Tri Nations: South Africa v Australia preview.

Butch James, legend or liability?

No Ulster men on display in tomorrow’s match which kicks of at 4:05pm not 10:30am as we’d previously advertised. Doh!

We all know that New Zealand are going to bottle it come October and it’s my reckoning that the World Cup winner is going to come from one of these pair and what a contrast it is. The old grizzled warriors of South Africa versus the  young upstarts from the land of Oz!

Australia bring in Sharpe for Simmons who drops out of the squad and Higginbotham for McCalman  who benches and I’m pleased to say that the Aussies are persevering with their exciting back line who took a bit of flack after last weeks drubbing by the All Blacks. I am surprised that Matt Giteau hasn’t got a call up to the bench but he is a known quantity and maybe they want to look at other options.

South Africa just reek brutality, in a good way with Botha, Matfield, Brussow and Spies in the pack and in a bad way with James at out half. The selection of the ex Bath loose cannon gives a fair indication as to how SA are going to play this one and it aint going to be pretty. I suspect his inclusion is primarily to intimidate Cooper but as Ulster showed if you stick it back to James he tends to get a little distracted from the game.

I would have went with the Boks for this one but I think old Butch is going to lose it so a surprise win for the Aussies! Should be fun, and a great build up for France Ireland.

More like this:

• Tri Nations: Australia v South Africa Preview
• Tri Nations: South Africa v New Zealand preview.
• Tri Nations: New Zealand v Australia Preview.
• Tri Nations: South Africa 9 Australia 14