Kicking out of hand will decide the World Cup

36-0 will count for nothing tomorrow. At the beginning of the game the scoreboard will state 0-0.

Further, the English have turned their game around since their pool match against South Africa. The combination of their locks with their loosies at ruck time has been magnificent. They have recognised that the Tri-Nations teams commit fewer players to the rucks and have targeted the breakdown. Simon Shaw and Ben Kay have been magnificent at adding vigor to the cleaning. While the Boks have far better fetching skills than the English, this will mean little if support is slow to arrive on attacking ball. With Matfield's looser role, this could be slow poison for the potent South African backs and reduce our attacking advantage to parity.

To emphasise the English strength at the breakdown consider that the English have conceded 63 turnovers. The Boks have conceded 80. The English have won 305 rucks and lost just 19. The Boks have won 207 and lost 24.

South Africa's scrumming issues will not have been solved in a week. Poor quality ball against the wheel will mean the Bok line will be forced to kick more than they would like, or play crash ball. This will also open the game up for Gomarsall. The English scrummie has been sheer class since missing the pool game against the Boks, and Fourie du Preez will have his hands full tomorrow.

South Africa should have a far better time at the line out and this will form the Boks primary attacking platform. The South African's will be expecting to dominate this area and this will encourage the kicking game - traditional test rugby. Good lineout ball in good positions will allow the backs attacking options and this is where Eddie Jones' influence will be seen. The Boks have had limited opportunities to show some Aussie running lines thus far. When they have, they have looked sharp. Expect to see quick ball from the back of the lineout be spread quickly. The backs will make use of dummy runners with Habana and Pietersen coming in on the wrap around. Jaque Fourie revels in running ball on a tight line off his inside player's shoulder. He'll score or switch back on his inside. Francois Steyn must look to offload a fraction earlier if this is to work. As brilliant as Mike Catt has been for the English thus far, he'll be exposed in these plays. Attacking off 13 will put the defensive burden on the men in white's centers and away from the blanket that is Jonny Wilkinson. Simon Tait will be in for a torrid time tomorrow.

Lineout stats are fairly even between the the teams so far. The English have won 58 and lost 9. The Boks have also won 58 but lost only 6.

Final rugby is about minimising mistakes, and tomorrow will be no different. A quick score off turnover ball can suck the wind out of a team given the tight defenses of world cup finalists. There will be a lot of kicking for position. The English will not want Habana pouncing on a loose ball and running the length of the field. And while Tait might be a defensive weakness, he's got the pace to ask questions of South Africa. They will not want to give him any opportunities. Anything within range will be taken tomorrow. Kicking form will be crucial and Montgomery has the record over Wilkinson this tournament. Don't be surprised to see a return to form for the English pivot tomorrow though. He is BMT personified.

Given all of the above, I think tomorrow will be decided by kicking out of hand and handling. If the South African line kicks are poor, it will give the English opportunities to run the ball up and set up phases. If they respect possession and show patience, they will dominate the recycling points. If this happens, Cronje, Matifeld, Botha and Smith will have to turn in a performance like that of 2005 against the All Blacks at Newlands - almost the perfect game. If this happens it will go down to the wire. The English will not create much and it will come down to a few points. Kicking at poles will be paramount. Under that scenario I'd back the Boks to win - 21-18.

If the Boks are pinpoint with their positional kicking, this could be nasty for the English. Given time in the English 22 with good lineout ball, the Boks should run the English line ragged. Given that scenario, I'd favour a big score for a final - 28-9.

Good luck Bokke!!

Let's start by saying nothing else matters for 80 minutes this Saturday. A team picked from a nation of 48 million, as their best, their most talented, their most revered, will arrive at Stade de France on Saturday. They will have traveled in nervous anticipation. Some will have listened to their iPod. Others would have sat in quiet contemplation. Some might have been moved to say a few words.

