Tri Nations Round 2 preview: All Blacks vs Springboks

After last week's lackluster showing by the Springboks in going down 32-12 to the All Blacks, they'll need a much improved performance to get their 2010 campaign on track. And what's more, they'll have to do it without hard man Bakkies Botha who can surely have no complaints about his 9 week ban for blatantly headbutting Jimmy Cowan. His replacement Danie Rossouw has had a great year so far mind you, so they won't lose much in the physicality stakes there.

The All Blacks meanwhile will be quietly confident after comprehensively winning the physical battle at the contact area against their much vaunted opponents. They were dominant both on attack and defence, not giving the Boks any time or space to play with the ball, and forcing them into kicking from where the Kiwis could launch their devastating counter-attack. Whether the Blacks can reproduce the intensity that won them the match last weekend remains to be seen, but they must be firm favourites going into tomorrow's game.

Here are the team lineups:

All Blacks

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Cory Jane
13. Conrad Smith
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Rene Ranger
10. Daniel Carter
9. Piri Weepu
8. Kieran Read
7. Richie McCaw (captain)
6. Jerome Kaino
5. Tom Donnelly
4. Brad Thorn
3. Owen Franks
2. Keven Mealamu
1. Tony Woodcock

Replacements: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Liam Messam, Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg

Springboks

15. Zane Kirchner
14. Jean de Villiers
13. Jaque Fourie
12. Wynand Oliver
11. Bryan Habana
10. Morné Steyn
9. Ricky Januarie
8. Pierre Spies
7. Francois Louw
6. Schalk Burger
5. Victor Matfield
4. Danie Rossouw
3. CJ van der Linde
2. John Smit (captain)
1. Gurthrö Steenkamp

Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Gio Aplon

Kickoff is at 07:35 GMT. See you there.

Teams for Tri Nations opener: All Blacks vs Springboks

Here are the teams for the Tri Nations clash between the All Blacks and Springboks in Auckland on 10th July 2010.

All Black team

The All Blacks have opted to go with experience over youth for this important match, hoping to end their run of three straight defeats against the Springboks.

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Cory Jane
13. Conrad Smith
12. Ma'a Nonu
11. Joe Rokocoko
10. Dan Carter
9. Jimmy Cowan
8. Kieran Read
7. Richie McCaw (captain)
6. Jerome Kaino
5. Tom Donnelly
4. Brad Thorn
3. Owen Franks
2. Keven Mealamu
1.Tony Woodcock

Replacements: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Samuel Whitelock, Liam Messam, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Richard Kahui

Springbok team

The Springboks also have a very settled look about them, with just a couple of relatively inexperienced players in Zane Kirchner and Francois Louw.

15. Zane Kirchner
14. Jean de Villiers
13. Jaque Fourie
12. Wynand Olivier
11. Bryan Habana
10. Morné Steyn
9. Ricky Januarie
8. Pierre Spies
7. Francois Louw
6. Schalk Burger
5. Victor Matfield
4. Bakkies Botha
3. Jannie du Plessis
2. John Smit (captain)
1. Gurthro Steenkamp.

Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Gio Aplon

Match Preview

It's always difficult to know what to expect in the first match of a tournament. Both teams have reasserted their dominance over their northern hemisphere opponents in the summer internationals, but expect the intensity to go up a gear on Saturday.

It's an important match for both teams to set the tone for each's Tri Nations campaign, but also in the jostling for pyschological ascendancy in the run-up to next year's World Cup. The Springboks in particular need to build on last year's wins on New Zealand soil to convince themselves that they really can win down there; another loss for the All Blacks though and the pressure from their public will really start to escalate.

Kickoff is at 07:35 GMT. See you there!