SA drop RWC winners for NZ Test

2008-07-03 10:08

Johannesburg - To many, the exclusion of World Cup heroes Frans Steyn and Percy Montgomery for Saturday's first Tri-Nations Test of 2008 were the biggest surprises in the Springbok team to play the All Blacks, together with the inclusion of the small Adi Jacobs at centre - but these selections were expected by those who have had some recent contact with Bok coach Peter de Villiers.

And while the selection of Montgomery - never exceptionally brave under the high ball -on the bench is probably a calculated move, the continued selection of Jacobs to the exclusion of the big (100kg) Steyn and for that matter all other quality centres in South Africa, does seem like a gamble.

The return of Jacobs for the two Tests against Wales was arguably successful. He was full of running in the first, less so in the second but obviously had problems containing the big Welsh centre, Tom Shanklin, in Bloemfontein.

A lingering memory is how Jacobs twice in Bloemfontein had to hang on for dear life to a single leg of Shanklin despite the big Welshman getting little go-forward ball in this Test.

Shanklin weighed 99kg. This time Jacobs, at 87kg, has to face one of the strongest runners in world rugby and arguably the most difficult centre to bring down in Ma'a Nonu who at a beefy 104kg, will have a 17kg weight advantage on Jacobs.

Nonu, who has a deceptive step and quick feet, is more than just a straight runner with a low gravity, and is described by the All Blacks website as follows: "The explosive.. Ma'a Nonu has built a reputation as one of the toughest marks in world rugby, able to break the line, off-load the ball and set up or score scintillating tries."

Coaches prosper and fail by their selections, and for the sake of the Springboks - ney, the whole of South Africa - one hopes that this selection of De Villiers' standout player of five years ago when he was coaching at the Falcons, will be up to the task.

- SAPA