register to 888sport
888sport time:

Preview Based News

All Blacks aim to build on win

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 23/07/2009

New Zealand enter the mouth-watering clash with South Africa on the back of a hard-fought 22-16 success over Australia on Saturday.

The All Blacks will certainly be battle-hardened after the Bledisloe Cup defeat of the Wallabies at Eden Park, but the World Champions enter the clash at Bloemfontein as sportsbook favourites.

After a Test series win over the British and Irish Lions, the Springboks are certainly not short of match practice themselves, as well as having three weeks to lick their wounds following three bruising encounters against the tourists.

On their arrival in South Africa, New Zealand will be buoyed by the news that they came out of the win over Australia with a clean bill of health.

Captain Richie McCaw suffered a minor knock on his return to the All Blacks XV, while Conrad Smith and Isaac Ross also suffered niggles.

McCaw and Smith have thigh problems, while Ross has a strained knee. However, all three are expected to shake off their injuries ahead of Saturday's match.

All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen gave little away with regards to selection, pointing out it is too early to select a XV.

"There might be one or two but we'll just have to wait and see," he said.

South Africa will be without the services of Schalk Burger who is in the midst of a two-month ban for eye gouging. However, Bakkies Botha has served his two-week suspension and will be in contention for a place in Peter de Villiers' team.

Who will win the 2009 Tri-Nations? - Latest Rugby Union Betting

De Villiers has named a 23-man squad ahead of the clash. Twenty-two of those players figured in the 2-1 Test series win over the Lions with Sharks prop forward Jannie du Plessis being added top the squad.

A key decision for De Villiers will be at fly-half. Ruan Pienaar looked out-of-sorts at times in the Lions series, particularly with the boot.

Form number ten Morne Steyn produced a match-winning display in the second Test after coming off the bench as a second-half replacement, though he was largely ineffectual in the third Test defeat.

All Blacks number eight Rodney So'oialo has conceded that the Springboks are heading into the match and the tournament as favourites, saying: "They're probably the best team so far by the way they've been performing."

But All Blacks coach Graham Henry has backed his side to improve, saying: "We should get better now. We have a good foundation to build on. Some of them haven't played in a few weeks and they should get better.

"Touring South Africa and playing two Test matches is a huge challenge. I'm sure that we will galvanise towards the challenge. Any tour of South Africa is a major for any touring team.

"They have played a lot of big-time rugby against the Lions and will be raring to go and ready. It's another big step for us and I'm sure Richie and the boys will look forward to it."

online betting