They will exit the bus to a relative cacophony of noise - even if the bus arrives at a secluded entry point. The adrenalin will start to rush. Nervous anticipation. It's like that moment when you're on the edge of a bungi jump platform and you know that the moment has arrived. There is a point where you just want to get on with it.

They'll walk to their change room and the various approaches to preparing will begin. They'll change into their practice kit and begin their warm up procedures.

At this time they'll be entering the zone. They'll walk down the tunnel and into the theatre of dreams. Stade de France is huge and the stands are bit further back from the pitch than grounds like Newlands. The stadium will still be largely empty, but even if it was full the players wouldn't see the faces - just the view in the manner you might see from car. The immediacy of the grass and the air will be closer to their minds. They might be thinking of the occasion. Mindful of the fact that this moment might be the pinnacle of their lives. There will be nervousness. Everyone deals with fear of failure. Their sports psychologist will have worked to ensure that it is not a gnawing fear that will cause paralysis or indecision at a crucial moment of the match.

Having stretched in the changed rooms, they'll be getting the muscles warm now. More stretching with team-mates will be followed with some warm up runs and some practice kicks. They'll be seeking to get that rhythm going now. What golfers call muscle memory. You can't think anymore. You have practiced and analyzed and now it is about doing it. The stadium will begin to fill and the players will return to the change-rooms.

Changing into the match jersey will be a special moment. It will be embroidered with "World Cup Final 2007 - South Africa versus England." It will be something the players will show their grandchildren one day. Right now it will make the dream very real. Nervous energy will begin to give rise to passionate talk by the coach and captain. Senior players might exhort the players to go out there and play like it is the only match that will matter for the rest of their lives. They will remind the team that there are little boys and girls and fathers and mothers and grandfathers and grandmothers waiting in front of their televisions and radios right now. There are people coming in from working in the fields of the Northern Cape. Miners coming home or going to the pub. People gathering in front of TV shop windows. They will remind them that this is not just a game. They will remind them that in 1995 the win united a nation. People black and white young and old celebrated in the streets as they shouted "We are the best in the world!"

The coach will endeavor to put the players into the first gear. Remind them that there is nothing they have not thought of or not prepared for. That this is their destiny as surely as the win is. That when the whistle blows they will know what to do. That the preparation started four years ago and their bodies and minds have never been more ready for anything.

In the huddle, players may or may not realize that this will be the last time they will be in this family. That once the final whistle blows and the celebrations and tears are over, men they regard as brothers will move on. This will be the last time they run out with the overwhelming goal in mind: win the 2007 world cup.

Bokke ja! Bokke ja! Bokke ja!



And then it will begin. They will leave the change room to meet their destiny. To deliver dreams. To be one of the heroes they once idolised. All it will take is 80 minutes of their lives. The time it might take to watch a movie. Maybe less time than a visit to the gym. It will be 80 minutes of moments. Moments of brilliance. Moments of doubt. Moments of despair. And maybe, hopefully, one of triumph.

Go boys.

Not very good

First of all congratulations to Fiji. What an effort. Just like France and England showed the value of heart and passion, so did Fiji who threw everything at the Boks.

To the Boks, well done for refocusing and grinding out some forward dominated tries at crucial times.

But oh, why did the Fijians ever get the chances they did? Was all the talk this week about keeping it tight a bluff or did the Boks forget the script?

As good as Francois Steyn has been thus far (truly one of the finds of the tournament and likely to be a Bok great), his option taking exemplified some poor thinking by the Boks. Steyn held on a fraction too long at times and then fluffed passes in the tackle. At other times, going to ground, setting up clean ball and clearing for position would have been the better option. Given all the talk about the game plan, one would think this would have been automatic.

Instead we created opportunities for the Fijians in our half. Then we hopelessly messed up our defensive alignment. And then we fell off an alarming number of tackles. The result was a number of overlaps. If Fiji had focused on drawing their men and putting the ball through hands, they might well have run out winners.

