Tri-Nations
Du Preez: Do-or-die for Boks
2011-08-19 16:47
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Fourie du Preez (Galllo Images)
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Port Elizabeth - South Africa's final Tri-Nations game against an under-strength New Zealand is "almost do-or-die" for the struggling world champion Springboks, says scrumhalf Fourie du Preez.
A desperate South Africa is still without a win this season ahead of its world title defense and faces a string of quality fringe All Blacks in Port Elizabeth on Saturday — the Boks' last chance for a morale-boosting victory before the World Cup.
The Springboks have never gone winless through a Tri-Nations, and defeat to the All Blacks' second-stringers would pile more embarrassment on a humbling campaign.
A South Africa without 20 injured frontliners was thumped in Australia and New Zealand, but when the best players were available last weekend, the most experienced Boks side ever lost to the Wallabies in Durban.
"It is true to say that things have not gone exactly to plan for us but hopefully on Saturday we can show the improvements we are looking for," said Du Preez. "We need to perform a whole lot better and get a win now.
"I'm not saying this is a do-or-die Test for us, but for the sake of doing well at the World Cup it is almost like that. It's true that beating the All Blacks on Saturday would bring back a lot of the confidence."
South Africa's search for a much-needed win has also overshadowed the final home test for two of its greatest players and mainstays of the last eight years.
World Cup-winning captain John Smit and deputy Victor Matfield will retire from internationals after rugby's showpiece in New Zealand. Du Preez is also likely to end his Boks career following the tournament.
But it's South Africa's poor form that has dominated the buildup to the home farewell for 100-test veterans Matfield and Smit. Matfield will stand in as skipper for Smit on Saturday, with the front-rower starting on the bench at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
"We need to win, and that's what we'll set out to do," said Matfield. "The winning is important for many reasons; it will give us confidence and it will bring a greater sense of belief in us from the people in this country. We have huge motivation."
New Zealand is trying out a big batch of World Cup hopefuls in its last match before finalizing its World Cup squad, and they're determined to strike a telling psychological blow on their biggest rival.
The All Blacks made 11 changes after a 30-14 win over Australia two weeks ago, giving fullback Israel Dagg, wing Isaia Toeava, center Richard Kahui and prop Tony Woodcock one game to prove themselves ahead of Tuesday's World Cup squad announcement.
South Africa dropped captain Smit to the bench amid five changes after its home loss to Australia — a third straight defeat this year for the off-form world champions.
While New Zealand has the luxury of leaving captain Richie McCaw, flyhalf Daniel Carter and other senior players at home, the Springboks are still searching for their best World Cup combination, and will play a third different flyhalf in as many games when Morne Steyn returns at No. 10.
Dagg leads the group of New Zealand hopefuls, playing his first test of the season after a right thigh injury threatened his World Cup chances.
He was backed for big things after running in a match-winning try against the Boks in Soweto last year to claim the 2010 Tri-Nations title.
"By fielding these (fringe) players we make sure they are in good shape going forward," All Blacks coach Graham Henry said. "A lot of these players have not played a lot of rugby lately ... but they are all definitely major contenders to compete at the Rugby World Cup."
Henry added he hoped the much-changed team helped All Blacks selectors "make decisions" ahead of the squad announcement, with the coach hinting at least three places in the host's 30-man World Cup group are undecided.
New Zealand then has one more test before the World Cup, a Tri-Nations decider in Australia next weekend.
For an under-pressure South Africa, Port Elizabeth is the last chance to build some momentum ahead of its title defense at the Sept. 9-Oct. 23 World Cup.
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Teams:
South Africa: Patrick Lambie, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, Victor Matfield (captain), Bakkies Botha, Heinrich Brussow, Willem Alberts, Pierre Spies. Reserves: John Smit, Tendai Mtawarira, CJ van der Linde, Danie Rossouw, Ashley Johnson, Francois Hougaard, Butch James.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava, Richard Kahui, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan; John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Adam Thomson, Liam Messam. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Jarrad Hoeata, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Piri Weepu, Cory Jane.