Typical noodlings on why I think New Zealand and Australia will win this weekend!

 

 Heinrich Brussow ( picture http://bit.ly/1Mrr1pU)

Two rounds left in the Rugby Championship, if you didn’t win last weekend, time to get back on the horse this week!

The All Blacks arrive in South Africa with a slightly experimental 15, featuring Sopoaga and Broadhurst at fly half and lock. I think the all Blacks are trying out a few things, and also providing a reason if they do happen to be beaten. Sopoaga has a number of skills, but place kicking isn’t one of them, which could count against them in a tight match. They’ve picked three full backs in the back three, so they are expecting an aerial bombardment.

The Springboks have made injury forced changes, as Pietersen and Coetzee sit out the match. Great to see Heinrich Brussow back in the side, he’s renowned for his breakdown skills, but he has a great rugby brain too, he’s good at tracking the game in defence, and spotting a gap in attack. Heyneke Meyer is highlighting his side’s poor kicking last week, which won’t go away in a hurry, as it’s just not a strength of Pienaar and Pollard, but it should at least be better. I’d expect the All Blacks to be targeting Pollard, as the Springboks will also be pressurising the inexperienced Sopoaga. I think the Boks look stronger on paper, but still think the All Blacks will nick this – probably planning their main assault in the last 20 minutes!

In the other match, the Wallabies take on the Pumas in Argentina. The Argentines have struggled in this competition, with very few wins. They should have a Super Rugby side soon, which will go a long way to sorting out their issues with their big names all playing in Europe. But they’ll be up against it again this weekend, the Aussies may have been a bit lucky last weekend, but they have arguably a stronger starting line-up this week. Genia and Cooper last brought the magic together for the Reds when they won Super Rugby in 2011, and they’ve been in steady decline since. With their form pairing of Phipps and Foley, they should take this, once they can break the shackles of the stifling Argentinean defence.

Saturday 25 July

16:05 South Africa  v New Zealand
23:40 Argentina v Australia