The Boks must have benefited from watching yesterday's upsets. John Smit said as much in post-match interviews. Perhaps then another scrape will shape their execution as they head to the more difficult prospect of Argetina (surely?) and then England or France. Just as England benefited against Australia from having played for their lives to get there, perhaps South Africa will be better prepared as a result of the scares against Tonga and Fiji.

In the mean time, I take back every criticism I ever made of JP Pietersen. His try saving tackle was crucial today. If Fiji had gone up on the scoreboard, we might not have pulled it back. Well done.

Four more years

Gregan's chant must be ringing in the All Blacks' ears right now. And ironically too, like a boomerang, back in the ears of Georgie.

What a day! If the Tri-Nations are the top three in world rugby, we've picked a funny way to show it. After all the self congratulatory commentary about the state of Northern hemisphere rugby during the World Cup pool games, Australia and New Zealand were reminded that rugby is a game between 30 mere mortals and with an oval shaped ball. Passion and bounce can upset the odds.

While both England and France played with passion and surely enjoyed the bounce of the ball, both set out with well laid out plans to beat their more fancied opponents. England targeted the Super 14 style three man rucks with committed numbers and counter rucking. France decided that playing in the opposition's half was half the battle.

England break down the Aussies

England were magnificent at the breakdown today. Shaw and Moody were ferocious. And it is about time. Of course committing numbers to the ruck opens up defensive holes in your own line. But in a modern game where turnover ball remains the most potent attacking threat, attacking key breakdowns unlocks ball and space. The Australians were shell shocked. They tried guile to win at scrum time, and after the English were initially penalised, Alain Rolland appeared to realise that Dunning is the Oscar winner we've all been pointing out. His collapsing of scrums is the Aussies' only way of gaining parity at the set piece. With the forwards that rattled, the backs were left with too much to do. Except for one moment of brilliance from new kid Berrick Barnes. His wrap around with Aussie dummy runners was vintage Eddie Jones and Barnes' Reds/Jones pedigree was easy to see. If the Aussies' had secured better ball, Tuqiri's try from the move would surely have been one of many. They didn't and the English passion, commitment and robust play paid off.

Despite having kicked the points, Johnny Wilkinson looks a shadow of his former self. Not even his kicking is a patch on what it was. He's showed patches of from thus far and one or two touches against the Tongans got the English into the quarters. But he's a player short of match practice. As bad as Catt was against South Africa, he was immense today. When Catt and Wilkinson click, the English are a different team. If they do next week, we could see England in the final.

All Blacks choke again

The French promised similar things. They attacked the first few breakdowns with similar freneticism. But the All Blacks pedigree is better than that of the Aussies, and they immediately committed more numbers. The French played for position as we knew they would. Jake White's scepticism at the game plan looked well-founded as the French looked innocuous and the All Blacks responded with some sublime McAlister brilliance. Twice he ran the French ragged, first almost putting Ali Williams over and finally went over himself to put the All Blacks well ahead.

But McAlister proved mercurial and from the highs the plunged to the low of being sent off for obstructive running early in the second half. The French took full advantage and Thierry Dusautoir was a deserved scorer as they pulled the game back.

The famous French counter attack allowed Jauzion to cancel out a So'oialo effort. As the Gallic spirit grew, they repelled 27 phases of largely pick-and-go attacks on their line before forcing an All Black knock on. It was typical of the French defence which saw them make 178 tackles to the All Blacks 36. Ultimately it won them the day.

The All Blacks were in it right until the end though. At 18 to 20 down, a drop goal would have done it and they had an ample chance 22m out on the 75th minute. Instead McAlister tried a 50m effort just before full time. It summed up World Cup history for the All Blacks. Should've, would've, could've.

Good for the game

Was this good for rugby? Any win that exemplifies spirit and passion is good for the game. We saw bloodied England players give it all. We saw one of the bravest players in the game, Serge Betson, in a brave but ultimately horrific moment put his body on the line to make a tackle. Luckily he looked OK if shaky when he left the field. Finally, we saw tactical nous win over reputation. So yes, a great day's rugby.

