Jacques Fourie & Jean De Villiers - reunited at last

As far as the starting lineup goes, this is probably the best possible Springbok team I have seen in a few years. PDV often has a hard time with his critics, but I feel he deserves some credit for getting this selection spot on.

1.Tendai Mtawarira, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 3. John Smit (captain), 4. Bakkies Botha, 5. Victor Matfield, 6. Heinrich Brüssouw, 7. Juan Smith, 8. Pierre Spies, 9. Fourie du Preez, 10. Ruan Pienaar, 11. Bryan Habana, 12. Jean de Villiers, 13. Jaque Fourie, 14. JP Pietersen, 15. Frans Steyn

I am excited to see the phenomenal centre pairing of Jean De Villiers and Jacques Fourie come up against the All Black pairing of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith. Both excellent combinations, this is set to be a battle of the midfield titans. I tip the South African pairing to come off ahead.

Set to be equally as good will be the battle at the breakdown, with each competing nation having one of the best fetchers currently in world rugby. Will the new kid on the block, Brussouw have what it takes to hold his own against McCaw’s vast experience? Something tells me it’s going to be a great match up.

I suppose some people will be upset that Ruan Pienaar has been selected ahead of Morne Steyn. Although Steyn’s kicking game is great, Ruan’s tactical kicking is as good as any. He is a more creative flyhalf, has the experience, has beaten the All Blacks before and has only had one below par game so far in the #10 jumper. He is a confidence player though, so let’s hope he slots his 1st attempt at goal.

Steyn will get his chances, he might have kicked the series winning penalty against the B&I Lions, but he had a shocker the following week, worse in my opinion than Pienaar’s off day in the 2nd test. He is new to the Springbok system, and still has to find his footing in certain aspects, but I think he has a long time ahead of him in SA rugby. In any case, I think we are well covered in the flyhalf channel regardless of which of the two are on the field, something we don’t often have the privilege of claiming in SA.

I think it is going to be a cracker of a game! Go Bokke!

Referee: Alain Rolland(Ireland)

Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Tim Hayes (Wales)

TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

Kickoff: 17h00 for those of you who are STILL living under that rock.