The Rugby Championship

[FalseBayFC]

Next stop Ellis Park. Love this description of Ellis in John Smit's autobiography.

[OomStruisbaai]

I am also unhappy with the high kick tactics. Was hoping the All Blacks field it better. We start so well with phase play then the score came after a high one and I knew this will keep coming. Next week same tactic.

Yes this was the only frustrating part of the weekend for me, as soon as the All Blacks started struggling under the high ball, you just knew the Boks were going to kick a lot more after being much more ball in hand early on in the game. I don't mind the kicks in our half and in the middle of the field but those kicks right on their 22 was doing my head in. The kick where Arendse got his red card really was not needed considering how late in the game it was. When Pollard kicked there you could see that Arendse did not seem ready for the kick as he was quite late in chasing and never looked like he was going to get close. Hopefully he will learn to know when to go for the ball and when to pull out of the chase. At the Bulls I cant remember him ever getting into dangerous challenges like that. Then again he Bulls do not tend to kick close to the 22. But for a small guy his is a real pest in the air, making life really difficult for guys much bigger than him. Even in defense he was standing his ground against the big guys.

The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic and really loud and it just kept going the whole game. Puts some of the bigger stadiums to shame. And to think a few months back there were people complaining because the match was held in that stadium, saying nobody will pitch up, it would be dead, etc

Arendse will be fine, I remember Senatla doing the same with Fassie. It's a misjudging, pretty sure he mean no harm altho I see he is now been labeled a thug .

[OomStruisbaai]

Wiese is growing on me. I was never a fan, thought him a cheap thug who's just one implosion away from a card but he was immense in the last few games he played. Very disciplined, focused, a titan in defence and very hard to bring to ground in the carry. He just pops up everywhere. Proper hard grafting 8.

Agreed.
He has come on in leaps & bounds.
He was brilliant on Saturday, even under the high ball.

The big question now is whether we start Duane for Saturday.

He'll play maybe one half. Wiese from the bom squad

[OomStruisbaai]

I don't rate Clarke that highly tbh. His opposite number was off the field when he made that break, and having got past Willemse initially, he lacked the gas to finish it himself. And don't get me started on his defensive frailties...

I haven't watch it again, thought he broke through our midfield and try to go on the outside of Willemse.

He broke through a couple of defenders into space and went around Willemse. Looked like he was gone for all money. But he now has just one try from his first five tests.

Looking at the clip, Willemse speed to haul him in is surprising. Willemse stepping skill is the asset I like the most. He got that from playing beach touchies from a young age in Strand.

[assfly]

He'll play maybe one half. Wiese from the bom squad

I can't see JN picking a squad with two specialist 8s. Not with Kwagga being able to cover the back row.

I suspect they'll stick with Wiese given the form he's in.

[average joe]

Word was Duane wanted to retire and the coaching team convinced him to stay on, I think they might be going the Schalk Brits route with him.

[Gumboot]

I haven't watch it again, thought he broke through our midfield and try to go on the outside of Willemse.

He broke through a couple of defenders into space and went around Willemse. Looked like he was gone for all money. But he now has just one try from his first five tests.

Looking at the clip, Willemse speed to haul him in is surprising. Willemse stepping skill is the asset I like the most. He got that from playing beach touchies from a young age in Strand.

Yep, top shelf defence.

[assfly]

KLA gets 4 week ban. Can't really argue with that.

[OomStruisbaai]

KLA gets 4 week ban. Can't really argue with that.

Senatla got the same. Saw some wants him to get 12 weeks.

[Sards]

He broke through a couple of defenders into space and went around Willemse. Looked like he was gone for all money. But he now has just one try from his first five tests.

Looking at the clip, Willemse speed to haul him in is surprising. Willemse stepping skill is the asset I like the most. He got that from playing beach touchies from a young age in Strand.

Yep, top shelf defence.

He had to make the effort because the try was scored on his charge down. Let's not forget.
As it turns out the ABs got the try

[handyman]

Looking at the clip, Willemse speed to haul him in is surprising. Willemse stepping skill is the asset I like the most. He got that from playing beach touchies from a young age in Strand.

Yep, top shelf defence.

He had to make the effort because the try was scored on his charge down. Let's not forget.
As it turns out the ABs got the try

That's a piss poor way to admit you were wrong about Willemse.

[OomStruisbaai]

Yep, top shelf defence.

