Crunch time: Bokke zone in on Aus

October 5, 2011. Injuries to key players like Bakkies Botha, Frans Steyn, Francois Hougaard and Bryan Habana have certainly cast a question mark over the selection choices Peter de Villiers and his team will have to make for the quarter-final must win clash against the Aussies, but at least the Bokke have come through undefeated thus far . . . and the signs are they are warming up nicely for the business end of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

A nasty head injury to Hougaard in the game against Samoa means that for the next clash Habana is an almost certain selection, although it’s unclear whether Hougaard would play, if fit. Habana is rapidly rediscovering the form that made him the game’s most deadly finisher, but Hougaard has impressed with his ability to rattle defences and score crucial tries.

Frans Steyn, as we know, is seriously injured and seems to be out of the World Cup.

A shock blow for the Bokke this week was the end of Bakkies Botha’s World Cup. The Bok legend’s achilles problem flared up again, but at least Danie Rossouw is there to provide more than adequate cover.

John Smit v Bismarck du Plessis? Enough said, we don’t want to harp on further about that one.

Can we beat the Aussies? Of course. Stick to our strengths, rough them up, up front, and keep the game tight. Frustrate their backline playmakers, keep Will Genia and Quade Cooper quiet and you’ve won the battle . . . Sounds easy doesn’t it?

Take a look at these interesting stats on where each country’s players come from, and which teams import the most number of players. From the blog:

Players born in other countries

Argentina: All born in Argentina

Australia: Dan Vickerman (Cape Town, South Africa), Radike Samo (Nadi, Fiji), Will Genia (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea), Stephen Moore (Khamis, Saudi Arabia), David Pocock (Messina, South Africa), Quade Cooper (Auckland, New Zealand), Digby Ioane (Wellington, New Zealand)

Canada: Nanyak Dala (Jos, Nigeria), DTH (Daniel Tailliferre Hauman) van der Merwe (Worcester, South Africa), Jeremy Kyne (Wellington, New Zealand), Jamie Mackenzie (Troon, Scotland), James Pritchard (Parkes, Australia)

England: Joe Simpson (Sydney, Australia), Delon Armitage (San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago), Alex Corbisiero (New York, USA), Matt Stevens (Durban, South Africa), Dylan Hartley (Rotorua, New Zealand), Simon Shaw (Nairobi, Kenya), Shontayne Hape (Auckland, New Zealand), Manu Tuilagi (Moto’otua, Samoa)

Fiji: Nicky Little (Tokoroa, New Zealand), Campese Ma’afu (Sydney, Australia), Deacon Manu (New Plymouth, New Zealand), Vitori Tomu Buatava (Melbourne, Australia), Michael Tagicakibau (Auckland, New Zealand)

France: Thierry Dusautoir ( Abidjan , Côte d’Ivoire ), Fulgence Ouedraogo ( Ouagadougou , Burkina Faso

Georgia: All Georgian-born.

Ireland: Ronan O’Gara (San Diego, USA), Isaac Boss (Tokoroa, New Zealand), Jamie Heaslip (Tiberias, Israel), Tom Court (Brisbane, Australia)

Italy: Carlo Del Fava (Umtata, South Africa), Corniel van Zyl (Nelspruit, South Africa), Quintin Geldenhuys (Klerksdorp, South Africa), Martin Castrogiovanni (Paraná, Argentina), Pablo Canavosio (Córdoba, Argentina), Luciano Orquera (Córdoba, Argentina), Gonzalo Garcia (Mendoza, Argentina), Robert Barbieri (Toronto, Canada), Sergio Parisse (Mar del Plata, Argentina), Gonzalo Canale (Córdoba, Argentina), Luke McLean (Townsville, Australia)

Japan: Luke Thompson (Christchurch, New Zealand), Michael Leitch (Burwood, New Zealand), Ryukoliniasi Holani (Nuku’alofa, Tonga), Shaun Webb (Blenheim, New Zealand), Justin Ives (Mosgiel, New Zealand), Sione Talikavili Vatuvei (Nuku’alofa, Tonga), James Arlidge (Hamilton, New Zealand), Murray Williams (Lower Hutt, New Zealand), Ryan Nicholas (Broken Hill, Australia), Alisi Tupuailai (Manunu, Samoa)

