Written by @QuintenLetcher for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
South Africa vs New Zealand | Saturday 04 October | Ellis Park | 17:05
The Springboks host the All Blacks at Ellis Park this weekend in a clash that promises to deliver all the intensity of a series deciding final, despite the title having already been decided in La Plata last Saturday. The Springboks did all they could to remain in contention for a maiden Rugby Championship title, staging a gallant raid on the wobbling Wallaby defence in the final ten minutes of Saturday’s clash at Newlands which resulted in a thundering three tries, claiming a coveted bonus point victory for the home side. But it wasn’t long before the All Blacks removed what very little hope the Springboks harboured of usurping their Rugby Championship crown this weekend, as the World’s top ranked side left little to chance in La Plata, bulldozing their way past a despondent Los Pumas side to come away with a deserved 21-point victory, and more importantly, the competition-winning bonus point. The title race may be over, but the promise of a shiny showpiece for the trophy case is never necessary to create the exhilarating winner-takes-all intensity we’ve come to expect from a Springbok-All Black showdown.
To Win (80mins)
South Africa 1/1
New Zealand 17/20
Draw 22/1
South Africa
Heyneke Meyer has made just one change to his starting XV following their 28-10 home victory over the Wallabies last week, with the physical Bismarck du Plessis taking over at hooker from Adriaan Strauss. Number eight Duane Vermeulen has been provisionally named to start, but if he fails the late fitness test, veteran Schalk Burger is on standby. The backline remains unchanged with young Handre Pollard set to direct the powerful Springbok attack against the formidable All Blacks for the second time in his short Test career.
New Zealand
The All Blacks have made just two injury enforced changes to the run on side from last weekend’s 34-13 victory over Argentina in La Plata, both of them in the forwards. Jeremy Thrush replaces Brodie Retallick and joins Samuel Whitelock in the second row, while upfront Joe Moody claims his first Test start replacing injured prop Wyatt Crockett. Dane Coles returns to the squad after missing last week’s clash for personal reasons, and will join the fit-again Liam Messam and Ryan Crotty on the formidable All Black bench. Playmaker Beauden Barrett retains the number ten jersey following his more settled performance last week.
VERDICT: New Zealand 17/20
After last week’s relentless onslaught against the Wallabies in the electrifying final minutes at Newlands, there can be little doubt that the Springboks remain the biggest threat to the All Black’s dominance on the international stage. Be that as it may, there is still a great deal of ground between the two sides, so while I expect the All Blacks to be pushed as close to defeat as they have for some time, I still think they’ll manage to hold on for a narrow victory.
