Match Previews 
/ Geoffrey Riddle / 08 October 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Du Preez and Brussow will be vital for South Africa
"No players will have a greater say in who wins this match than the two breakaways."
Geoffrey Riddle had an excellent Pool stage, putting up 37 selections and registering 25 winners. Now he's relishing a fierce back row battle on Sunday morning as Australia take on the defending champions...
South Africa v Australia, Sunday 06:00 (ITV1)
If there is one aspect of South Africa's quarter-final against Australia in Wellington that is crucial to the outcome on Sunday it is the breakdown.
Richie McCaw now boasts 100 caps but snapping on the heels of the most effective fetcher there has ever been is the Springbok Heinrich Brussow and his opposite number, David Pocock.
Out of the 30 men who will take to the turf in the 'Cake Tin' there are no players who will have a greater say in who wins this match than the two breakaways.
Rocky Elsom, the Wallaby and former Leinster No 8, was in no doubt this week that the loose exchanges would decide which team progressed to the semis.
"Every inch of ascendancy you can gain there at the breakdown is crucial," he said ahead of the showdown at Wellington Regional Stadium. "Any team that gets the dominance at the breakdown, they're going to provide front-foot ball for their attack and that is an enormous part of the game."
Without Pocock greasing the wheels, the Wallaby attacking machine grinds to a comparative halt. He did not play in the defeat against Ireland, and when he was taken off at half-time against Russia the Tri-Nations champions won the second half only 21-17.
Quade Cooper, the Wallaby fly-half, thrives on quick ball. His box of tricks can conjure up all sorts of attacking schemes when given space and time but close him down off slow ball and he is ineffective.
South Africa use quick ball in a different manner and when their possession is slowed down by the opposition they are one of the better teams in world rugby at either going through the phases by smashing their way up field, or using the boot of Morne Steyn to obtain field position.
Brussow's role therefore will be to make Pocock's life a misery at every breakdown for the full 80 minutes. Both sides have superbly balanced back rows, but where South Africa have an advantage is that Bakkies Botha has been injured and is replaced by Danie Rossouw. The Bulls utility forward is effectively a fourth member of the back row, having played over half of his matches at either flanker or No 8.
When Brussouw clashed with Pocock in Durban during the Tri-Nations it was honours even, despite Australia scoring a rare victory on South African soil. It was Brussouw's first start for almost two years and when he had dusted off the cobwebs a week later he took New Zealand to the cleaners. He contributed to an All Blacks turnover tally of 23, as an under-strength All Blacks side were downed 18-5. Once again, no McCaw, no win.
That success in Durban was Australia's fifth victory in the past six encounters between the teams, which shows why layers on Betfair make the Tri-Nations champions the [2.0] favourites. That match was one of the rare moments in the past two years that Peter de Villiers, the South Africa coach, had all his players at his disposal. Fourie du Preez was another player who had returned after a two-year injury break but the scrum-half is now playing at the level to which all nines aspire.
With Du Preez in the lynchpin position and feeding Morne Steyn, the Springbok bulldozer moves up a gear. Steyn may not have his namesake Francois playing outside him due to a shoulder injury but Jean de Villiers is no mean substitute. With Patrick Lambie coming into the line from full-back and the ever-hungry Bryan Habana lurking out wide, the Springboks have an attacking edge, also.
Australia have scored the first try of the match in the last six encounters and the first points of the match in eight of the last ten against South Africa. They will start at a breath-taking speed and try to maintain their lead into half-time and beyond. They are not the fittest team, however, and South Africa's greater experience and composure under pressure should be enough to progress to a meeting with the hosts in Auckland.
Recommended Bet (1-5pt staking plan)
2pts South Africa at [2.14]
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