Namibia: Jacques Nieuwenhuis (Brakpan, South Africa), Piet van Zyl (Worcester, South Africa), Danie Dames (Pretoria, South Africa), Chrysander Botha (Walvis Bay, South Africa), Conrad Marais (Walvis Bay, South Africa)
NB At the time of their birth Walvis Bay was South African territory.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina (Salelesi, Samoa), Ben Franks (Frankston, Australia), Jerome Kaino (Tutuila, Samoa), Isaia Toeava (Moto’otua, Samoa)

Romania: All Romania born.

Russia: Adam Byrnes ( Sydney, Australia ), Vyacheslav Grachev ( Tashkent, Uzbekistan )

Samoa: Census Johnston (Auckland, New Zealand), Anthony Perenise (Wellington, New Zealand), Olé Avei (Wellington, New Zealand), Daniel Leo (Palmerston North, New Zealand), Kane Thompson (Paraparaumu, New Zealand), Kahn Fotuali’i (Auckland, New Zealand), Jeremy Sua (Wellington, New Zealand), Tusi Pisi (Auckland, New Zealand), Sailosi Tagicakibau (Auckland, New Zealand), James So’oialo (Wellington, New Zealand), Ti’i Paulo (Christchurch, New Zealand), Filipo Lavea Levi (Hamilton, New Zealand), Junior Poluleuligaga (Auckland, New Zealand), Tasesa Lavea (Taihape, New Zealand), Paul Williams (Auckland, New Zealand)

Scotland: John Barclay (Hong Kong), Nathan Hines (Wagga Wagga, Australia), Dan Parks (Hornsby, Australia), Jim Hamilton (Swindon, England), Ruaridh Jackson (Northampton, England), Max Evans (Torquay, England), Graeme Morrison( Hong Kong)

South Africa: Tendai Mtawarira ( Harare, Zimbabwe )

Tonga: Tukulua Lokotui (Auckland, New Zealand), Kurt Morath (Takapuna, New Zealand), Alipate Fatafehi (Sigatoka, Fiji), Ephraim Taukafa (Auckland, New Zealand), Joseph Tuineau (Suva, Fiji), Thomas Palu (Wellington, New Zealand), Andrew Ma’ilei (Auckland, New Zealand), William Helu (Otahuhu, New Zealand), Siale Piutau (Auckland, New Zealand)

USA: Takudzwa Ngwenya (Harare, Zimbabwe), Iñaki Basauri (Monterre, Mexico), JJ Gagiano (Cape Town, South Africa), Matekitonga Moeakiola (Vaini, Tonga), Valenise Malifa (Pago Pago, American Samoa), Hayden Smith (Penrith, Australia), Tai Enosa (Faga’alu, American Samoa), Andrew Suniula (Pago Pago, American Samoa), James Paterson (Christchurch, New Zealand), Tim Usasz (Brisbane, Australia), Junior Sifa (Faga’alu, American Samoa), Roland Suniula (Pago Pago, American Samoa)

Wales: Luke Charteris (Camborne, England), Danny Lydiate (Salford, England), Toby Faletau (Tofoa, Tonga), Jonathan Davies (Solihull, England), George North (King’s Lynn, England)

Importers and Exporters

Importers

• 15: Samoa (all from New Zealand )
• 12: USA
• 11: Italy
• 10: Japan
• 9: Tonga
• 8: England
• 7: Australia , Scotland
• 5: Canada , Fiji , Namibia , Wales
• 4: Ireland , New Zealand
• 2: France , Russia
• 1: South Africa
• 0: Argentina , Georgia , Romania

Exporters

• 38: New Zealand
• 13: Australia , South Africa
• 6: Argentina , England
• 5: American Samoa , Samoa
• 4: Tonga
• 3: Fiji
• 2: Hong Kong , USA , Zimbabwe
• 1: Burkina Faso , Canada , Cote d’Ivoire , Israel , Kenya , Mexico , Scotland , Uzbekistan
• 0: France , Georgia , Ireland , Italy , Japan , Namibia , Romania , Russia , Wales