He had to make the effort because the try was scored on his charge down. Let's not forget.
As it turns out the ABs got the try

That's a piss poor way to admit you were wrong about Willemse.

He talking kak again. The break started from a line out 77,23 mins.

Sards is such a Springbok hater but then what can you expect.

[FalseBayFC]

isiXhosa commentators not even dreaming about being impartial!

[handyman]

He had to make the effort because the try was scored on his charge down. Let's not forget.
As it turns out the ABs got the try

That's a piss poor way to admit you were wrong about Willemse.

He talking kak again. The break started from a line out 77,23 mins.

Sards is such a Springbok hater but then what can you expect.

Sad really.

[OomStruisbaai]

That's a piss poor way to admit you were wrong about Willemse.

He talking kak again. The break started from a line out 77,23 mins.

Sards is such a Springbok hater but then what can you expect.

Sad really.

You know nothing give me more pleasure if a young talent plays to his promise Me and FB criticised Hendrikse but now we give him credit for his performance. You can watch that clip again Pollard missed that last tackle on the try scorer Damian nearly stopped him. You think Gelant/Willie can defend like that?

[OomStruisbaai]

More sad is the kak Sards make up to prove shite. That just show his personality. No one can take the cunt serious

[boere wors]

More sad is the kak Sards make up to prove shite. That just show his personality. No one can take the cunt serious

Bit harsh, boet.

[Gumboot]

Looking at the clip, Willemse speed to haul him in is surprising. Willemse stepping skill is the asset I like the most. He got that from playing beach touchies from a young age in Strand.

Yep, top shelf defence.

He had to make the effort because the try was scored on his charge down. Let's not forget.
As it turns out the ABs got the try

His charge down? WTF are you on about?

[OomStruisbaai]

More sad is the kak Sards make up to prove shite. That just show his personality. No one can take the cunt serious

Bit harsh, boet.

Would be much harsher in my 1st language.

[OomStruisbaai]

Young Canan Moodie called up.

[Biffer]

Wiese is growing on me. I was never a fan, thought him a cheap thug who's just one implosion away from a card but he was immense in the last few games he played. Very disciplined, focused, a titan in defence and very hard to bring to ground in the carry. He just pops up everywhere. Proper hard grafting 8.

Is that first line not a description of pretty much every saffa back row in history?

[assfly]

Young Canan Moodie called up.

Fair play. But can't see him getting any gametime with the other players in the squad. But nice to get him into the mix as he's definitely one for the future.

Not sure why they didn't call up Fassi, who has already played wing and is familiar with the Bok setup.

[assfly]

Is that first line not a description of pretty much every saffa back row in history?

Perhaps 10 years ago, but the Boks have cleaned up their act remarkably in recent years.

[handyman]

Young Canan Moodie called up.

Fair play. But can't see him getting any gametime with the other players in the squad. But nice to get him into the mix as he's definitely one for the future.

Not sure why they didn't call up Fassi, who has already played wing and is familiar with the Bok setup.

There has to be more to Coetzee and Fassi leaving the group

[assfly]

There has to be more to Coetzee and Fassi leaving the group

Ja I suspect that could be the case. Rassie puts a lot of emphasis on attitude and workrate, I wonder if this had something to do with it.

[OomStruisbaai]

Jordan in doubt

Will Jordan is in doubt for the All Blacks second test against the Springboks at Ellis Park this weekend due to a stomach bug.

Jordan started on the right wing in last week's 26-10 defeat at Mbombela Stadium but he barely featured - not touching the ball in the first half and making one break in the second after an Ardie Savea assist.

After the All Blacks transferred from Mbombela to Johannesburg, Jordan began feeling unwell on Monday local time and has not joined the team at training on Tuesday; leaving him in major doubt for the second test at Ellis Park.

With Jordie Barrett also under an ankle injury cloud after he left the field in the second half in Mbombela, Jordan was the leading candidate to start his first test for the All Blacks at fullback.

The All Blacks may now be forced to further reshape their back three with Beauden Barrett, provided he fully recovers from the ugly fall onto his neck, or David Havili possibilities to start at fullback.

[Gumboot]

You have to wonder if, with all the defensive media interviews the players are giving this week, their minds are even on the task at hand.

[boere wors]

Jordan in doubt

Will Jordan is in doubt for the All Blacks second test against the Springboks at Ellis Park this weekend due to a stomach bug.

