Saturday evenings Tri Nations match at Subiaco Oval Perth between the South African Springboks and the Australian Wallabies throws up some interesting battles all accross the park.

Heavensgame believes that The Wallabies have more of a chance than a lot of people are given them. Crucial to the success of the Wallabies will be their openside flanker the great George Smith, if he is able to nullify the Springboks at the breakdown and win turnover ball and free kicks he will break the momentum that the Springbok forwards created and thrived upon in Dunedin last weekend against the All Blacks.

The second point of strength for the Wallabies is that they now have a settled front row, a comment laughable a few months back. However, with the introduction of the Springboks 3rd and 4th choice hookers into their playing squad. Australia should be looking to exploit or at the very least gain parity in this area.

The back lines in general are well matched. Again, pivotal to both teams success will be the performance of their number 10's. Heavensgame sees Giteau ahead of Butch James at the moment. James has fallen a little short of his world cup form and with a red hot Giteau facing him in front of his club crowd he may find himself replaced a little earlier by Steyn that he would envisage.

The most crucial aspect of the entire match we see is that the Springboks have started the trip home. Whilst they are a thoroughly professional and talented team. They have produced two monumental performances in New Zealand, they have lost their captain and his replacement. It will be exceptionally difficult for them to perform to that level for a third week in a row and that is why we are tipping the Wallabies to win this Test.

The Wallabies:

15. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Peter Hynes 
13. Stirling Mortlock  (captain)   
12. Berrick Barnes   
11. Lote Tuqiri                             
10. Matt Giteau                            
9. Luke Burgess                         
8. Wycliff Palu                              
7. George Smith                          
6. Rocky Elsom                           
5. Nathan Sharpe                        
4. James Horwill                         
3. Al Baxter                                    
2. Stephen Moore                        
1. Benn Robinson                       

Run on reserves:

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau         
17. Matt Dunning                  
18. Hugh McMeniman         
19. Phil Waugh                     
20. Sam Cordingley             
21. Ryan Cross                    
22. Drew Mitchell                 

The Springboks:

15. Conrad Jantjes
14. JP Pietersen
13. Francois Steyn
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Bryan Habana
10. Butch James
9. Enrico Januarie
8. Pierre Spies
7. Juan Smith
6. Schalk Burger
5. Victor Matfield (captain)
4. Bakkies Botha
3. CJ van der Linde
2. Schalk Brits
1. Gurthro Steenkamp
 
Reserves:
16. Adriaan Strauss
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Brian Mujati
19. Andries Bekker
20. Ryan Kankowski
21. Ruan Pienaar
22. Peter Grant

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