RWC QF4 France vs Springboks on 15/10 @ 21h00

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Hugo
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Fonz wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:46 pm
Hugo wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 4:54 pm I was gutted for the French yesterday and Im just as gutted today. 6 points up at home in the second half with a semi v England if they advanced.... This should have been their tournament for the taking.
It really was, it was all lined up really…strong team, hosts, relatively mediocre sides from most of the usual powerhouses…
Yes, France failed to seize the day/moment. Having rewatched the match the French were still in the ascendancy (playing the rugby and asking questions of the Bok defence) around the 60 minute mark.

Boks then exited their 22 on 64 mins (after a scrum) and the tide completely turned with France on the back foot.

Credit to the Boks though they proved in that moment (and in a handful of other ocassions) very dangerous attacking from deep.
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assfly
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Slick wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:17 pm I can’t believe anyone is defending this, it was a really fucking stupid thing to do 😂
I think time will tell if it is an idea worth pursuing.

But if a team's scrum is under serious pressure, they'll have to think twice about kicking the ball into the 22 or they risk a scrum penalty. They'll have to start kicking it out directly, and then they have to worry about the Boks competing in the lineout.

If it puts a little bit of doubt in the kicker's mind, it's worth it. These are the margins that win games.
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OomStruisbaai
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assfly wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 5:36 am
Slick wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:17 pm I can’t believe anyone is defending this, it was a really fucking stupid thing to do 😂
I think time will tell if it is an idea worth pursuing.

But if a team's scrum is under serious pressure, they'll have to think twice about kicking the ball into the 22 or they risk a scrum penalty. They'll have to start kicking it out directly, and then they have to worry about the Boks competing in the lineout.

If it puts a little bit of doubt in the kicker's mind, it's worth it. These are the margins that win games.
I love it. Rassie explain it and there is nothing wrong about being inventive. We got the scrum penalty. Libbok penalty kick was excellent, the flagman flag lifted but for some reason the ref override him. The same with Kolbeys charge down. It show that our coaches work in more detail then anyone else.
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Tichtheid
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The usual mix of a couple of reasoned responses and an absolute refusal to accept the minute possibility than one’s team may have had a very close decision go in their favour.

Hey ho.
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Sards
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OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 5:48 am
assfly wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 5:36 am
Slick wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:17 pm I can’t believe anyone is defending this, it was a really fucking stupid thing to do 😂
I think time will tell if it is an idea worth pursuing.

But if a team's scrum is under serious pressure, they'll have to think twice about kicking the ball into the 22 or they risk a scrum penalty. They'll have to start kicking it out directly, and then they have to worry about the Boks competing in the lineout.

If it puts a little bit of doubt in the kicker's mind, it's worth it. These are the margins that win games.
I love it. Rassie explain it and there is nothing wrong about being inventive. We got the scrum penalty. Libbok penalty kick was excellent, the flagman flag lifted but for some reason the ref override him. The same with Kolbeys charge down. It show that our coaches work in more detail then anyone else.
Vokken stupid sorry..........just brainless. Very lucky not to result in more than 3 points and scrums can be a lottery
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OomStruisbaai
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Tichtheid wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:00 am The usual mix of a couple of reasoned responses and an absolute refusal to accept the minute possibility than one’s team may have had a very close decision go in their favour.

Hey ho.
We knew its going to be close and surprise that we won but also realize that in the end its sport and not life.

In South Africa we try to make ends meet with a roof over our head and food on the table, the rest is a bonus.

To go back to ifs and not ifs

a bit like if my aunt had balls, you know.

We make jokes about the situation and relax, take it on the chin and move on.
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OomStruisbaai
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Sards wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:18 am
OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 5:48 am
assfly wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 5:36 am

I think time will tell if it is an idea worth pursuing.

But if a team's scrum is under serious pressure, they'll have to think twice about kicking the ball into the 22 or they risk a scrum penalty. They'll have to start kicking it out directly, and then they have to worry about the Boks competing in the lineout.

If it puts a little bit of doubt in the kicker's mind, it's worth it. These are the margins that win games.
I love it. Rassie explain it and there is nothing wrong about being inventive. We got the scrum penalty. Libbok penalty kick was excellent, the flagman flag lifted but for some reason the ref override him. The same with Kolbeys charge down. It show that our coaches work in more detail then anyone else.
Vokken stupid sorry..........just brainless. Very lucky not to result in more than 3 points and scrums can be a lottery
You should watch the Rassie video about it when you have time. I miss our friend Ox, he had the kicking spot on and the scrumming ext in his excellent filofaxes. Relax and read his stuff. Detail but very interesting.
Slick
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assfly wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 5:36 am
Slick wrote: Mon Oct 16, 2023 6:17 pm I can’t believe anyone is defending this, it was a really fucking stupid thing to do 😂
I think time will tell if it is an idea worth pursuing.

But if a team's scrum is under serious pressure, they'll have to think twice about kicking the ball into the 22 or they risk a scrum penalty. They'll have to start kicking it out directly, and then they have to worry about the Boks competing in the lineout.

If it puts a little bit of doubt in the kicker's mind, it's worth it. These are the margins that win games.
I must admit I came from the view that he had panicked a bit and Rassie was just taking some credit after the event. But having just this minute seen the clip of him putting the ball down and asking for the scrum it was obviously completely planned. So a bit of an apology for me on that. Still think it’s a dumb thing to try though
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Insane_Homer
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Tichtheid wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:00 am The usual mix of a couple of reasoned responses and an absolute refusal to accept the minute possibility than one’s team may have had a very close decision go in their favour.

Hey ho.
Like this head-to-head on PSDT on 60 mins that resulted in him having to leave the field for an HIA? Missed by the TMO, no review, no pen, no yellow :silent:
head2head.png
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Insane_Homer wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 7:43 am
Tichtheid wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:00 am The usual mix of a couple of reasoned responses and an absolute refusal to accept the minute possibility than one’s team may have had a very close decision go in their favour.

Hey ho.
Like this head-to-head on PSDT on 60 mins that resulted in him having to leave the field for an HIA? Missed by the TMO, no review, no pen, no yellow :silent:

head2head.png
Worth a look, but PSDT does lurch into him and almost headbutts him, plus twats him in the face with his hand, so I'm not surprised they missed it.

Regardless, worthy of a penalty and probably a card - he's too high and hits the jaw.
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Tichtheid
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OomStruisbaai wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 7:30 am
Tichtheid wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:00 am The usual mix of a couple of reasoned responses and an absolute refusal to accept the minute possibility than one’s team may have had a very close decision go in their favour.

Hey ho.
We knew its going to be close and surprise that we won but also realize that in the end its sport and not life.

In South Africa we try to make ends meet with a roof over our head and food on the table, the rest is a bonus.

To go back to ifs and not ifs

a bit like if my aunt had balls, you know.

We make jokes about the situation and relax, take it on the chin and move on.

The number of arguments I’ve seen between SA rugby fans and harbouring of long held grudges suggests otherwise
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Tichtheid
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Insane_Homer wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 7:43 am
Tichtheid wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 6:00 am The usual mix of a couple of reasoned responses and an absolute refusal to accept the minute possibility than one’s team may have had a very close decision go in their favour.

Hey ho.
Like this head-to-head on PSDT on 60 mins that resulted in him having to leave the field for an HIA? Missed by the TMO, no review, no pen, no yellow :silent:

head2head.png

Yeah, just like that.

What’s so difficult about accepting the officials missed something ?

I wanted France to win, that may have coloured my view of some incidents in the game, overall across everything I’ve read on the match the feeling is that SA got the rub of the green.
I don’t think anyone is being unsportsmanlike about it, it’s only part of the analysis of a huge game which was brilliant and nerve-racking to watch.
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OomStruisbaai
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Fat Frans, the only one left in the WC, topped the most Springbok tackles made list. :think:
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Blake
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Tichtheid wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:13 am I wanted France to win, that may have coloured my view of some incidents in the game, overall across everything I’ve read on the match the feeling is that SA got the rub of the green.
I don’t think anyone is being unsportsmanlike about it, it’s only part of the analysis of a huge game which was brilliant and nerve-racking to watch.
I think some of us are just taking issue with this narrative that we "got the rub of the green". We have plenty of grevances with the referee and somebody on Youtube will most likely make another video about it in due course. It will be a long one I assure you. But it is seen as bad sportsmanship for the victor to still complain about the officials. I get that, and I'm not doing that.

