The Rugby Championship

[Sards]

They are deliberately not playing Fassi at fb his natural position. He should tell them to vok off as they don't want competition for the favorites in the squad.
It's a lot of bullocks

Or perhaps he needs to go back to basic training and learn how to tackle.

His defense is terrible

Voetsek

Compare his and Willemse tackle stats vs wales

[Sards]

Maybe someone needs to explain why Fassi was never played in his natural position. BTW he played centre at school

[boere wors]

bok coaches would rather play a reshuffled backline of

09 Kolbe
10 Damian
11 Willie
12 Pollard
13 DeAllende
14 Kriel
15 Arendse

before drafting anybody new into the starting XV.

I mean, nobody would reeeeaaaally be out of position...

[boere wors]

same with the backrow...

Our Blindside or Eightman is injured?! No problem, we play 1,7m fetcher Kwagga there...

[Sards]

Against Wales the last match the 6 to 2 almost backfired. I reckon they were lucky the A team moered the Welsh stukkend the week before. We cannot discount how exhausted and sore the Welsh were when they went into the last match. And our boys were fresh. So it worked. It won't Against the Aussies and ABs

[OomStruisbaai]

Maybe someone needs to explain why Fassi was never played in his natural position. BTW he played centre at school

You didn't count the times the Wales wing ran past him.

[Sards]

Maybe someone needs to explain why Fassi was never played in his natural position. BTW he played centre at school

You didn't count the times the Wales wing ran past him.

I cared for about 10 minutes and then got bored. They must sort their own shit out. If the coaches are not favorable to certain players that deserve it that is the players problem to sort it out.

Just very happy Frans Steyn is there to fix thjngs

Yster. Can't gush enough

P.s. ouboet your malicious spreading of rumors on players is bordering on becoming an issue .

[Chilli]

While he is behind willie, damian, frans, gelant at 15 in the pecking order, we have only 2 real wingers left in arendse and mapimpi with kolbe out. So we can expect Kriel to cover there again, which is pretty poor. Instead, they drafted reinach in which gives us 5 scrumhalves now.

They are deliberately not playing Fassi at fb his natural position. He should tell them to vok off as they don't want competition for the favorites in the squad.
It's a lot of bullocks

Or perhaps he needs to go back to basic training and learn how to tackle.

And catch

[Sards]

They are deliberately not playing Fassi at fb his natural position. He should tell them to vok off as they don't want competition for the favorites in the squad.
It's a lot of bullocks

Or perhaps he needs to go back to basic training and learn how to tackle.

And catch

The whole team. What about that howler Willemse dropped in our 22. Our wings can't catch a cold

And yet we kick everything

[Chilli]

Or perhaps he needs to go back to basic training and learn how to tackle.

And catch

The whole team. What about that howler Willemse dropped in our 22. Our wings can't catch a cold

And yet we kick everything

It is the shittest game plan ever, but they stick with it and it brings results.

They have just taken the AC / PDV plan and brutalized it.

[Sards]

It's originally Jake White's game plan 2007

But nevertheless. Let's see how it goes against the Aussies and Kiwis

I think they have some formula regarding retrieval and territory. And that's why it works. For the last 7 years

[Sards]

It's going to be interesting watching how our historic rivals and true rugby brethren in the SH plan on countering it.

I wish like hell this separation waa sorted out and we got back to playing them in more comps

[OomStruisbaai]

Hey Oom, can you enlighten me a bit, how do touring teams deal with playing on the High Veldt these days, do they go up early or tend to leave it late? It was aways a huge discussion point in 60s-70s etc, and you half expected ABs etc to run out of stem in last 15 minutes or so.

Jens gave you the answer on PR.

The Stormers/Sharks fly out as late as possible. Worked well for them.

Bomb squad is also important. The Springboks have a very good bom squad with Kitshoff , Marx, Kwagga, exc.

Our rush defense and packs of forwards will be the All Blacks biggest challenge.

Cheers ta Oom, haven't been in PR to check before coming in here.

This is what the Boks will do

The Boks will spend the week in Hazyview and travel to Nelspruit on Friday before kicking off the competition next weekend at the Mbombela Stadium.

[convoluted]

Ofa out.
Did he fall or was he pushed?
Crusader prop Fletcher Newell, just 22, is the replacement.

New forwards coach Ryan might have a rather familiar set to work with.

[Kiwias]

Jason Ryan strikes: Tu'ungafasi not able to tour to SA and Fletcher Newell has been called in as a replacement.

He should have been in the squad from the start.

[Dan54]

Ofa out.
Did he fall or was he pushed?
Crusader prop Fletcher Newell, just 22, is the replacement.

New forwards coach Ryan might have a rather familiar set to work with.

Obviously you didn't watch the last Irish test when Ofa left the field injured! By geez I don't think Newell is quite ready to play Springboks no matter how good his future looks, I imagine Boks fronnt row will be licking lips!

