The Rugby Championship

[OomStruisbaai]

WALLABIES SQUAD TO FACE SOUTH AFRICA

Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Angus Bell, Pone Fa'amausili, Folau Fainga'a, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Jed Holloway, Rob Leota, Lachlan Lonergan, Fraser McReight, Matt Philip, David Porecki, Pete Samu, Scott Sio, James Slipper, Darcy Swain, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Harry Wilson

Backs: Jock Campbell, Lalakai Foketi, Bernard Foley, Jake Gordon, Reece Hodge, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Suliasi Vunivalu, Nic White, Tom Wright

[OomStruisbaai]

I expect the Boks to hit back on Saturday and create history. Rasnaber won't make the same mistake

[Ymx]

I expect the Boks to hit back on Saturday and create history. Rasnaber won't make the same mistake

What history are you expecting they would be creating?

As in biggest away victory v the Wobs?

[Grandpa]

I expect the Boks to hit back on Saturday and create history. Rasnaber won't make the same mistake

What history are you expecting they would be creating?

As in biggest away victory v the Wobs?

Beating Australia in Australia for the first time in a decade?

[OomStruisbaai]

I expect the Boks to hit back on Saturday and create history. Rasnaber won't make the same mistake

What history are you expecting they would be creating?

As in biggest away victory v the Wobs?

No, winning in Adelaide Hannes Marais last play there.

[Ymx]

Oom showing confidence in the win. This is very un-oom like.

Good on ya!

[Kiwias]

Apparently Jack Goodhue's knee has flared up again and he is scheduled for surgery. Looks like Ioane will be staying at centre for the ABs for a while yet.

[Gumboot]

Apparently Jack Goodhue's knee has flared up again and he is scheduled for surgery. Looks like Ioane will be staying at centre for the ABs for a while yet.

Shit news for Goodhue.

I'm relaxed about Ioane at centre. Not so much with the idea of the underwhelming Ennor being retained in the squad. At least, not in the midfield - he might be worth a crack at 11 in place of Clarke and Fainga'anuku.

[Guy Smiley]

Apparently Jack Goodhue's knee has flared up again and he is scheduled for surgery. Looks like Ioane will be staying at centre for the ABs for a while yet.

Shit news for Goodhue.

I'm relaxed about Ioane at centre. Not so much with the idea of the underwhelming Ennor being retained in the squad. At least, not in the midfield - he might be worth a crack at 11 in place of Clarke and Fainga'anuku.

That works for me. Start Ennor and give Leicester the bench spot.

[Kiwias]

Apparently Jack Goodhue's knee has flared up again and he is scheduled for surgery. Looks like Ioane will be staying at centre for the ABs for a while yet.

Shit news for Goodhue.

I'm relaxed about Ioane at centre. Not so much with the idea of the underwhelming Ennor being retained in the squad. At least, not in the midfield - he might be worth a crack at 11 in place of Clarke and Fainga'anuku.

That works for me. Start Ennor and give Leicester the bench spot.

Yes, it has the additional advantage of getting Clarke out of the squad.

[Gumboot]

Shit news for Goodhue.

I'm relaxed about Ioane at centre. Not so much with the idea of the underwhelming Ennor being retained in the squad. At least, not in the midfield - he might be worth a crack at 11 in place of Clarke and Fainga'anuku.

That works for me. Start Ennor and give Leicester the bench spot.

Yes, it has the additional advantage of getting Clarke out of the squad.

I'd be happier if all three were replaced tbh.

[Chilli]

I expect the Boks to hit back on Saturday and create history. Rasnaber won't make the same mistake

What mistake?

They only have 1 game plan. Moer the opposition upfront, then kick the ball away.
If that doesn't work then try moer harder and kick further.


Rennie will out think us again.

[assfly]

This match is all about selection. Do we plod along with the same team again, or risk blooding some new talent and hope they don't implode.

[Gumboot]

Rennie will out think us again.

Normally I'd agree, but I don't think he has the cattle to do it this time.

[Kiwias]

That works for me. Start Ennor and give Leicester the bench spot.

Yes, it has the additional advantage of getting Clarke out of the squad.

I'd be happier if all three were replaced tbh.

No problem with that, as we can then get Reece back in.

[assfly]

Disrupt our lineout and put our 9 under pressure. That's all you need to do, we won't have any answers.

[Chilli]

Disrupt our lineout and put our 9 under pressure. That's all you need to do, we won't have any answers.

With Dweeba throwing in we are able to disrupt our own lineout.

[Gumboot]

Yes, it has the additional advantage of getting Clarke out of the squad.

I'd be happier if all three were replaced tbh.

No problem with that, as we can then get Reece back in.

Yes please!

[Deepsouth]

I'd be happier if all three were replaced tbh.

No problem with that, as we can then get Reece back in.

