Heinrich Brussouw is fast cementing his claim for the #6 jumper

The Springbok lineup for the 3rd and final test match against the B&I Lions was dramatically different to that of the 1st and 2nd test matches, with PDV choosing to give every player in the squad a chance to stake his claim for a spot in the upcoming Tri Nations games. In doing so we missed an opportunity to make history in whitewashing the B&I Lions, I do however think it was fair to give most of the players a run against the B&I Lions, an opportunity that few players get more than once in their careers.

We may have lost the test, it wasn’t all doom and gloom though. I think alot of questions were answered for the likes of PDV and the selection team.

Firstly I was quite disappointed with Wynand Olivier’s performance. It’s no secret that I think Wynand Olivier is a great player, but that something happens to him once he wears the Green and Gold, in that his game goes out the window. After a superb Super 14, Olivier said that he was relishing the idea of getting his first chance in a couple of years to try and secure the Springbok #12 jersey. I think Olivier will be disappointed with his performance on Saturday. Jean De Villiers remains our best #12.

Which brings me to my next point. Jacques Fourie was a revelation in the #13 jersey, again. After spending the last year struggling with injury, then playing second fiddle to an, at the time, in-form Adrian Jacobs. Jacques Fourie has really shown his worth every time he has taken the field in this B&I Lions series. His strong running, all-out pace and direct approach keeps any opposition on their toes. I think Jacques Fourie has shown that he is the best #13 in the country, if not the world at the moment. His extra work at the breakdown was as if we had two Heinrich Brussouws on the field. Lookout for the reunited centre pairing of Jean De Villiers and Jacque Fourie come the Tri Nations. Without a doubt the best centre “pairing” in world rugby. Anything less would be an injustice to the team. Adrian Jacobs will do well injecting that extra energy from the bench for the time being, he is a great player and still has alot to offer the team.

Another question I feel was answered was that Morne Steyn is not our 1st choice flyhalf. Although Morne Steyn  is an exceptional kicker of the ball, he lacked command of the backline, not being able to really get them going. Although Ruan Pienaar came on as a replacement scrumhalf, he showed his class as a player. Pienaar might not be the finished product as a flyhalf, but he is good enough to hold his own on the world stage, and in time I feel he will be worth his weight in gold, in the footsteps of the Stephen Larkham, one of the greats of the modern game.

Another replacement that showed he should undoubtedly be the first choice in his position is Francois Steyn. Zane Kirchner showed that he isn’t quite ready for the international game, but by no means should be discarded. Watch this space, I think he will be around for a long time to come. Steyn is an extremely talented rugby player, being one of those extremely rare examples of a player who from the tender age of 19, was ready to play international rugby. His massive boot, one of the biggest in the world, is an asset to the Springboks. His willingness to try things and back himself is one of his best qualities, and I feel he is the exact kind of player that fits into the game-plan that PDV says he wants to play. I hope that the Springbok management select him from overseas, whilst he plays in France at the end of the year.

In a largely disappointing forward pack, Heinrich Brussouw remains the best. I can’t wait to see him show his talents against two of the worlds breakdown superstars, Goerge Smith and Richie McCaw, come the Tri Nations. I’ll put my money on Brussouw holding his own.

Key Moments:

1st Half

• 2nd min: Heinrich Brussouw makes his first steal of the game.
• 2nd min: Kirchner is charged late after a kick.
• 5th min: Ryan Kankowski is penalised for clearing the ruck.
• 7th min: Zane Kirchner makes a great clearance kick.
• 7th min: B&I Lions # 15, Kearny, is well placed to gather Nokwe’s hack kick.
• 9th min: Chiliboy Ralapele is Penalised in the scrum, resulting in 3 points against the Springboks.
• 11th min: Jamie Heaslip doesn’t release the man at the tackle, penalty results in 3 points for the Springboks.
• 13th min: Debutant, Zane Kirchner contests well for the ball in the air.
• 13th min: B&I Lions are constantly offsides and getting away with it.
• 14th min: Victor Matfield knocks on.
• 14th min: John Smit makes a vital steal at the breakdown.
• 15th min: Morne Steyn attempts a drop-goal. The attempt is unsuccessful.
• 17th min: Heinrich Brussouw wins a penalty for the Springboks with more great work at the breakdown.
• 18th min: Kirchner picks up a great ball off his boot laces from a bad pass by Morne Steyn.
• 20th min: B&I Lions win a win a free kick from a collapsed scrum.,
• 20th min: Ndungane strips the ball from a B&I Lions player in the tackle.
• 21th: Juan Smith tackles Kearny man-and-ball.
• 22nd min: Simon Shaw is clearly offside at the maul. Play is allowed to continue.
• 23rd min: Kearny knocks on.
• 23rd min: The Springboks show a great passage of continuity in their play.
• 24th min: Francois Steyn replaced Jacques Fourie for blood.
• 25th min: The Springboks miss vital tackles allowing Heaslip to offload to Shane Williams for his 1st try.
• 28th min: B&I Lions #8, Jamie Heaslip, steps out and gets away with it.
• 28th min: Jacques Fourie returns to the field.
• 29th min: B&I Lions win another scrum penalty.
• 30th min: Mike Phillips gets away with a forward pass.
• 30th min: Morne Steyn performs a vital clearance kick, in which he would have been in a world of trouble had the B&I Lions been chasing up.
• 31st min: B&I Lions throw in skew at the lineout.
• 33rd min: B&I Lions win the turnover.
• 33rd min: Flutey shownsa touch of absolute brilliance in tapping the ball in to Shane Williams as he goes over for his second try. One of the classiest tries of the series.
• 36th min: Shane Williams loses the ball in the tackle. No knock on is called.
• 37th min: B&I Lions substitution, Rees/Ford.
• 37th min: Simon Shaw drops knees 1st onto Fourie Du Preez, resulting in a yellow card.
• 38th min: B&I Lions steal the ball at the breakdown. Springboks are lucky to have won a scrum.
• 40th min: B&I Lions win a penalty, which should have gone against them for falling over the ruck.
• 41st min: Springboks claim 3 points with a penalty.

2nd Half:

• 40th min: Fourie Du Preez is substituted with injury at half time. Ruan Pienaar takes the field.
• 42nd min: Jacques Fourie steals the ball at the breakdown.
• 44th min: B&I Lions win the turnover.
• 46th min: Springboks win a vital penalty through Heinrich Brussouw.
• 47th min: The Springboks waste their overlap and a penalty goes the way of the B*I Lions.
• 48th min: Zane Kirchner kicks the ball directly into touch.
• 49th min: The Springboks win another penalty at the breakdown through Jacques Fourie.
• 50th min: Nokwe knocks the ball on.
• 52nd min: Ruan Pienaar makes a beautiful break, Zane Kirchner knocks on a sure try.
• 53rd min: Springboks win a scrum penalty.
• 54th min: Ugo Monye intercepts a pass from Wynand Olivier.

At this point I started to drink…

• 56th min: Zane Kirchner is replaced by Francois Steyn.
• 57th min: Victor Matfield knocks on again. This is one of his worst ever games in the Springbok Jersey.
• 58th min: Francois Steyn has a great kick.
• 61st min: Kearny misses his attempt at goal.
• 65th min: Pierre Spies replaces Jonge Nokwe.
• 66th min: Francois Steyn attempts a 63m drop-goal and has the distance but just misses.
• 67th min: Springboks win another penalty at the breakdown.
• 70th min: Bismark Du Plessis makes a vital steal at the breakdown.
• 71st min: Heinrich Brussouw is penalised for some silly argy-bargy off the ball.
• 72nd min: Bismark Du Plessis is penalised for a late charge with the shoulder.
• 74th min: Sheridan plays Steenkamp in yet another off the ball incident.
• 75th min: B&I Lions are all offside at the breakdown.
• 76th min: Odwa Ndungane goes over for the try, which is then denied by the TMO. (This was an absurd call, as no single frame showed him touching the line before the ball was grounded. Luckily it didn’t really play and part in the final result of the game.)
• 80th min: B&I Lions steal the ball at the breakdown, end the game and the series.

Here are the highlights: