The Rugby Championship - Round 4

[OomStruisbaai]

Boks named...

Sadly dropping Fassi for Willie, Pollard for SMZ and Kitshoff not on the bench. Our lineout should be strong with PSdT moving to 7. This test is going to massive. Springboks havent beat the All Blacks in Cape Town since 2005.

[OomStruisbaai]

Springbok team with all the stats
Springbok team to face New Zealand in Cape Town:
15 – Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 96 caps, 75 pts (15t)
14 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 caps, 25 pts (5t)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 74 caps, 80 points (16t)
12 –Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 83 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 36 caps, 96 points (15t, 3c, 5p)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 74 caps, 734 points (7t, 99c, 162p, 5dg)
9 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 14 caps, 15 points (3t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 28 caps, 5 points (1t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 82 caps, 45 points (9t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Racing 92) – 87 caps, 55 points (11t)
5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 0 points
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 125 caps, 30 points (6t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 74 caps, 5 points (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 73 caps, 75 points (15t)
1 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 34 caps, 0 points
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 70 caps, 95 points (19t)
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 0 points
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 55 caps, 0 points
19 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 46 caps, 45 points (9t)
20 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 7 caps, 0 points
21 – Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 15 caps, 12 pts (2t, 1c)
22 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 7 caps, 49 points (14c, 4p)
23 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks) - 37 caps, 35 pts (7t)

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against New Zealand:
Played: 107, Won: 41. Lost: 62, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 772; Points against: 2 223; Tries scored: 171; Tries conceded: 244. Win %: 38.3%.

Miscellaneous:

The centre pairing of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende will extend their record of playing the most Test matches together in the midfield to 33 (the previous record was held by Jean de Villiers and Jaque Fourie with 29 Tests).
Handre Pollard needs nine points to overtake Morne Steyn (742 points) and move into second place on the Springbok all-time scorers’ list. Percy Montgomery leads with 893 points.
Should Malcolm Marx score a try he will move to 20 and into tenth equal place on the all-time Springbok try-scoring list with James Small. He is already the leading Springbok forward try scorer.
Cheslin Kolbe needs four points to reach 100 points in Tests for South Africa.
Eben Etzebeth moves to within one appearance of equalling Victor Matfield’s record as the most capped Springbok player (127 Tests). Etzebeth will play his 126th Test.
Willie le Roux will play his 97th Test, leaving him three appearances away from becoming the eighth Springbok to play in a century of Tests.
The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 893.
There are 387 caps in the backline, with 506 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 242 caps.
The average caps per player in the backline is 55, the forwards 63, while the players on the bench average 30.

[Gumboot]

Boks named...

OP updated...

[Blake]

Boks named...

Sadly dropping Fassi for Willie, Pollard for SMZ and Kitshoff not on the bench. Our lineout should be strong with PSdT moving to 7. This test is going to massive. Springboks havent beat the All Blacks in Cape Town since 2005.

Willie of Fassie was expected. Hopefully he'll get to his 100 tests soon and then I think he will be done with the Boks once Willemse is back from injury. With Willemse, Fassi and SFM all fit (and Horn and Gelant on standby) we have enough cover at 15 in the post-Willie era. He has been a great servant for Bok rugby and I hope he gets a worthy send-off.

Biggest surprise for me is bringing in Moodie for the injured Arendse. I thought Mapimpi would get a run for old-time's sake. Hopefully the young man can adjust to the pace of text rugby quickly after his injury and post-injury Currie Cup stint.

Also a bit surprised Kolisi is fit.

Very happy the Libbok, Kitshoff, Moerat rumours were incorrect. But would like to see all 3 get a run vs the Argentinians.

My only concern is lock cover for the match. Yes, PSdT can move to lock if needed, but I still don't like a 5-3 bench with no extra locks in reserve.

[Sandstorm]

Also a bit surprised Kolisi is fit.

Me too.

Very happy the Libbok, Kitshoff, Moerat rumours were incorrect. But would like to see all 3 get a run vs the Argentinians.

Agreed, because it will annoy the hell out of Sards.

My only concern is lock cover for the match. Yes, PSdT can move to lock if needed, but I still don't like a 5-3 bench with no extra locks in reserve.

Ben Jason-Dixon's injury is a big hit.

[Blake]

Saw the Rassie team announcement presser now.

Mampimpi's wife is having a baby due soon, so that's why he was released and Moodie was brought in as cover.

That's nice for Mapimps. Hope the birth goes well. He deserves some happiness.

[OomStruisbaai]

Moodie is a great call. You can expect the All Blacks to bom Willie. He is utterly shite fielding up and unders.

The Moerat,Libbok, Kitsie call was mine, bait for Sards, unfortunately the whole lot nibble it.

[OomStruisbaai]

Ben Jason-Dixon's injury is a big hit.

He is released to play for WP on friday.

Meanwhile the Boks released three players, Steven Kitshoff (prop), Ben-Jason Dixon (flanker) and Makazole Mapimpi (winger), to their provincial unions for more game time in the Carling Currie Cup as they continue to ensure that the players remain match-fit in the team’s title quest.

[boere wors]

Good team but agree, a 6-2 with another lock would have been my choice as well. Although Elrigh can cover that if necessary. Don’t see the point in Am on the bench really.

[Sandstorm]

Saw the Rassie team announcement presser now.

Mampimpi's wife is having a baby due soon, so that's why he was released and Moodie was brought in as cover.

That's nice for Mapimps. Hope the birth goes well. He deserves some happiness.

[Sandstorm]

Ben Jason-Dixon's injury is a big hit.

He is released to play for WP on friday.

Meanwhile the Boks released three players, Steven Kitshoff (prop), Ben-Jason Dixon (flanker) and Makazole Mapimpi (winger), to their provincial unions for more game time in the Carling Currie Cup as they continue to ensure that the players remain match-fit in the team’s title quest.

Cheers Oom

[Blake]

Good team but agree, a 6-2 with another lock would have been my choice as well. Although Elrigh can cover that if necessary. Don’t see the point in Am on the bench really.

It's a bit of a weird one hey. I think we'd have enough backline cover without Am, but maybe the coaches didn't like what they saw last week when everybody had to shift for the Pollard, DDA, Kriel 12,13,14 shuffle. Maybe DDA isn't as good at the defensive reads at 13 as Am/Kriel are and they were worried if Kriel goes off that our defence wouldn't be good enough.

It's been a while since we've shipped 4 tries in a single match.

[Kiwias]

Zinny, Kronfeld, and Iceman, instantly springs to mind.

Jeez, didn't realise those guys were so short! Mind you, Iceman had springs in his heels, and they played mostly in the pre-lifting days.

Also, Zinny wore custom made stubbies as well - made his legs look longer, and thus he looked deceptively taller than he actually is.

I had a beer or two with Zinny at a bar in HK in the early-90s when he was playing in the 7s there and he is not taller than me at 190cm

[OomStruisbaai]

All Blacks the favorites by some margin. Cape Town is their second home and with Willie in 15 will cost us big time.

[Sards]

So lots of scams surrounding tickets for the ABs.

Also we were notified that ticket master still has tickets available at 3k a pop. That's a total of 12k for the 4 of us. They can keep it. And then to top it all I am getting DHL Stormers bombarding me to buy season tickets....hulle is Jus.

Regarding the team. Was expected. Happy with Moodie on the wing. That kid is special.
The rest pretty much expected. Rassie is not making the same mistake as with the Irish.

No complaints.

[Sards]

All Blacks the favorites by some margin. Cape Town is their second home and with Willie in 15 will cost us big time.

Willie is just so much more experienced and such a playmaker compared to Fassi and Willemse. Good luck to him for the weekend. I know he will give everything

[_Os_]

My pick:

Kitshoff, Am, Mapimpi, Le Roux all coming back in. Libbok won't be in the 23, Pollard could be starting. This match would've been planned to have a stronger 23 than Ellis Park, it's a two match series meaning the one they would've planned for more to prevent the other side winning the series is the second test. Bringing about 5 top players in fresh is a big advantage.

Rassie mostly followed the instructions I gave him.

I will give him more instructions later when the time is right.

[Gumboot]

Australia

1. Angus Bell
2. Matt Faessler
3. Taniela Tupou
4. Nick Frost
5. Jeremy Williams
6. Rob Valetini
7. Carlo Tizzano
8. Harry Wilson (c)
9. Jake Gordon
10. Ben Donaldson
11. Marika Koroibete
12. Hamish Stewart
13. Len Ikitau
14. Max Jorgensen
15. Andrew Kellaway

Reserves:
16. Josh Nasser, 17. James Slipper, 18. Allan Alaalatoa, 19. Josh Canham*, 20. Langi Gleeson
21. Tate McDermott, 22. Tom Lynagh, 23. Josh Flook

[Jethro]

All Blacks the favorites by some margin. Cape Town is their second home and with Willie in 15 will cost us big time.