Something strange happened to the referees though. In both matches, the new ruck laws were hardly blown. The English flew into rucks and clearly went of their feet. There were moments when there were clearly boots on players. But the whistle wasn't blown. The officials also missed two clear forward passes (at least) in the French All Black game. While I loved the return to old style rucking and resultant competition rather than league style restarts, if we're going to have laws they have to be blown. Just as if we're going to have citing, then be consistent. Not knowing how the game is going to be controlled makes things lottery. And that is no good for a game looking to convert viewers already confused by strange rules and interpretations.

Of course every South African (especially me) wants to see the Springboks beat each of the top teams en route to winning a final, a la 1995. But we must play the hand we're dealt. That starts by being ruthless against Fiji tomorrow. While Fiji shouldn't have a chance, "should" played no role today.

What a huge investment in Pretorius

Jake White tried to play Andre Pretorius into shape today. It almost cost the Boks a match.

Don't get me wrong, I think Jake and Eddie Jones are doing a great job at the world cup and the team have my 100% support. Almost all the decisions have paid off. But taking Andre Pretorius along after such a long lay off was a huge risk.

Pretorius is a mercurial player at the best of times and such players survive on confidence. When his kicks were missing the posts, you could sense the contagion spreading to the rest of his game. His line kicking was atrocious and his running lines were worse.

So what to do?

If Francois Steyn wasn't showing such form and potential at inside center I'd say it is fairly obvious that he should be Butch's backup and be given time in the position. That would have included moving him to flyhalf as a sub for Pretorius at half time.

Considering the first choice side, and not wanting to disrupt two positions, the other option is moving Ruan Pienaar in as Butch's understudy.

But as much talent as Pienaar has, I get scared thinking of him replacing Butch there in a World Cup final.

So I think I'd settle on Julies moving to inside center and Steyn to flyhalf. Even that makes me scared given the youngster's inexperience.

What this all betrays is the lack of form and depth beyond Butch. And a few months ago I didn't think I'd even be saying that. So well done Butchie.

The rest

The Tongans were far faster to and physical at the rucks than the English. While our low numbers to the rucks and slow ball worked in the English game given the focus on field position and kicking (under that game plan you commit fewer players to the ruck in order to chase and bolster the defensive lines), it does hint that we'll be under pressure against sides with stronger, faster packs like the All Blacks. With Bobby playing loose and Roussouw slow to the ball, Wickus was left with too much to do with only really Bakkies in support. Juan Smith made a real difference when he came on.

If Roussouw was to be replaced in the first choice line up (which might be moot given what looked like a serious neck injury - get well Daniesaurus), Wickus, Juan and Schalk (as 6, 7 and 8) might be the combination with Bobby on the bench.

Meisiekind looked out of form at outside center and Ashwin looked a shadow of his former self. His lack of pace when he made a clear break was startling and sad.

Januarie looked far better. Gary Botha played hard in the loose, but his throwing and scrumming was shown up when replaced by John Smit.

For the other replacements, Monty looked fairly ordinary when winning his record 90th cap (that fly kick...), Matfield looked brilliant in the line outs, Steyn, Smit and Habana looked good. Both Steyn and Habana looked unfairly done over with the yellow cards. I'm not sure how disciplinary records come into play into this world cup, but let's hope it never comes to that.

The USA

The purpose of this game was to give our replacements some game time and allow them to find form if they are needed as replacements later in the campaign.

We learnt a few things, but the form was sadly elusive.

So I think we have to carry this forward to the match against the USA. I know Jake has said he will play his first XV and allow them to build momentum for the semis. But I think the second forty will allow us to do that. That said, I think Jacque Fourie needs game time.