Jordan started on the right wing in last week's 26-10 defeat at Mbombela Stadium but he barely featured - not touching the ball in the first half and making one break in the second after an Ardie Savea assist.

After the All Blacks transferred from Mbombela to Johannesburg, Jordan began feeling unwell on Monday local time and has not joined the team at training on Tuesday; leaving him in major doubt for the second test at Ellis Park.

With Jordie Barrett also under an ankle injury cloud after he left the field in the second half in Mbombela, Jordan was the leading candidate to start his first test for the All Blacks at fullback.

The All Blacks may now be forced to further reshape their back three with Beauden Barrett, provided he fully recovers from the ugly fall onto his neck, or David Havili possibilities to start at fullback.

Suzie's back!

[boere wors]

There has to be more to Coetzee and Fassi leaving the group

Ja I suspect that could be the case. Rassie puts a lot of emphasis on attitude and workrate, I wonder if this had something to do with it.

Must be the case with Fassi. I have read rumors on here that he is a known smartass, so might be actually true.

[OomStruisbaai]

Springboks – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Willie le Roux.

[OomStruisbaai]

Fat Frans in his 50th test. The bom squad strengthen

[FalseBayFC]

Like that team. Nienaber has doubled down on the jackal threat with Thormeulen in there. Glad to see Ox in the starting lineup. I feel he has more to offer than Nyakane who has been a bit inconsistent.

[OomStruisbaai]

Fat Frans in his 50th test. The bom squad strengthen

[Blake]

Word was Duane wanted to retire and the coaching team convinced him to stay on, I think they might be going the Schalk Brits route with him.

That's been my conclusion as well. Duane and maybe Frans will be going along to RWC2023 in the same capacity as Brits in 2019, and Skinstadt and Ashwin Willemse in 2007.

The reality of a World Cup campaign is that you take 30 players, but barring injury, 7 of them will not be part of the big matches on the business end of the competition. Seems like a smart plan to cover 5 of those 7 spots with genuine replacements and then sacrifice 2 of them to bring along 2 experienced campaigners that know how to lift team morale "from the inside" and also won't rock the boat to get selected for the knockout games because they know from the get-go why they are tagging along. All they have to do is guide the second stringers past the minnow matches and support the team and management the rest of the time.

[FalseBayFC]

Word was Duane wanted to retire and the coaching team convinced him to stay on, I think they might be going the Schalk Brits route with him.

That's been my conclusion as well. Duane and maybe Frans will be going along to RWC2023 in the same capacity as Brits in 2019, and Skinstadt and Ashwin Willemse in 2007.

The reality of a World Cup campaign is that you take 30 players, but barring injury, 7 of them will not be part of the big matches on the business end of the competition. Seems like a smart plan to cover 5 of those 7 spots with genuine replacements and then sacrifice 2 of them to bring along 2 experienced campaigners that know how to lift team morale "from the inside" and also won't rock the boat to get selected for the knockout games because they know from the get-go why they are tagging along. All they have to do is guide the second stringers past the minnow matches and support the team and management the rest of the time.

This squad could produce some decent coaches in the future. Frans Malherbe, Kwagga and Willie le Roux strike me as having the intellectual capital and temperament to be top class specialist coaches. A scrum coach, a breakdown guru and an attack coach.

[OomStruisbaai]

Word was Duane wanted to retire and the coaching team convinced him to stay on, I think they might be going the Schalk Brits route with him.

That's been my conclusion as well. Duane and maybe Frans will be going along to RWC2023 in the same capacity as Brits in 2019, and Skinstadt and Ashwin Willemse in 2007.

The reality of a World Cup campaign is that you take 30 players, but barring injury, 7 of them will not be part of the big matches on the business end of the competition. Seems like a smart plan to cover 5 of those 7 spots with genuine replacements and then sacrifice 2 of them to bring along 2 experienced campaigners that know how to lift team morale "from the inside" and also won't rock the boat to get selected for the knockout games because they know from the get-go why they are tagging along. All they have to do is guide the second stringers past the minnow matches and support the team and management the rest of the time.

This squad could produce some decent coaches in the future. Frans Malherbe, Kwagga and Willie le Roux strike me as having the intellectual capital and temperament to be top class specialist coaches. A scrum coach, a breakdown guru and an attack coach.