Yes please!

Yes let's bring another woman beater into the team.

Shameful.......

[Gumboot]

No problem with that, as we can then get Reece back in.

Yes please!

Yes let's bring another woman beater into the team.

Shameful.......

Who would you prefer?

[ia801310]

This is an insanely early team announcement



Springbok team to face Australia in Adelaide:

15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 20 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
14 – Warrick Gelant (Racing 92) - 10 caps, 15 pts (3t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 30 caps, 30 pts (6t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 62 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 29 caps, 105 pts (21t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 64 caps, 662 pts (7t, 90c, 144p, 5d)
9 – Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles) – 39 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 62 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 62 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 67 caps, 35 pts (7t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 60 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 102 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 50 caps, 5 pts (1t)
2 – Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers) – 3 caps, 0pts
1 – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 11 caps, 0pts

Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 51 caps, 55 pts (11t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 63 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) 36 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 55 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 23 caps, 5 pts (1t)
21 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 6 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 – Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 45 caps, 329 pts (2t, 65c, 62p, 1d)
23 – Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 74 caps, 150 pts (11t, 7c, 24p, 3d)

[assfly]

Got to feel for le Roux and Wiese. There's also a lot of undercooked players in that squad who really need big games, including Elton, Frans Steyn, Dweba and Thor.

I'm glad Gelant is getting a chance.

We really need to win this match.

[Gumboot]

Genuinely interested in where Saffers rate Etzebeth. There have been so many great Springboks locks, too many to mention really. Longevity aside, is he now considered to be among them?

[assfly]

Genuinely interested in where Saffers rate Etzebeth. There have been so many great Springboks locks, too many to mention really. Longevity aside, is he now considered to be among them?

I would say he's up there with the best. As well as his general skillz around the field, he's also been able to play the enforcer role whilst keeping his discipline in check.

[FalseBayFC]

Genuinely interested in where Saffers rate Etzebeth. There have been so many great Springboks locks, too many to mention really. Longevity aside, is he now considered to be among them?

Since re-admission I would rate the no. 4 locks as:
1. Etzebeth
2. Mark Andrews
3. Bakkies Botha
4. Johann Muller
5. Kobus Wiese

Andrews, Botha and Wiese were fairly wild men but played in a different era. Kobus Wiese would have been a beast under todays training regimes. Mark Andrews had great skills and was very highly regarded by the ABs for his toughness and aggression.

[Gumboot]

Genuinely interested in where Saffers rate Etzebeth. There have been so many great Springboks locks, too many to mention really. Longevity aside, is he now considered to be among them?

Since re-admission I would rate the no. 4 locks as:
1. Etzebeth
2. Mark Andrews
3. Bakkies Botha
4. Johann Muller
5. Kobus Wiese

Andrews, Botha and Wiese were fairly wild men but played in a different era. Kobus Wiese would have been a beast under todays training regimes. Mark Andrews had great skills and was very highly regarded by the ABs for his toughness and aggression.

Andrews was a beast. Was he a better lock or eight?

[ia801310]

Got to feel for le Roux and Wiese. There's also a lot of undercooked players in that squad who really need big games, including Elton, Frans Steyn, Dweba and Thor.

I'm glad Gelant is getting a chance.

We really need to win this match.

Agree with this. I don't think Elton or Dweba are Bok class. Need Grobbelaar in the squad too.

[_Os_]

Marx should be starting not Dweba. Dweba on his current test performances isn't as good as Marx at anything. Using the bench heavily works when the players are at least as good as eachother in most areas and any player can start and hold their own. Dweba didn't show that in the 2nd Wales test and 2nd All Blacks test (conceded dumb brake foot penalties in both), so all that's happening is we're starting a much worse player and losing momentum at the start of the game. Could be a little of that happening at loosehead too. At the RWC you looked at the starting frontrow and it was at least arguable they were the best, for me at prop there was no argument the best were starting. It seems "bomb squad" now means "keep the best players on the bench", it doesn't seem clever starting players that usually cannot crack the 23 without injuries above players that are better than them. As we saw last match if the Boks are 15-0 down after 30 minutes, having a "bomb squad" may not count for much.

Not sure we have enough really high work rate players that tackle all game at lock and backrow. I would've started Mostert for an away game against the Wallabies where there'll likely be a lot of ball movement. The only players with a strong ground game that play towards the ball, something needed against the Wallabies, are Marx and Smith and they're also on the bench, another reason to start Marx.

The rest looks good, I would've selected Le Roux though. Elton isn't necessary if Pollard is fit and starting, Willemse and Frans can both cover 10, picking Le Roux instead looks a bit stronger.

[Deepsouth]

Yes please!

Yes let's bring another woman beater into the team.

Shameful.......

Who would you prefer?

Someone, anyone who doesn't beat and drag women down the street by the hair......

Jesus it's not that hard is it?

[Gumboot]

Yes let's bring another woman beater into the team.

Shameful.......

Who would you prefer?

Someone, anyone who doesn't beat and drag women down the street by the hair......

Jesus it's not that hard is it?

That's why I asked.

[FalseBayFC]

Genuinely interested in where Saffers rate Etzebeth. There have been so many great Springboks locks, too many to mention really. Longevity aside, is he now considered to be among them?

Since re-admission I would rate the no. 4 locks as:
1. Etzebeth
2. Mark Andrews
3. Bakkies Botha
4. Johann Muller
5. Kobus Wiese

Andrews, Botha and Wiese were fairly wild men but played in a different era. Kobus Wiese would have been a beast under todays training regimes. Mark Andrews had great skills and was very highly regarded by the ABs for his toughness and aggression.

Andrews was a beast. Was he a better lock or eight?

Better lock. He didn't play much at no.8. His school toured ours to play water polo. He was a 15 year old playing in the firsts and was already a monster. He made Junior Boks at water polo and would have gone on to be a legend at the game if he didn't choose rugby.

[boere wors]

Now we have the 5-3 split and it's still kak. No point in having pollard, elton, damien and frans in the 23. At least put that new speedster on the bench or go with a 6-2 again and put elrigh louw on the bench. Wiese to start instead of duane.

[OomStruisbaai]

Oom showing confidence in the win. This is very un-oom like.

Good on ya!

With Gelant & Willemse to spread some magic, I am now even more convinced. Bokke by 16.

[OomStruisbaai]

Now we have the 5-3 split and it's still kak. No point in having pollard, elton, damien and frans in the 23. At least put that new speedster on the bench or go with a 6-2 again and put elrigh louw on the bench. Wiese to start instead of duane.

Will you just stop complaining like an old woman with a wet panty.

[assfly]

If we start subbing players again at 30 minutes, we're fucked.

[Chilli]

If we start subbing players again at 30 minutes, we're fucked.

[Kiwias]

No problem with that, as we can then get Reece back in.

Yes please!

Yes let's bring another woman beater into the team.

Shameful.......

You should have been alive in the days of the Old Testament — fire and brimstone and no repentance and all that shit.

[Deepsouth]

Yes please!

Yes let's bring another woman beater into the team.

Shameful.......

You should have been alive in the days of the Old Testament — fire and brimstone and no repentance and all that shit.

Not really. In this day and age it is just unacceptable to have two such scumbags turning out for your supposed venerable institution of the All Blacks. It says alot more about you than that you cannot see this.......

[average joe]

Marx should be starting not Dweba. Dweba on his current test performances isn't as good as Marx at anything. Using the bench heavily works when the players are at least as good as eachother in most areas and any player can start and hold their own. Dweba didn't show that in the 2nd Wales test and 2nd All Blacks test (conceded dumb brake foot penalties in both), so all that's happening is we're starting a much worse player and losing momentum at the start of the game. Could be a little of that happening at loosehead too. At the RWC you looked at the starting frontrow and it was at least arguable they were the best, for me at prop there was no argument the best were starting. It seems "bomb squad" now means "keep the best players on the bench", it doesn't seem clever starting players that usually cannot crack the 23 without injuries above players that are better than them. As we saw last match if the Boks are 15-0 down after 30 minutes, having a "bomb squad" may not count for much.

Not sure we have enough really high work rate players that tackle all game at lock and backrow. I would've started Mostert for an away game against the Wallabies where there'll likely be a lot of ball movement. The only players with a strong ground game that play towards the ball, something needed against the Wallabies, are Marx and Smith and they're also on the bench, another reason to start Marx.

The rest looks good, I would've selected Le Roux though. Elton isn't necessary if Pollard is fit and starting, Willemse and Frans can both cover 10, picking Le Roux instead looks a bit stronger.

I backed Dweba since his days at the Cheetahs, I also thought he burned his chances a bit when he started mothing off about money. The potential is there but I would not have started him in his first international games. I would have preferred if they played him of the bench a few times and let him earn the right to start, ease him into the role a bit if you like.

I mentioned after the AB game that our loosies are not balanced right. Playing towards the ball and organising the defensive line is Vermeulen's strengths. He cant do any of that if he's the one tacking contact though. PSdT pre injury worked cause he was all over the place but he's a ghost of his former self. I'm not even going to mention the other loosie cause he's permanently missing anyways. You need a tackle machine like Mostert to make Vermeulen work at this stage in his career.

[Grandpa]

I still like Leicester... and think he has a big future in the All Blacks. I can see why they liked Clarke against the Boks as he does bust tackles and get us over the gain line... just a shame he isn't a very smart player. But Leicester I think has the smarts... and the physicality... just needs the confidence now. Ennor... just no... go away...