TriNations
Australia have not won much in South Africa of late, but South Africa have not won much in the Tri-Nations this year.
The ‘third match’ in this Tri-Nations has been a tough one. The Springboks lost their third match, All Blacks lost their third and the Wallabies lost their third. This is not a third Tri-Nations match for the Springboks but it is their third successive match starting with one against the Pumas, a costly match for the winners as it ended tough man Bakkies Botha’s Tri-Nations. Third match suggests a Springbok defeat. The Springboks have had two matches while the Wallabies had two weeks off.
Home ground? It does not work miracles. The Springboks have not been good at home this year – not against the enfeebled Welsh, not against the dogged Italians, not against the enfeebled Pumas, and not against the All Blacks when they fell over their own feet, missing out on match-winning opportunities. All of that said, there is no reason on earth why the Springboks should not win. But home ground alone will not do it.
Prediction: It’s hard. Who knows what side is going to play and how. But looking at the situation as it has been one would suggest that Australia will win by more than 10.
With South Africa’s local provincial tournament taking a back behind the national team’s Tri-Nations endeavors for the last time, this weekend will host the second half of the round nine encounters.
Three of the “big five” provinces will making way for another heated top table battle.
The Sharks, currently in third position on 28 points, travel to Wellington to face the Cavaliers. Friday’s second encounter between the Blue Bulls and Western Province (WP) at Fort Loftus.
Prediction: A potentially bland game considering the wet conditions, but the Sharks should walk away win it fairly comfortable, by 10 or more points.
Prediction: Province will fight, but the Bulls are bounds ahead this season and will out-muscle their Cape opponents by 8 or more points.
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