My team for the USA would be:

15. Ruan Pienaar 14. Akona Ndugane 13. Jacque Fourie 12. Wayne Julies 11. JP Pietersen 10. Francois Steyn 9. Ricky Januarie 8. Bobby Skinstad (capt) 7. Juan Smit 6. Wickus van Heerden 5. Johan Muller 4. Albert van der Berg 3. CJ van der Linde 2. Bismark du Plessis 1. Gurthro Steenkamp

Subs: Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Botha, John Smit, BJ Botha, Percy Montgomery, Bryan Habana

Second half 15. Percy Montgomery 14. Akona Ndungane 13. Jacque Fourie 12. Wayne Julies 11. Bryan Habana 10. Francois Steyn 9. Ruan Pienaar 8. Schalk Burger 7. Juan Smit 6. Wickus van Heerden 5. Victor Matfield 4. Bakkies Botha 3. BJ Botha 2. John Smit (capt) 1. Gurthro Steenkamp

Ndungane gets a full game, the loose trio gets a test, Steyn gets a full run at flyhalf, Johan Muller (assuming fit), Bismark du Plessis and Julies get game time.

This leads to my team for the quarter finals:

15. Percy Montgomery 14. Bryan Habana 13. Jacque Fourie 12. Francois Steyn 11. JP Pietersen 10. Butch James 9. Fourie du Preez 8. Schalk Burger 7. Juan Smith 6. Wickus van Heerden 5. Victor Matfield 4. Bakkies Botha 3. BJ Botha 2. John Smit 1. Os du Randt

Subs: Wayne Julies, Ruan Pienaar, Bobby Skinstad, Johan Muller, CJ can der Linde, Bismark du Plessis and Gurthro Steenkamp

This allows Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn to be used as utility backs with Steyn possibly given the second half against Wales at flyhalf (Julies comes on at inside center). It also allows a full front row substitution if the match is won early. Johan Muller gives extra flexibility as a lock or loosie replacement.

The Bok problems are systemic

This post is also being carried on Ou Grote and Ruggaworld

Schalk Burger makes yet another tackle during the match against the All Blacks - Photo: Getty Images

Let's get this straight - South African rugby is in a a better state on the playing field than it has been in many years. We currently have the best depth of talent of any rugby nation. Sadly, off the field and possibly at Bok level, things fall apart.

Coming back to win against the Aussies last week was a tick against the character of the Bok side. Whether it should have required two brilliant drop goals or have been settled through taking earlier penalties is a moot point.

However, let's also be blatantly honest about the last few weeks. We have not once hit our straps. Not even for a 20 minute period. By hitting our straps, I'm talking about putting it all together like the Bulls did against the Reds to win their place in a semi-final. Of course, those days don't happen very often. Not for a full 80 minutes. But consider one thing - watch yesterday's test against the All Blacks and marvel at them clicking for about ten minutes between about about the 27th and the 37th minutes. The interplay between backs and forwards was breathtaking, as was their retention, lack of mistakes, support play and running lines.

Now consider the overall pattern of Bok play. It is difficult to pick out a period where the Boks looked breathtaking. Could this be the beginning of the payoff of Graham Henry's conditioning program and the impact of some very hard rugby on the Boks? That's the excuse Jake made after the match. Besides the fact that the All Blacks might benefit from the conditioning program and that they might be beginning to find one another in a way that a side can only do through playing together, I'm not buying the "Boks are tired" excuse. Of course the injury to John Smit is proving to be massive. Of course the Boks are missing their world class finisher, Habana. And of course, Hougaard might have been a better bet to close out yesterday's game than Frans Steyn, but looking for excuses there misses the bigger problems.

Captaincy

Despite Heyneke Meyer's opinions to the contrary, Victor Matfield is not even a captain's arse. Sure a captain needs to have the players' respect and preferably be the best in his position. However, reading the game's state of play remains the elusive quality in South African captaincy ranks. There have been remarkably few captains in South Africa, at provincial or national level, that have been able to read the game and alter tactics. In recent times, Bobby Skinstad stands out and possibly Gary Teichman. There have been others who could get their teams to win through loyalty and bloody mindedness, but that approach takes its toll. In days gone by, Micheal du Plessis was one of the finest readers of the game I've ever seen. Naas was pretty good. Morne du Plessis was one of those thinkers and motivators. We really don't have too many players like that around at the moment.

