The Tri-Nations resumes this weekend (Saturday 16 August) with arguably the most important game of the series being played this weekend at Newlands in Cape Town between South Africa and New Zealand. This is going to be one heck of a game in a capacity stadium where tickets were sold out within hours of becoming available. The Springboks seem not to be taking any chances in the game and have called up Percy Montgomery and Fourie du Preez into the starting lineup. Montgomery will earn his 100th Test cap at Newlands in a back three that won the World Cup and one that started when they broke a 10-year losing streak at Dunedin earlier in the tournament.

Some have questioned the inclusion of du Preez ahead of Ricky Januarie but it is clear that du Preez is the better scrum-half and probably the best in that position in the world. Januarie has played very well for the Springboks in du Preez’s absence but now it is ‘showtime’ and the Springboks need the best they can put out on Saturday if they are to beat a revitalised All Blacks which blew away Australia in their last match.

The All Blacks will be high on confidence coming into this game and if they play as well as they did against Australia, they could easily run away with the game at Newlands. The All Blacks will be starting Saturdays game with the same 15 players that started against Australia. The whole country is looking forward to this game and we wish the Springboks well!

Springboks starting XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Andries Bekker, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Frans Steyn, 22 Conrad Jantjes.

All Blacks starting XV: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield (c), 4 Andries Bekker, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Frans Steyn, 22 Conrad Jantjes