Preview: South Africa v United States
In the final round of pool matches South Africa play the United States at the Stadium in Olympic Park.
It will be the fourth World Cup match at the 80,000-seater stadium, whose building started in 2007 aimed at the 2012 Olympic Games. It is the home of West Ham United soccer team.
This will also be the fourth match between South Africa and the United States.
The first, in 1981, ranks definitely amongst the most bizarre Tests of rugby history.
That was the year of demonstrations which had been vigorous in New Zealand. The Springboks then, in the hope of taking some pressure off New Zealand, went home through the United States, playing two matches before the Test – much shrouded in cloak-and-dagger to avoid demonstrations, to such an extent that there were only about 30 spectators at the match, most of them state troopers and not even all the Springboks.
The next two matches were more normal, which was not hard.
This one will be thoroughly normal, the second time that the Springboks and the Eagles have met at a World Cup.
In 2007 the United States were in Pool A, but lost all four of their matches.
So far, in Pool B, the Eagles have played and lost both their matches. They have South Africa to come and Japan to follow.
In 2007, the Springboks won easily. It is hard to see that it will be vastly different this time even if the Springboks have a had a short (four days) turnaround from their match against Scotland in Newcastle.
The Springboks have shown United States respect by picking what looks like their beat available starting team.
By contrast, it seems as the United States have thrown in a premature towel and are giving seven players a run who have not yet played at the World Cup.
Their captain and best player Chris Wyles is on the bench. One of the seven is a South African, scrumhalf Niku Kruger.
The Eagles will get stuck in. They play their rugby with enthusiasm and determination and in good spirit.
They are likely to do the same again.
But if the South Africans play as they did against Scotland, it is unlikely that the Eagles will be able to stand up to them.
Players to Watch
For South Africa: Lodewyk de Jager. The young lock's energy, involvement and skill are a joy to behold and stretch far beyond the tight forward's chores. Willie le Roux, Fourie du Preez and Damien de Allende will catch they eye as they always do and as Schalk Burger, Eben Etzebeth and Francois Louw always do. It may be more that one will look to other players in the hope of seeing a resurgence in their play – Jesse Kriel and Duane Vermeulen.
For the United States: Hard to tell, especially with Chris Wyles on the bench, but in keeping with the mode of play at this World Cup, where the play-makers have been mostly fullbacks, Blain Scully is most likely to catch the eye.
Head to Head: Veteran against Rookie at scrumhalf, Fourie du Preez, one of the best in the world over a number of years, against new man Niku Kruger, 73 caps against one, Affies against arch rivals Pretoria Boys High. Kruger does have the back-up of Mike Petri who with 56 caps is the most capped Eagle at the World Cup. Louis Stanfill is an experienced lock but he will have to deal with rugged Eben Etzebeth and his lock partner, more usually a flank, Matthew Trouville has only four caps.
Previous results
1981: South Africa won 38-7, Glenville
2001: South Africa won 43-20, Houston
2007: South Africa won 64-10, Montpellier (World Cup pool match)
Results against common opponents
Both teams have played Samoa and Scotland at this World Cup. The results may be misleading as the United States may well have had stronger sides in their two matches than they have in this one, which may also mean that their side is fresher and more eager to prove themselves.
Samoa: South Africa's won 46-6; United States lost 16-25
Scotland: South Africa win 34-16; United States lost 16-39.
Prediction: Even with Japan in mind, it is hard to see the United States winning this one. We suggest that the Springboks will win by more than 30 points. It will be interesting to see if the crowds will still flock into the Olympic Stadium, the third biggest stadium in Britain after Wembley and Twickenham, due to be downsized in the near future.
Teams
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez (captain), 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Jan Serfontein.
United States: 15 Blaine Scully, 14 Brett Thompson, 13 Folau Niua, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 Zach Test, 10 Shalom Suniula, 9 Niku Kruger, 8 Samu Manoa (captain), 7 John Quill, 6 Danny Barrett, 5 Matthew Trouville, 4 Louis Stanfill, 3 Chris Baumann, 2 Phil Thiel, 1 Oliver Kilifi.
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufetee, 17 Zach Fenoglio, 18 Mate Moeakiola, 19 Titi Lamositele, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Al McFarland, 22 Mike Petri, 23 Chris Wyles.
Date: Wednesday, 7 October 2015
Venue: Olympic Park, London
Kick-off: 16.45 (15.45 GMT; 17.45 SA time; 11.45 US EDT)
Expected weather: Overcast with rain on Tuesday but not on Wednesday and a high of 15°C, dropping to 6°C.
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
By Paul Dobson
@rugby365com
