Springboks - What to do in Brisbane
The Springboks have won 45 of their 81 meetings with the Wallabies to date. This coming Saturday the Aussies will host the Boks in Rugby Championship action in Brisbane.
Nigel Owens will referee a match scheduled to start at 12h05 in the afternoon - South African time.
The Boks have revamped their backline with Juan de Jongh, Jesse Kriel and Francois Hougaard all given starts.
I am wondering exactly what gameplan head coach, Allister Coetzee, has in mind for this weekend.
Will he look to play Lions rugby or will he choose something more conservative?
I personally am not convinced that all the Boks are comfortable playing as the Lions did this season.
I am also not convinced that a Springbok head coach will be given time to hit and miss.
Let us not forget that it took the Lions a while to warm to the style of rugby they managed to dish out this season.
I wonder if a Bok coach will have the luxury of time to experiment with a more expansive game?
I remain a fan of a more conservative approach. In other words, attack when you are in the opposition half and limit taking risks in your own half.
I think there are still question marks about the kicking of Elton Jantjies and yet he is an exciting option at flyhalf.
I do get a sense that Jantjies is a bit of a confidence player and one who needs to start well in a Test.
Morne Steyn on the bench does give the Boks a more consistent look and yet one could argue that he is just too different to Jantjies.
What impact would the introduction of Steyn have on the gameplan - It seems to me that there would have to be quite a change to the gameplan once he is on.
This could also be a positive, depending on the situation.
The Boks have lost seven of their nine Tests at the Suncorp Stadium and I am not tipping them to win this weekend.
I am not convinced this Bok team is good enough to win in Brisbane.
I am expecting a close contest and I think the Boks can win if they play percentage rugby and kick well at goal.
Good goal kicking early may also help Jantjies play with confidence and this could spark and fuel his creative potential.
Let me also mention that I am excited to see Francois Hougaard back in the Bok team.
I think he brings X-factor to the side.
The Boks have revamped their backline with Juan de Jongh, Jesse Kriel and Francois Hougaard all given starts.
I am wondering exactly what gameplan head coach, Allister Coetzee, has in mind for this weekend.
Will he look to play Lions rugby or will he choose something more conservative?
I personally am not convinced that all the Boks are comfortable playing as the Lions did this season.
I am also not convinced that a Springbok head coach will be given time to hit and miss.
Let us not forget that it took the Lions a while to warm to the style of rugby they managed to dish out this season.
I wonder if a Bok coach will have the luxury of time to experiment with a more expansive game?
I remain a fan of a more conservative approach. In other words, attack when you are in the opposition half and limit taking risks in your own half.
I think there are still question marks about the kicking of Elton Jantjies and yet he is an exciting option at flyhalf.
I do get a sense that Jantjies is a bit of a confidence player and one who needs to start well in a Test.
Morne Steyn on the bench does give the Boks a more consistent look and yet one could argue that he is just too different to Jantjies.
What impact would the introduction of Steyn have on the gameplan - It seems to me that there would have to be quite a change to the gameplan once he is on.
This could also be a positive, depending on the situation.
The Boks have lost seven of their nine Tests at the Suncorp Stadium and I am not tipping them to win this weekend.
I am not convinced this Bok team is good enough to win in Brisbane.
I am expecting a close contest and I think the Boks can win if they play percentage rugby and kick well at goal.
Good goal kicking early may also help Jantjies play with confidence and this could spark and fuel his creative potential.
Let me also mention that I am excited to see Francois Hougaard back in the Bok team.
I think he brings X-factor to the side.
(File Photo: Gallo Images)
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre