D-Day for the Boks

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September 29, 2011. It’s a do or die encounter. When the Springboks take on Samoa tomorrow morning at 9.30am (SA time) they have to perform or else go home. The minimum the Boks require to be safe is a bonus point. If they lose to Samoa (heaven forbid) and do not get a bonus point, they could well start packing for the long journey home.

While the Boks should on paper be comfortable winners, reputations are left in the change room in knockout rugby, and the Samoans are fired up and ready for the big clash. They recorded a historic and most impressive victory earlier in the year against Australia, who are fancied as potential winners of this tournament.

The Boks, you’d better believe it, will right now be bracing for a Samoan onslaught in the first 10 minutes of the match.

So, here’s the big question. “Do you think the Springboks can win the World Cup 2011?”.

Vote in the poll (above) and let your voice be heard.

News snippets ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2011.

5 players to watch: Will Genia (Australia); Manu Tuilagi (England); Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland); Dan Carter (New Zealand); Fourie du Preez (South Africa) – The NewYork Times

Wilkinson top dog again for England: Sydney Morning Herald

England have once again turned to Jonny Wilkinson, the most experienced player at the Rugby World Cup, to steer their campaign.

After spending the bulk of the past couple of years unavailable through injury or as understudy to Toby Flood, England’s talisman Wilkinson is back as the first choice No 10 for England. The plucky defender and metronomic kicker is expected to pull the strings as he did during England’s World Cup triumph in 2003.

Springbok centre Jean de Villiers says the Springboks will have Wales inside centre Jamie Roberts firmly in their sights when they clash in their Rugby World Cup opener in Wellington on Sunday morning.

De Villiers believes Roberts – his opposite number – is the key cog around whom the Welsh attack is based.

“He is true quality and one of his team’s strong points. He’s one of the guys on who’s number they push to go forward or to tighten things up and we’ve known that since the Lions tour of two years ago,” De Villiers said.

– Compiled by Garth Johnstone