Elton Jantjes. Understand he play the opposition 10 role well

[Chilli]

Word was Duane wanted to retire and the coaching team convinced him to stay on, I think they might be going the Schalk Brits route with him.

That's been my conclusion as well. Duane and maybe Frans will be going along to RWC2023 in the same capacity as Brits in 2019, and Skinstadt and Ashwin Willemse in 2007.

The reality of a World Cup campaign is that you take 30 players, but barring injury, 7 of them will not be part of the big matches on the business end of the competition. Seems like a smart plan to cover 5 of those 7 spots with genuine replacements and then sacrifice 2 of them to bring along 2 experienced campaigners that know how to lift team morale "from the inside" and also won't rock the boat to get selected for the knockout games because they know from the get-go why they are tagging along. All they have to do is guide the second stringers past the minnow matches and support the team and management the rest of the time.

This squad could produce some decent coaches in the future. Frans Malherbe, Kwagga and Willie le Roux strike me as having the intellectual capital and temperament to be top class specialist coaches. A scrum coach, a breakdown guru and an attack coach.

Frans Malherbe? Really?

He doesn't strike me as being the sharpest tool in the box.

[Blake]

This squad could produce some decent coaches in the future. Frans Malherbe, Kwagga and Willie le Roux strike me as having the intellectual capital and temperament to be top class specialist coaches. A scrum coach, a breakdown guru and an attack coach.

Indeed. It seems as if Nienaber and Rassie places a high premium on players not just being physical freaks as previous coaches did, but also having something between the ears. Ever since they've taken over our teams' discipline and understanding of the laws has improved manifold. Yes some players still get it wrong from time to time, but it's been better than it has been since I've watched the Boks.

By rugby player standards, and especially by Springbok rugby player standards, there are a couple of proper analysts and "thinkers" among the current crop. I think it is part of the Nienaber / Erasmus selection protocol to identify these types of players and weed out the ones that might be very athletic and talented, but just can't come to grips with the more technical aspects of the game and gameplan.

[OomStruisbaai]

That's been my conclusion as well. Duane and maybe Frans will be going along to RWC2023 in the same capacity as Brits in 2019, and Skinstadt and Ashwin Willemse in 2007.

The reality of a World Cup campaign is that you take 30 players, but barring injury, 7 of them will not be part of the big matches on the business end of the competition. Seems like a smart plan to cover 5 of those 7 spots with genuine replacements and then sacrifice 2 of them to bring along 2 experienced campaigners that know how to lift team morale "from the inside" and also won't rock the boat to get selected for the knockout games because they know from the get-go why they are tagging along. All they have to do is guide the second stringers past the minnow matches and support the team and management the rest of the time.

This squad could produce some decent coaches in the future. Frans Malherbe, Kwagga and Willie le Roux strike me as having the intellectual capital and temperament to be top class specialist coaches. A scrum coach, a breakdown guru and an attack coach.

Frans Malherbe? Really?

He doesn't strike me as being the sharpest tool in the box.

You will be surprised. He is very active in Stellenbosch , playing a coaching role with the youth teams.

[FalseBayFC]

That's been my conclusion as well. Duane and maybe Frans will be going along to RWC2023 in the same capacity as Brits in 2019, and Skinstadt and Ashwin Willemse in 2007.

The reality of a World Cup campaign is that you take 30 players, but barring injury, 7 of them will not be part of the big matches on the business end of the competition. Seems like a smart plan to cover 5 of those 7 spots with genuine replacements and then sacrifice 2 of them to bring along 2 experienced campaigners that know how to lift team morale "from the inside" and also won't rock the boat to get selected for the knockout games because they know from the get-go why they are tagging along. All they have to do is guide the second stringers past the minnow matches and support the team and management the rest of the time.

This squad could produce some decent coaches in the future. Frans Malherbe, Kwagga and Willie le Roux strike me as having the intellectual capital and temperament to be top class specialist coaches. A scrum coach, a breakdown guru and an attack coach.

Frans Malherbe? Really?

He doesn't strike me as being the sharpest tool in the box.

In the NFL (American football) they do a a kind of IQ test called the Wonderlic test. The top performers are the offensive linemen the huge 140kg+ tackles and centers. Besides that I reckon you don't need to be super smart to be a top scrum coach. Malherbe is clearly an outstanding technician and seems to have an unflappable temperament. I've never seen him show any emotion on the field or lose his discipline. It suggest a very strong character.