Scrumming

For some reason we believe we have the birthright to dominate at scrum time. Let's just kill that idea once and for all. As powerful a player as Os still is. As world class as our locks are. As big as some of our loosies are. We have looked average in every match this season - England, Samoa, Australia and now New Zealand. Let's also give John Smit his due. His absence must have reddened a few faces in Pretoria and that of Stofile. The impact of Smit's loss at scrum time and in captaincy has been immense. If all it does is to shut up the maniacal Gary Botha / one eyed Bulls supporters who call into Super Rugby on a Monday and rant about Gary Botha's divine right to don the green and gold, then perhaps we're closer to getting real with ourselves.

Structure and options

Of late, many have criticised South African coaches for coaching creativity out of players. This may well be true. However, general principles do apply. Attacking off turnover ball, playing for position when up on the scoreboard, running lines, etc. David Campese made an observation after the Australia test. He said that he believes support players should be calling the running lines and attack, not the ball carrier - this prevents isolation. Whether he's right or wrong, it is the absence of these types of principles that often results in poor option taking and lack of structure on the field. Somewhere in the second quarter yesterday, the Boks won a fantastic turnover just inside their half. What happened? Butch kicked the ball.

At around the 65th minute yesterday, the Boks suddenly remembered the pick and go as a tactic. They tried about 5 of them before getting smashed and conceding the turnover. Making the right choices spontaneously comes from hours of practice and experience. Making the right choices according to the field position, ball quality and match situation comes from leadership, communication and planning.

Rucking

Those of you who know me, know that I believe this is the number one issue with South African rugby. Yesterday showed this up again. People can point to individuals all they like, but we have to acknowledge that our ruck-time patterns are just horribly wrong. In the nineties, rugby science began to question the optimal numbers committed to rucks and the impact on next-phase attacks or defence. Whatever the conclusions, the result has been that our rucks have lost their optimum patterns and some players do not commit at all.

Rucks need the right combinations of players to work. An attacking ruck needs good ball carriers, good supporting runners, cleaners and quick service. A defensive ruck needs good contesting (through the fetcher / opensider) and good pressure through committed counter rucking. Both defensive and offensive rusks need clearly aligned support for the next phase.

The offensive ruck provides the best opportunity for penetrating the stronger defences of today. While lineouts suck in the majority of forwards and allow the start of the maul, rucks allow teams multi-phase play with potential quick ball and allow the attacking team to more precisely control the position and timing of the attack. Quick ruck-time ball remains a deadly threat to even the best defensive teams. Depending on the field position and state of the opposition defensive lines, the attacking team may choose to pick-and-go, break and set up a maul, swing the ball wide, suck in players and kick for space, or set up another ruck. Further, ball carriers can choose the point of impact and use this to target players in the other team, committing them to the ruck on defence. Defending the ruck saps energy and opens up space. To make this work, playing patterns need to be precise. As much as we are moving towards the uniformly large, fast and strong rugby player, eighth-men and closed-siders tend to make better ball carriers, locks tend to make better cleaners and front rowers tend to provide better support in the later phases. Combinations need to work together on the optimal running lines to ensure the ball carrier is not isolated and that target point of attack is committed. The reason for the roles of each forward is often as simple as the fact that the first phase is often a scrum and those roles are determined by the break-up pattern of the forwards. But clearly their physical attributes play a role.

Back to Springbok rugby, and the commitment of the players to this pattern is limited. Yesterday's game clearly showed Matfield's liability at ruck time and Bakkies' lack of fitness (he was again fantastic for the first 30 minutes, Matfield was pretty much absent throughout). Consider the possession stats that saw the Boks with more than 60% up after 30 minutes and end on just above 40%. Look also at the loose forward combination. As big and strong as Schalk Burger is, and as awesome a ball carrier as Bobby Skinstad is, they're lost without the supporting pattern. The typical break from the base of the scrum was a good example of the disaster. Under pressure from the Boks' poor scrum, resultant wheel to the wrong side and opposition scrummie on his heels, Skinstad was always in a poor position to pick up and carry. While Schalk was immense and a good partner for Bobby, Roussouw seemed a little slow. From there things fell apart, with the backs more often than not committing to support in the absence of the locks. Pienaar often struggled to get clean second phase ball, and as a result the backline again looked devoid of any potency on attack.

It's easy to blame De Villiers for looking poor on the back of this, but in reality, few backs can create without any space and with slow ball.

Lack of fluency

Having said that De Villiers has been the victim of poor quality ball is not to excuse him for his part in the paper tiger that is our Springbok backline. He looks nothing like the player once rated the most exciting inside centre in world rugby. Outside him, Jaques Fourie has looked undercooked. And of course, being a wing outside that lot means you're never going to score unless from broken play. For years now we've lamented the lack of involvement of our wings and cheered only when they've looked for work. We've decried the limited times that Monty has joined the line. Fix the basics and that will change.

Wayne Julies deserves to wear the Bok 12 right now. His superior distribution might just fire Jaque Fourie. Failing that, given Jake's apparent intention to rest his first choice team, Waylon Murray might be worth testing outside him on the away leg of the Tri-Nations.

However, without securing better quality of ball from scrums and rucks, without thought as to patterns and structures according to the state of the game, our backline will continue to look prosaic.

What works

There is no doubt we possess the best lineout in world rugby. Matfield and Botha are peerless as jumpers at 2, 3, 4 and 5. As with all things though, we tend to overplay our strength. Of course the lineout offers one of the best attacking platforms from five meters out. And of course being able to compete on the opposition's ball allows for fantastic attacking potential.

Jake's consistency is selection has benefits. His belief in Ashwin Willemse might just be rewarded. For a guy to have been out for so long to play with the hunger and workrate Willemse did yesterday is remarkable. Monty is in sublime form at the moment and provides the team with dependability, if not always under the high ball. Butch looked better yesterday than he has and provides a safe option at flyhalf. His distribution needs work though and he needs to run on to the ball more - he's currently a little flat footed.

The most important thing going for the Boks at the moment is the self-belief they seem to have post their good Super 14. Perhaps these losses will make use stronger in blunting possible arrogance. However, the problems we have have existed for a long time. It is asking a lot to overcome them suddenly prior to the world cup.

The Tri-Nations away leg

Jake's squad has been announced and his strategy is to rest his top players. The squad is:

Johan Ackermann, Eddie Andrews, Gary Botha, Deon Carstens, Tonderai Chavhanga, Michael Claassens, Bolla Conradie, Bismarck Du Plessis, Jannie Du Plessis, Bevin Fortuin, Peter Grant, Derick Hougaard, Wayne Julies, Hilton Lobberts, Johann Muller, Waylon Murray, Wynand Olivier, Breyton Paulse, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Jaco Pretorius, Bob Skinstad, Albert van den Berg, Wikus van Heerden, AJ Venter, Cobus Visagie, Pedrie Wannenburg, Luke Watson.

As usual, some of White's choices are baffling. Chavanga's long absence does him no favours. How Claassens gets in ahead of the in form Heini Adams boggles the mind. Fortuin's fantastic 2006 season form was not carried into 2007. Breyton Paulse remains the best organiser of the Bok rush defence, but was woefully out of form in the Super 14, short on workrate and pace. Eddie Andrews' name will have many people tearing their hair out. Jaco Pretorius remains a curate's egg.

On the plus side, White has either been overruled or been prepared to reconsider Cobus Visagie and Luke Watson despite his previously stated views on both. The promising form of Peter Grant (apparently sublime for the Emerging Boks) has been recognised.

