Your poor couch.
My take on the team:
Up front there are no suprises. With Steenkamp out of the country, Mtawarira is the best loosehead. Hooker as expected, with injuries and such. Jannie starting is a tough call. I like Jannie, and he has had a great year for us, but I am not sure how much longer he will be up for international rugby. I like Cilliers (Plumtree, are you reading this?) and would like to see him given a shot. I won't say "It's only Australia", but of all matches, this is one where you can make changes to your front row without undue stress.
Etzebeth is a good second row. Needs some time, but I see no reason to drop him, apart from being a Stormer
Bekker has been out for far too long and last week showed it. I felt Kruger was unlucky to be dropped for the first two matches, so good to see him back. Flip van der Merwe... oh dear. Meyer talks about not wanting Brussow because of discipline but picks this lump. I'd rather see Bresler (No more mullet, what more must he do?!) or perhaps Elstadt.
Those who read my comments on the Sharks threads will know my stance on Willem Alberts (impact sub). Coetzee wasn't great last week, but he is a young player with plenty of promise, and I get the feeling he will want to make amends. Vermeulen is a tough call. I was one of many wanting to see him play this season, but considering his injury record and lack of gametime, putting him right into the starting lineup is a big ask. I haven't see much of Louw lately, but I am told he has been in good form so I look forward to seeing him play.
The backline is where we run into some trouble. Pienaar has been brought into the starting lineup to replace the Hougaard, who has failed to shine lately. I always felt that Hougaard wasn't really up to the job of an international scrumhalf, and we can clearly see he needs more time for the Bulls there. The inclusion of Morné Steyn is baffling and expected. His weaknesses have been as plain as day since 2009, but seemingly made up for it with his truly incredible boot. Now that his kicking form has left him, we all wonder what he is doing. I see backs with such promise that are being under utilised/ignored and it pains me.
Mvovo has been dropped for Hougaard, but has really done nothing wrong. Every slight break Habana makes causes his defenders do jump up and declare that he has returned to form. New Zealand were able to drop Rokocoko when his form dropped, but Habana is untoucable. Midfield is still shambles. Steyn is clearly not fit or playing the wrong type of game. He thinks he is an outside back and tries to beat his man, which has yet to work. The captain, de Villiers, has looked a shadow of his former self. I understand that he is out of position, but the mistake he is making are simply stupid. I look at the fullback, and shake my head. What more must be done?
Tough match to call. Theoretically, both sides will want to bounce back, but I see home advantage being enough for Australia. The Australian backline is much more secure (apart from Beale at fullback, but AAC to 13 is a move that had to be done) than last week. It was surprising to see Higginbotham dropped; It seems like only yesterday it was "Elsom out, Higgers in". Reminds me of that old Not the Nine O'Clock News sketch "Thatcher out".