In my criticisms of the officals I'm more trying to defend the Boks and the coaches of some of the accusations and conspiracy theories against them which I think are unfair, and in many cases are given oxygen only because they stem from officiating oversights in the match.

The one being the accusations of us abusig the HIA process, while at the same time ignoring the source of the head contact on Vermeulen and PSdT and the failure of the review process in both cases. I didn't even realise Vermeulen took a head knock and went for an HIA until I rewatched it because there were no replays.

And the other being the accusation that Faf was trying to milk a penalty with the pass into Woki. If you look at the 3 phases leading into the incident you see Pollard standing in the pocket for a drop goal and Woki getting up just as Faf tries to pass it back. On the audio the referee says the pass was to "no one" but he clearly didn't see Pollard 20m back. If Faf wanted to milk it he didn't need to pass it that hard. Should have been a penalty, or Bok scrum at least.
Slick
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Blake wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:16 am
Tichtheid wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:13 am I wanted France to win, that may have coloured my view of some incidents in the game, overall across everything I’ve read on the match the feeling is that SA got the rub of the green.
I don’t think anyone is being unsportsmanlike about it, it’s only part of the analysis of a huge game which was brilliant and nerve-racking to watch.
I think some of us are just taking issue with this narrative that we "got the rub of the green". We have plenty of grevances with the referee and somebody on Youtube will most likely make another video about it in due course. It will be a long one I assure you. But it is seen as bad sportsmanship for the victor to still complain about the officials. I get that, and I'm not doing that.

In my criticisms of the officals I'm more trying to defend the Boks and the coaches of some of the accusations and conspiracy theories against them which I think are unfair, and in many cases are given oxygen only because they stem from officiating oversights in the match.

The one being the accusations of us abusig the HIA process, while at the same time ignoring the source of the head contact on Vermeulen and PSdT and the failure of the review process in both cases. I didn't even realise Vermeulen took a head knock and went for an HIA until I rewatched it because there were no replays.

And the other being the accusation that Faf was trying to milk a penalty with the pass into Woki. If you look at the 3 phases leading into the incident you see Pollard standing in the pocket for a drop goal and Woki getting up just as Faf tries to pass it back. On the audio the referee says the pass was to "no one" but he clearly didn't see Pollard 20m back. If Faf wanted to milk it he didn't need to pass it that hard. Should have been a penalty, or Bok scrum at least.
That would be more credible if it wasn’t like this after every single game. The micro analysis of every and any incident is just so tiresome and thin skinned.

The example above, it was obvious to literally everyone that Faf was trying to milk a penalty. Fine, lots of players do it, you won, move on. But no, now we have the micro analysis of where players were standing from 3 different angles, how hard he passed it etc. Jesus.
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Sandstorm
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The TMO shed being at Roland Garos is the issue. It should be somewhere neutral...like Pretoria or Brisbane.
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Blake
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Slick wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:28 am The example above, it was obvious to literally everyone that Faf was trying to milk a penalty. Fine, lots of players do it, you won, move on. But no, now we have the micro analysis of where players were standing from 3 different angles, how hard he passed it etc. Jesus.
Why milk a penalty when you are going for a 3-point drop goal anyway. It was going to be a sitter for Pollard and there were no French chasers anyway.
I suppose a penalty would have helped them eat away at the clock a bit more but that's about it.

Woki had zero awareness of any of this, so the offside is accidental, so I'm not claiming it was cynical. But if Faf wanted to milk it there were easier ways. He could have just tripped over him "accidentally". He was winding up a 20m pass FFS.

I am just frustrated that Faf is being accused of something that is obviously incorrect if you look at all the context around that ruck and Pollard's positioning.
But when you spend your career being a little shithouse, your reputation preceeds you and I suppose eventually the chickens will come home to roost.
Glad the impact on the match was negligable in the end.
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Dear Torq,

We’ve chatted a bit in this iteration of the forum. Agreed and disagreed on politics but on the same page really, and had some good rugby chats. I thought a message may be worthwhile.

As I posted pre-match, this would be a kak match to lose for any supporter. The losing side potentially gets forgotten because it’s a quarter, whilst the winner is well positioned to win.

There’s two matches this one reminds me of. The 1998 test against the All Blacks in Durban, and the 2011 RWC quarter against the Wallabies.

The 1998 ABs team was: Hoeft, Oliver, Brown, Willis, Brooke, Randell, Kronfeld, Maka, Marshall, Mehrtens, Lomu, Mayerhofler, Clarke, Wilson, Cullen. The Boks were down 5-23 going into the final 13 minutes. The All Blacks had been kicking onto our back three, return kicking meant giving Lomu/Wilson/Cullen the ball. The Boks turned down shots at goal went to the corner, and ran everything. Boks even ran from behind their own try line, and tapped from multiple penalties. Joost/Honiball/Rossouw/Muller/Terblanche cut them to pieces. When the All Blacks got the ball they kicked, Cullen kicked deep onto Rossouw with a few minutes to go, Rossouw calls the mark but taps and runs. It was a famous 24-23 Bok victory. Rassie played in that match.

The Boks almost never bring that game against other opponents, because something less risky has a higher chance of success. Lomu/Wilson/Cullen forced the Boks to run deep kicks back and restrict their own kicking.

I knew the Boks would return France’s deep kicks by running it back, that’s the Bok DNA when the opponent has a strong kicking game and dangerous attacking outside backs. Point is a side has to have real strength to force the Boks into returning kicks by running from deep as the first choice option.

The other match it reminds me of is the 2011 quarter. Similar to you and this French side, I thought that Bok side was excellent and capable of winning the tournament. But like yourself I thought there were some worryingly poor selections, especially starting Smit over Bismarck and Francois Louw’s inclusion. Like yourself I became a stuck record on the subject. When Brussow was injured on the 20th minute this left the Boks without a ground player (Smit started not Bismarck), Pocock then dominated the breakdown, and everything I feared came true. Frans Steyn was a critical player, and never played because of injury (much like this French side which has also had critical injuries). The ref was not great, a forward pass was called (the hands were backwards, but travel of the ball looked wrong) which prevented a try.

The individual talent in that side was as good/better than the current side, they could’ve and should’ve won, but lost 11-9. Like most Bok fans I just felt cheated and like the better side lost.

It wouldn’t be surprising to me if French fans felt similar to how we did after the 2011 quarter. Maybe including you. It was a shit feeling.

It’s an excellent French side. The French forced a performance out of the Springboks they usually only deliver against the All Blacks. The Kiwis regularly see the Boks putting in performances like this against their side, sometimes getting close/beating excellent All Black sides no other teams get close to. I remember Enzedder once saying “you buggers grow a third arm and a third leg when you play us!”.

French posters have always been decent, but it’s something maybe the worst French poster (a bit harsh on him, he wasn’t that bad) said which I’ve remembered longest. Franchfan, when he took a break from admiring Michalak, asked why the Springboks could beat the All Blacks but other sides couldn’t. He regarded it as an injustice that what he thought of as a worse team could beat what he regarded as the very best team.

It’s because the Boks know the All Blacks are as good or better than them, so they cannot edge a victory through something safe but limited. The Boks always have to go all out against the All Blacks to stand any chance, that means taking risks and fully capitalising on any half chance.

That’s the level of performance this French side demanded of the Boks, it only comes when the Boks know the opponent is really strong.

The Springboks best isn’t anything to do with the repeated nonsense of “physicality” (often just another way to call us stupid). It’s a focused stubborn determination, the rugby intelligence to take on as many calculated risks as possible, and ruthlessly exploiting small advantages.

When it all comes together it takes down any side.

In this match the Boks identified Bielle-Biarrey’s inexperience sending cross field kicks with Kolisi/Du Toit attached onto him (they ran back France’s deep kicks, recycled and carried close in for a phase, then kicked cross field onto the weak point with Kolisi/Du Toit repositioned in wide channels to chase). A calculated risk (running back deep kicks) is partnered with exploiting a small advantage (cross field kicks with backrow chasers onto Bielle-Biarrey).