[Gumboot]

Norris and Williams next, please!

[Grandpa]

Cullen Grace to be there by Friday

[convoluted]

Ofa out.
Did he fall or was he pushed? ...

Obviously you didn't watch the last Irish test when Ofa left the field injured! ...

Ummm ... 'twas a joke, as joined in by Gumboots and Grandpa.

(but I'd bet it was Ryan's call as to who came in, albeit with an eye more to the future.)

[OomStruisbaai]

Rassie

Erasmus was certainly not buying into the hype of the Boks being outright favourites.

“I think the answer to that loaded question is actually very easy!” Erasmus replied to Smith.

“New Zealand has the players, coaches, supporters and ability to turn things around quickly,” the SA Rugby boss said, adding: “And they always do!! Respect.”

[Dan54]

Ofa out.
Did he fall or was he pushed? ...

Obviously you didn't watch the last Irish test when Ofa left the field injured! ...

Ummm ... 'twas a joke, as joined in by Gumboots and Grandpa.

(but I'd bet it was Ryan's call as to who came in, albeit with an eye more to the future.)

I bet it was a fairly large part Ryan's call who came in, as you would expect as he is forwards coach. Add to that there is hardly any other TH's left standing in NZ at moment, I genuinely saw it between Newell and Jager?

[Gumboot]

I bet it was a fairly large part Ryan's call who came in, as you would expect as he is forwards coach. Add to that there is hardly any other TH's left standing in NZ at moment, I genuinely saw it between Newell and Jager?

Yep, there's not a lot of depth at TH. I once thought Atu Moli was going to have a solid test career, but then he suffered that horrendous leg injury and hasn't been the same since. No idea what his current fitness status is, but he seems to have fallen well off the pace. I read somewhere that Tamaiti Williams can play both sides of the scrum, but thought he was a LH specialist..?

Very happy that they picked Newell. He may be young, but he's older than Owen Franks was when he debuted, and he turned out to be quite handy.

[Grandpa]

Obviously you didn't watch the last Irish test when Ofa left the field injured! ...

Ummm ... 'twas a joke, as joined in by Gumboots and Grandpa.

(but I'd bet it was Ryan's call as to who came in, albeit with an eye more to the future.)

I bet it was a fairly large part Ryan's call who came in, as you would expect as he is forwards coach. Add to that there is hardly any other TH's left standing in NZ at moment, I genuinely saw it between Newell and Jager?

Owen Franks? At least he guarantees a solid scrum....

[Chilli]

Rassie

Erasmus was certainly not buying into the hype of the Boks being outright favourites.

“I think the answer to that loaded question is actually very easy!” Erasmus replied to Smith.

“New Zealand has the players, coaches, supporters and ability to turn things around quickly,” the SA Rugby boss said, adding: “And they always do!! Respect.”

I'm with Rassie on this.
New Zealand are going to come for us with brutal force.

The Boks will have to be on top of their game.

Remember that the New Zealand team put 40 over the Irish a few weeks ago.

[SaintK]

Rassie

Erasmus was certainly not buying into the hype of the Boks being outright favourites.

“I think the answer to that loaded question is actually very easy!” Erasmus replied to Smith.

“New Zealand has the players, coaches, supporters and ability to turn things around quickly,” the SA Rugby boss said, adding: “And they always do!! Respect.”

I'm with Rassie on this.
New Zealand are going to come for us with brutal force.

The Boks will have to be on top of their game.

Remember that the New Zealand team put 40 over the Irish a few weeks ago.

............and then were well beaten in the next 2 matches!!

[Chilli]

Rassie

I'm with Rassie on this.
New Zealand are going to come for us with brutal force.

The Boks will have to be on top of their game.

Remember that the New Zealand team put 40 over the Irish a few weeks ago.

............and then were well beaten in the next 2 matches!!

Granted. You make a good point, but this is New Zealand and we know what happens to the Boks when they face "weak " teams.
Like what just happened against Wales.

[LoveOfTheGame]

I'm with Rassie on this.
New Zealand are going to come for us with brutal force.

The Boks will have to be on top of their game.

Remember that the New Zealand team put 40 over the Irish a few weeks ago.

............and then were well beaten in the next 2 matches!!

Granted. You make a good point, but this is New Zealand and we know what happens to the Boks when they face "weak " teams.
Like what just happened against Wales.

Ireland made NZ look pretty average, which of course they are not. AB's will be eager to prove this point. Boks will need to start sharp and keep the scoreboard ticking, if they can cast doubt in NZ's confidence early on, it might give them a winning chance.

[Grandpa]

Ireland made NZ look average, because they are average... for an All Blacks team.. Ireland just capitalised on that...

[LoveOfTheGame]

Ireland made NZ look average, because they are average... for an All Blacks team.. Ireland just capitalised on that...

Or, maybe Ireland just played superb rugby and are a cut above the rest. I honestly don't think any team in the world would have won against them. Does that makes the rest of the world average?