My match 22 for the away leg would be (regardless of the selected squad - but with resting, testing and giving existing players a chance to build continuity in mind):

Francois Steyn, JP Pietersen, Waylon Murray, Wayne Julies, Odwa Ndungane, Peter Grant, Ruan Pienaar, Bob Skinstad (captain), AJ Venter, Luke Watson, Ross Skeate, Johan Ackerman, Cobus Visagie, Bismark du Plessis, Deon Carstens. Substitutes: Derick Hougaard, Heini Adams, Pedrie Wannenberg, Hilton Lobberts, CJ van der Linde, Gary Botha, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Frankly, I believe that a test is a test and I hate the thought of losing due to resting first choice players en mass. I'd rather see rotation happening over the long term and in an organised fashion. However, we are where we are. The danger is that we might well provide the All Blacks with just the step up they require to regain the fluency in their game we caught only a glimpse of yesterday.

If current form is to be continued, I wonder if the following team should end up in the World Cup semis:

Percival Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Waylon Murray, Wayne Julies, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Bob Skinstad (vice captain), AJ Venter, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Cobus Visagie, John Smit (captain), Deon Carstens. Substitutes: Francois Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies, Danie Roussouw, CJ van der Linde, Bismark du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp.

Of course, I'd have Bakkies running up sand dunes first and tie a rope from Schalk to Matfield. That may be the only way to get him to join a ruck.

My player ratings versus the All Blacks:

Montgomery - 8

Rock solid when kicking at poles, made his tackles, chasing his kicks. Few opportunities on attack.

Willemse - 7

Looked for work, made tackles. Surprisingly good for somebody who has been out so long.

Fourie - 6

Made a memorable tackle, but received little good ball.

De Villiers - 4

Innocuous on attack.

Pietersen - 6

Not his best. A victim of a bad bounce and wrong footed once, his improved defence was made to look suspect.

James - 6

Solid. His flip passes must give his team mates nightmares. When they work they look great. If they don't they are easy points to the opposition. Defended well. Flat footed when receiving ball on attack.

Pienaar - 6

Had a difficult time behind a struggling scrum and ruck. Forced into box kicks on occasion. Had a role to play in Steyn's nightmare - should have taken the pressure himself and gone for the box kick then.

Skinstad - 6

Wasn't allowed to play due to poor scrum ball and absence of support at rucks. Worked hard.

Roussouw - 6

Worked hard but a little slow in support play. Didn't really see evidence of a pattern to match the potential power play of Os, Bakkies, Matfield and Daniesaurus together.

Burger - 9

Colossal. Workrate was incredible. Made tackle after tackle, hit tuck after ruck. Could have been man of the match on the losing side.

Bakkies Botha - 6

Made another huge start to the match but faded later. Does not look fully fit.

Matfield - 5

Awesome in the line outs but virtually anonymous beyond that. I challenge even Prozone to find him in the last 30 minutes. Did not impose himself on the game as captain.

BJ Botha - 5

Not up to his Super 14 standard. opposition tactics seem to be negating his effectiveness at scrum time.

Gary Botha - 5

Better in the lineouts than against the Aussies, but struggled in the scrums.

Du Randt - 6

Stayed on the park longer than I thought he would and made some trademark tackles in broken play. Could he find form before the world cup?

Wannenberg - 5

Unlucky to have copped it, 30 seconds after coming on, for his team's earlier indiscretions at the breakdown.

Steyn - 3

He needed to make sure of his line kicks and play the percentages when he came on. His dropped pass and confusion with Pienaar on his line were disasters. He's a real talent and will hopefuly get the support he needs after this. Should have gone on the away leg of the tour with a point to prove.

Other subs: Bismarck du Plessis, CJ van der Linde, Johann Muller, Michael Claassens, Wynand Olivier - no rating

No real impact on the game.