I cheered when Etzebeth risked the knock to prevent a French try on 7-0, when Reinach/Libbok refused to kick and ran the ball out from behind our try line when the score was 7-7, every time Kolbe/Arendse/Libbok fielded a deep kick and ran it back, when Willemse called a scrum from the mark to try and deprive France an attacking lineout (France scored 2 of their 3 tries off the lineout, and before the quarter France scored 12 of their 27 tries off the lineout, anyone not fighting to avoid giving France chances to use their lineout variations is stupid).

I often watched that 1998 match when I was younger. I’ll never forget the ending, defending a 1 point lead with possession in the Bok half on the 82nd minute (timing used soccer style injury time back then), Honiball kicks the ball away infield. The Boks had won when Faf closed the game out by kicking into the French half infield. It was intelligent, exchanging the risk of a Bok knock inside the Bok half for France being too far out to score 3 points, leaving the Boks to defend until an error was forced, which came when Faf himself ripped the ball. It wasn’t what most sides would do but that’s the point. Only the Boks would back themselves to such an extent they would defend a 1 point lead by kicking onto Lomu and Cullen or onto that French attack.

A lot of the talk on this thread is foolish. France had 60% possession and territory, the Boks couldn’t disrupt the French lineout which ended on 12 from 12. The Boks were behind in all sorts of stats, carries over the gain line, defenders beaten, missed tackles. France kicked deep infield but didn’t kick the ball out which meant only 5 Bok lineouts, there were only 8 Bok scrums, difficult to work with such a meagre set piece supply.

France kept the ball in play and upped the tempo, it was smart. But they didn’t count on this working in favour of Bok attacking backline play and just how razor sharp it can be, all 3 of France’s tries came from forwards, 3 of 4 Bok tries were from backs.

It would be an insult to claim rocking up with brain dead “physicality” and fearing attempting to do anything, beats this French team in their own RWC. But in an odd way that’s what many posters have claimed.

What really set the Boks apart, comes from a place far beyond rugby or anything physical. Even if the odds are impossible South Africans will always fight, that’s what our history is defined by really. Charging down a conversion is more about fully committing to fighting for a lost cause than anything to do with rugby. Same with scrambling and sprinting to make cover tackles that it’s impossible to know can be made, Kriel was so beat up on the final whistle he looked like he had emerged from road traffic accident. Same with running a ball from behind your try line in a knockout match against a wall of defence. Same with kicking possession away at the end of the match with time on the clock and trusting your defence against whatever attack is coming.

When that spirit is combined with some rugby intelligence it is powerful.

If the Boks win this tournament or not, doesn’t change that this Bok side embodies the nation’s spirit like no other since 1995. Other Bok sides were more talented in my opinion, but none had the emotional strength this side does. The Bok victory song Nkalakatha (aka the unofficial national anthem) describes our spirit, it’s about toughness and ignoring detractors.

No other side could’ve beaten France, only the very best the Boks can bring had any chance. That French side would’ve ended other sides by 60 minutes.

No consolation but there it is. It would’ve been appreciated if any Aussie had said our side was excellent back in 2011 and had forced the best from their side.

Borrowing Clouseau’s sign off…

Kind Regards Ox.
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Slick wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:28 am But no, now we have the micro analysis of where players were standing from 3 different angles, how hard he passed it etc. Jesus.
You're just not as interested in the sport as us. Shrug.
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Sandstorm
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Interesting post Os. Cheers.
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OomStruisbaai
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Cheers Ox, great filofax post. Now we need your preview on the semi final. :thumbup:
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Tichtheid
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The match stats on the RWC site doesn't give handling errors. During the game it looked to me like SA made fewer errors and France were losing possession at critical moments after some incredible line breaks.

Both teams were under the same pressure, the more accurate team won, is my simplistic take on it.
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_Os_ wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:41 am If the Boks win this tournament or not, doesn’t change that this Bok side embodies the nation’s spirit like no other since 1995. Other Bok sides were more talented in my opinion, but none had the emotional strength this side does. The Bok victory song Nkalakatha (aka the unofficial national anthem) describes our spirit, it’s about toughness and ignoring detractors.
This sums up my feeling about them perfectly.
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You know what....I don't think anyone here has seen a match like the match against France. With the level of rugby it may happen again , but don't hold your breath. So no comparrisons....Savour what you have witnessed.

