Week Seven: Kynan's Team

* New buys in italics

FR Tatafu Polatu-Nau (AUS) - $1,077,500
FR Bismarck Du Plessis (RSA) - $1,232,500

LK James Horwill (AUS) - $1,190,000
LK Victor Matfield (RSA) - $1,270,000

LF George Smith (AUS) - $1,160,000
LF Pierre Spies (RSA) - $1,255,000

HV Morne Steyn (RSA) - $1,167,500
HV Matt Giteau (AUS) - $1,295,000

CT Jacque Fourie (RSA) - $1,232,500
CT James O'Conner (AUS) - $885,000

OB Adam Ashley-Cooper (AUS) - $1,200,000
OB Bryan Habana (RSA) - $1,242,500

Team Value: $14,207,500
Cash in Bank: $852,500

I'm sticking with the old policy of "why change a winning team?" I had 2 trades left and was forced to use 1 on Stephen Moore... I could make one more change, but honestly, I don't who I would really switch out. I could do Barnes for O'Connor, but I'm thinking the boy's going to play a blinder to make up for his last two crappy showings.

It's actually really hard to say what is going to happen in this game. Australia are at the very end of their rope... another home loss would mean they've been white-washed at home by their Southern opponents. Robbie Deans has made 7 changes in an effort to stop the downward spiral, but really, how much is the introduction of a bunch of also-rans really going to have on the team? The Springboks, on the other hand, have gone with consistency (just like me) - making only one injury enforced change, and let's face it, JP Pieterson never touches the ball so whether it is he or Ndungane on the field, is anyone really going to notice?

I'm expecting a tighter game with more kicking as Australia try to reintroduce structure into their play. Hopefully South Africa don't get crazy and try run everything because of their success last week. They are dismal when they step back from their powerful structures, which ironically enable them to play a more open game.

Looking for big things from my man Spies after a quite week last Saturday. I'm expecting at least 2 tries from him.