Rugby Exclusive

South Africa take on New Zealand on Saturday knowing a win will see them right back in the mix in the 2008 Tri Nations tournament.

The Springbok currently lie in last place having lost two of their three matches so far but will be hoping to make full use of their first game at home this season. To have taken five points already without playing on home soil is pretty good going by anybody’s standards and it’s put them in s strong position as they now finish the campaign with a trio of matches on their patch. They have already shown they can beat the All Blacks having turned them over 30-28 in a dramatic encounter in Dunedin back in week two.

In fact that has been the only away victory by any side in this year’s competition showing the importance of home field advantage.

In addition the signs point even further to a South Africa win as last year’s champions were awful in their only game on the road this campaign losing heavily to Australia.

Further on the side of the World Champions is the fact veteran fullback Percy Montgomery will earn his 100th Test cap on Saturday. He will become the first South African player to win the honour, which will have him and his team-mates all the more fired up.

The Bookies can’t separate the two but a bet on the Springbok seems the most logical.