in him making his first start for his country. The pressure might get to him. | 6.5 | Michael Hooper (c) – One of the best forwards in the world on form. Puts his body on the line and leads from the front every game. | 9 |
| 8. | Duane Vermeulen – One of the best in the world. He’s a big ball carrier and an even big hitter of people. | 9 | Ben McCalman – A hard worker in the loose and not afraid to do the dirty stuff. Carries and tackles well. | 8 |
| 9. | Francois Hougaard – Replaces the injured Ruan Pienaar and has a lot to live up to. Has the pace to support and snipe well. | 7 | Nick Phipps – A brilliant attacking nine. Snipes well and has a lovely pass on him. | 8 |
| 10. | Handre Pollard – He is destined for great things but is it too soon to be playing him on the international stage? Struggled so far. | 6.5 | Bernard Foley – In a pressure-less game, he can be brilliant. Takes the ball to the line and finds holes. Shame it’s not a pressure-less game. | 7.5 |
| 11. | Bryan Habana – Still lightning-fast and will take every chance he gets. Works extremely hard for a winger. | 9 | Joe Tomane – Quick, strong, and a lethal finisher; exactly what Australia needs. If he comes off his wing to find the ball, then he’ll do well. | 7.5 |
| 12. | Jean de Villiers (c) – Struggled to live up to last year’s form but still a dangerous man to play against. Tough will ball in hand. | 7.5 | Matt Toomua – Didn’t impose himself in the game against Argentina and needs to do more to justify his selection. | 6 |
| 13. | Jan Serfontein – If he doesn’t give his opposite man an inch, then he should have a good game. Can hit beautiful lines. | 7 | Tevita Kuridrani – The opposite of Toomua. Had a storming game against Argentina when he needed it most. Has to play the same way. | 7.5 |
| 14. | Cornal Hendricks – Gets better every game. A lethal finisher and bound to get on the scoresheet. | 8.5 | Adam Ashley-Cooper – He’s not a natural winger but has a great eye for the try-line and hits superb lines. | 8 |
| 15. | Willie le Roux – A superb counter-attacker and if you give him the space in loose play, he’ll punish you for it. Never really has a bad game. | 9 | Israel Folau – Almost as good as le Roux. Skips out of tackles with ease but needs to pass more rather than grabbing the glory. | 8.5 |
| TOTAL | 115 | 110 |
PREDICTION
Playing in front of a home crowd and having a superior pack should see South Africa win this game easily. Australia will struggle at the set pieces and having two centres playing on the wings will hinder them. South Africa by 13.
By Calum Gillon (@C_Gillon)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Strauss has been playing better than BdP lately, it’s not a strange choice at all
Nowhere else to comment… Oz did their WC chances a power of bad in the last 10. Reminded me of their last test v The Lions when their tackling also fell apart. In both cases it dun for them in the end. Thought they were on the rise, but unless they tackle for a full 80 & also create more than 1 out runners into a ‘D’ like SA’s, then they should bring back Robbie Deans who will at least eject Swiss cheese from their ‘D’iet .
Mind you the Saffas too looked a mite bereft in attack, until the end. And I think the score line was more to do with Oz ineptitude than Bok flair. We’ll know more nxt Sat I expect.