I don't know if anyone remembers the first half....It was like 2 heavy weight boxers trading blows in the opening rounds.....Just brutal. Tries going either way. Just as one side took the advantage , the other team hit back. Neither of these sides wanted to be knocked out. It was always going to depend on who held out. In the last stages of the second half the French started losing the battle and Du Pont looked like he wasn't sure what more he could do and started making wrong decisions. Thats where the match was lost. You could see in his eyes that he was running out of time and hope.

Instead of comparing this match to others....this should be the Benchmark for all other matches we have played. 4 tries. A real battle in all positions.
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Tichtheid
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Sards wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 7:48 am You know what....I don't think anyone here has seen a match like the match against France. With the level of rugby it may happen again , but don't hold your breath. So no comparrisons....Savour what you have witnessed.

I don't know if anyone remembers the first half....It was like 2 heavy weight boxers trading blows in the opening rounds.....Just brutal. Tries going either way. Just as one side took the advantage , the other team hit back. Neither of these sides wanted to be knocked out. It was always going to depend on who held out. In the last stages of the second half the French started losing the battle and Du Pont looked like he wasn't sure what more he could do and started making wrong decisions. Thats where the match was lost. You could see in his eyes that he was running out of time and hope.

Instead of comparing this match to others....this should be the Benchmark for all other matches we have played. 4 tries. A real battle in all positions.

I agree with the gist of that, it was a brilliant match, one for all others to try and emulate, no quarter asked or given.

On Dupont, I thought he looked exhausted at the end, I don't think he was subbed, was he? That's very unusual for a scrum half, they run more than any other position on the park
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Tichtheid wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:10 am
Sards wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 7:48 am You know what....I don't think anyone here has seen a match like the match against France. With the level of rugby it may happen again , but don't hold your breath. So no comparrisons....Savour what you have witnessed.

I don't know if anyone remembers the first half....It was like 2 heavy weight boxers trading blows in the opening rounds.....Just brutal. Tries going either way. Just as one side took the advantage , the other team hit back. Neither of these sides wanted to be knocked out. It was always going to depend on who held out. In the last stages of the second half the French started losing the battle and Du Pont looked like he wasn't sure what more he could do and started making wrong decisions. Thats where the match was lost. You could see in his eyes that he was running out of time and hope.

Instead of comparing this match to others....this should be the Benchmark for all other matches we have played. 4 tries. A real battle in all positions.

I agree with the gist of that, it was a brilliant match, one for all others to try and emulate, no quarter asked or given.

On Dupont, I thought he looked exhausted at the end, I don't think he was subbed, was he? That's very unusual for a scrum half, they run more than any other position on the park
I don't think Lucu could have brought much ( he doesn't usually get much time)
Slick
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_Os_ wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:42 am
Slick wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:28 am But no, now we have the micro analysis of where players were standing from 3 different angles, how hard he passed it etc. Jesus.
You're just not as interested in the sport as us. Shrug.
Exactly the opposite I'd say.
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_Os_
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Slick wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:48 am
_Os_ wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:42 am
Slick wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:28 am But no, now we have the micro analysis of where players were standing from 3 different angles, how hard he passed it etc. Jesus.
You're just not as interested in the sport as us. Shrug.
Exactly the opposite I'd say.
You sure do like telling us not to talk about matches, how is that working out for you chief?
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_Os_ wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:51 am
Slick wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:48 am
_Os_ wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:42 am
You're just not as interested in the sport as us. Shrug.
Exactly the opposite I'd say.
You sure do like telling us not to talk about matches, how is that working out for you chief?
You'd rather burn the house down to protect your thin skin than have any interest in the actual sport. By all means carry on, it seems a very important thing in your life.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
_Os_
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Slick wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:55 am
_Os_ wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:51 am
Slick wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:48 am

Exactly the opposite I'd say.
You sure do like telling us not to talk about matches, how is that working out for you chief?
You'd rather burn the house down to protect your thin skin than have any interest in the actual sport. By all means carry on, it seems a very important thing in your life.
Looks like continue pissing into the wind it is then.
_Os_
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One of the best matches the Boks have been in for years.