[Sards]

Ireland made NZ look average, because they are average... for an All Blacks team.. Ireland just capitalised on that...

Or, maybe Ireland just played superb rugby and are a cut above the rest. I honestly don't think any team in the world would have won against them. Does that makes the rest of the world average?

We do kinda underestimate the NH.

That was a great effort. They would have smashed the boks imho

[Wilson's Toffee]

If the Boks deviated from their 3-3-2 forward deployment. NZ went for a 2-2-2-1 deployment, which sank them. Ireland played very good, and NZ not so good, at all.
NZ will change and come at the Boks with a vengeance..... whether they have the quality and resilience to pull off a win remains to be seen. But they will be willing...

[Deepsouth]

Winning 1 RWC out of 9 will kinda do that to you....

[Grandpa]

Ireland made NZ look average, because they are average... for an All Blacks team.. Ireland just capitalised on that...

Or, maybe Ireland just played superb rugby and are a cut above the rest. I honestly don't think any team in the world would have won against them. Does that makes the rest of the world average?

France played them recently didn't they?

[OomStruisbaai]

Ireland made NZ look average, because they are average... for an All Blacks team.. Ireland just capitalised on that...

Or, maybe Ireland just played superb rugby and are a cut above the rest. I honestly don't think any team in the world would have won against them. Does that makes the rest of the world average?

Sards do kinda underestimate the NH.

That was a great effort. They would have smashed the boks imho

Fixed

[PCPhil]

Ireland made NZ look average, because they are average... for an All Blacks team.. Ireland just capitalised on that...

Or, maybe Ireland just played superb rugby and are a cut above the rest. I honestly don't think any team in the world would have won against them. Does that makes the rest of the world average?

France played them recently didn't they?

To be honest I just think you're making things worse ...

But seriously it was in Paris and it was close in the end.

[Grandpa]

Or, maybe Ireland just played superb rugby and are a cut above the rest. I honestly don't think any team in the world would have won against them. Does that makes the rest of the world average?

France played them recently didn't they?

To be honest I just think you're making things worse ...

But seriously it was in Paris and it was close in the end.

Making what worse? La Rochelle?

I think the more physical packs of France and SA will cause Ireland problems at the World Cup... and NZ with a different coach.

[Guy Smiley]

These okes rabbiting on about how good the All Blacks are and Ireland won because they're just so good, so the Boks will struggle against the ABs...

you clowns just aren't paying attention.

The ABs are a poorly coached side playing dumb rugby. Selections are never settled, combinations barely develop, players are inserted out of position just to be included and the whole set up seems to be a simple case of 'good blokes' picking their mates.

It's been this way since Foster joined the AB set up and the last couple of years of Steve Hansen's tenure showed the weakness growing... once that golden generation of superb players were gone we were left with coaches who didn't know how to coach tactically because they'd grown soft and fat on the back of freakishly talented players.

Aaron Smith will start and within 90 seconds, regardless of field position, he will box kick aimlessly with no attempt to find space. That will set the pattern for the rest of the game with he and Beauden Barrett taking turns at goosey little kicks over the heads of the defensive line and straight down the throats of the back three. Forwards will stand off at the rucks because we still think we can spin the ball wide and move it with speed despite watching a growing list of teams blast us off the ball at every opportunity.

Individual acts of brilliance act to polish the stinking turd that is AB rugby these days and everyone is hypnotised by a line break born out of sheer luck rather than systematic power play drawing the defense inward and creating space.

The Abs might win one of the two... their pride will be smarting and they'll be hungry... but if the Bok ca't walk away from this series as decisive victors then they will have choked miserably.

[Ymx]

Well said Guy

[Grandpa]

NZ Rugby systematically undermines Razor by retaining the "Head of Unacceptable Results", while throwing his assistants under the bus... and then taking Razor's right-hand man to sort it out.. but not Razor himself? Absolutely mind-numbing...

Foster refuses to take responsibility... in effect saying he's not accountable for All Black performance. His subordinates are... what a wanker... and NZ Rugby... holding his Kleenex...

[Guy Smiley]

Enzedder and I had a minor clash of views several weeks back about supporting this shitfight...

of course, I don't seriously WANT the ABs to lose any games. I can accept a loss easily, everyone gets beaten and that's part and parcel of sport. I can accept critical ref decisions affecting results too... that is likewise part of the game, although I reserve the right to discuss those afterwards. A crucial last minute penalty gifting a win to the other team really means that you weren't good enough to put them away and they deserve credit for the pressure they brought to the game...

BUT I can't actively support this mess NZR have created. They've lost my respect... completely. I don't see any positive change coming along either, unless the ABs suffer a catastrophic run of results... and I've come to accept that, perhaps even prefer to get it over with now, this year.

I expect the ABs to lose in SA and my worry is that a win will paper over the crack and we'll be left with a barely hidden stinking hole.