Slick: "I demand you South Africans don't actually discuss anything that happened in the match in any detail, I'm allowed to say anything your coaches come up with is brain dead stupidity, and that's as far as the discussion is allowed to go, anyone that just ignores me and continues posting has a thin skin".

Hilarious.
petej
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Slick wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:48 am
_Os_ wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:42 am
Slick wrote: Tue Oct 17, 2023 9:28 am But no, now we have the micro analysis of where players were standing from 3 different angles, how hard he passed it etc. Jesus.
You're just not as interested in the sport as us. Shrug.
Exactly the opposite I'd say.
There is a wider point about rugby analytics here or at least the analytics in the public space. I think SA coaches are ahead of the game in certain areas like media, messaging, referee management and also on the field of play clock/tempo management. Combine that attention to detail with a very good team, well coached and drilled in traditional sense as well and they are going to win things. This isn't as important against a shithouse team like England but can be crucial against a very good team like France.
Last edited by petej on Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Slick
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_Os_ wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:03 am One of the best matches the Boks have been in for years.

Slick: "I demand you South Africans don't actually discuss anything that happened in the match in any detail, I'm allowed to say anything your coaches come up with is brain dead stupidity, and that's as far as the discussion is allowed to go, anyone that just ignores me and continues posting has a thin skin".

Hilarious.
Well, that's certainly proven me wrong :lol:
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
_Os_
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Slick wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:07 am
_Os_ wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:03 am One of the best matches the Boks have been in for years.

Slick: "I demand you South Africans don't actually discuss anything that happened in the match in any detail, I'm allowed to say anything your coaches come up with is brain dead stupidity, and that's as far as the discussion is allowed to go, anyone that just ignores me and continues posting has a thin skin".

Hilarious.
Well, that's certainly proven me wrong :lol:
I'm lost about what point you're even trying to make, nothing that makes much sense. Best I can make out the Boks are slowly driving you mad.

There'll still be South Africans talking about this match years from now. Loads of us will rate Mauvaka purely off this match for years I expect.
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Sandstorm
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Slick you're coming across a little bitter here. I also suspect you'd bite the hand off anyone who offered to help Scotland's Management team do the kind of analysis we do in the last 5 years in the Bok camp.

If Scotland knew how to really play to your strengths (backline going forward) and negate some of your weaknesses (defence, discipline, backrow limitations), then you might challenge the Top 4 more consistently.
Slick
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Sandstorm wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:42 am Slick you're coming across a little bitter here. I also suspect you'd bite the hand off anyone who offered to help Scotland's Management team do the kind of analysis we do in the last 5 years in the Bok camp.

If Scotland knew how to really play to your strengths (backline going forward) and negate some of your weaknesses (defence, discipline, backrow limitations), then you might challenge the Top 4 more consistently.
I think you've misunderstood mate. I'm talking about SA supporters going into minutia to defend a point no one is making, not the management!

Edit: it's mostly in good humour from my end.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
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Sandstorm
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Slick wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 10:34 am
Sandstorm wrote: Wed Oct 18, 2023 9:42 am Slick you're coming across a little bitter here. I also suspect you'd bite the hand off anyone who offered to help Scotland's Management team do the kind of analysis we do in the last 5 years in the Bok camp.

If Scotland knew how to really play to your strengths (backline going forward) and negate some of your weaknesses (defence, discipline, backrow limitations), then you might challenge the Top 4 more consistently.
I think you've misunderstood mate. I'm talking about SA supporters going into minutia to defend a point no one is making, not the management!

Edit: it's mostly in good humour from my end.
:thumbup:
_Os_
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Some Frenchie has messaged Reinach a photo of his son and threatened to kill him as a reprisal for "cheating". Funny how no one dogpiled Dupont for criticising the reffing, yet when we do it ...

The social media interaction between the French and us has been interesting this week. The French fans in the wild are very different from the posters we've had down the years that's for sure! Then there's the odd guy in broken English apologising profusely for his countrymen.

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OomStruisbaai
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That's a new level of NH soccer culture for you.
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OomStruisbaai
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Look like the French got past the B&I Lions sour grapes
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