Oh dear the cope is just getting cringe now. So the ABs are favs to win against the Bokke at home, in front of a fanatic Saffa crowd, against a team they haven't beaten in three outings. Dear god in heaven the mocker gods are going to be all over this

[Grandpa]

All Blacks the favorites by some margin. Cape Town is their second home and with Willie in 15 will cost us big time.

Oh dear the cope is just getting cringe now. So the ABs are favs to win against the Bokke at home, in front of a fanatic Saffa crowd, against a team they haven't beaten in three outings. Dear god in heaven the mocker gods are going to be all over this

Don't think Oom has ever said the Boks are favourite for any match...

[Gumboot]

[OomStruisbaai]

My pick:

Kitshoff, Am, Mapimpi, Le Roux all coming back in. Libbok won't be in the 23, Pollard could be starting. This match would've been planned to have a stronger 23 than Ellis Park, it's a two match series meaning the one they would've planned for more to prevent the other side winning the series is the second test. Bringing about 5 top players in fresh is a big advantage.

Rassie mostly followed the instructions I gave him.

I will give him more instructions later when the time is right.

Your instructions were kak. 50% is not ideal.

[assfly]

I think that's a very good Bok team. Stronger than last week.

[handyman]

So lots of scams surrounding tickets for the ABs.

Also we were notified that ticket master still has tickets available at 3k a pop. That's a total of 12k for the 4 of us. They can keep it. And then to top it all I am getting DHL Stormers bombarding me to buy season tickets....hulle is Jus.

Regarding the team. Was expected. Happy with Moodie on the wing. That kid is special.
The rest pretty much expected. Rassie is not making the same mistake as with the Irish.

No complaints.

Really getting amped for this. It's been about 7 years since I last attended a test.

[Sards]

Huge vibe here in Cape Town. Testament to the draw that is the ABs. Town is going to be a nightmare tomorrow night. I have been to the 7s a few times over the years and it's a mission. Be prepared to do a lot of walking. I believe City of Cape Town has provided Micity busses to transport people to the stadium if they have a ticket to the rugby. My one mate who is a bodyguard for one of the very wealthy families has to babysit the " girls " and their friends to the match but won't be seeing it. Bummer. I told him to pull in at my place between. We are obviously having a bash. But bring and braai. I am watching. Biltong shops are doing a roaring trade. I must still get mine. Bottle stores will be pumping too. I am already sorted. Everybody is just amped for tomorrow. Thanks ABs for this occasion.

[Simian]

I think that's a very good Bok team. Stronger than last week.

I think so too!

[Sandstorm]

Really getting amped for this. It's been about 7 years since I last attended a test.

Perfect weather tomorrow for a perfect occasion. Enjoy it Handyman

[LoveOfTheGame]

Really getting amped for this. It's been about 7 years since I last attended a test.

Perfect weather tomorrow for a perfect occasion. Enjoy it Handyman

So Sards was wrong again? Imagine that.

[handyman]

Really getting amped for this. It's been about 7 years since I last attended a test.

Perfect weather tomorrow for a perfect occasion. Enjoy it Handyman

Sards was a bit negative about the wind, but it's going to be difficult to dampen my enthusiasm!

[Sards]

Really getting amped for this. It's been about 7 years since I last attended a test.

Perfect weather tomorrow for a perfect occasion. Enjoy it Handyman

So Sards was wrong again? Imagine that.

Not me
SA weather .

Look like the wind moved to Sunday. Which is perfect for me because I am collecting my new rubber duck and I didn't want to deal with strong winds

[Sards]

Really getting amped for this. It's been about 7 years since I last attended a test.

Perfect weather tomorrow for a perfect occasion. Enjoy it Handyman

Sards was a bit negative about the wind, but it's going to be difficult to dampen my enthusiasm!

Dude you go enjoy it. It's going to be a jol....
Hopefully

[OomStruisbaai]

Geniet Handyman. Hope you dont get lost in Cape Town, specially after the game. I use to struggle to found my car after the games at Newlands.

[assfly]

Geniet Handyman. Hope you dont get lost in Cape Town, specially after the game. I use to struggle to found my car after the games at Newlands.

Were you too dronk to remember you got an Uber there?

[LoveOfTheGame]

Geniet Handyman. Hope you dont get lost in Cape Town, specially after the game. I use to struggle to found my car after the games at Newlands.

Were you too dronk to remember you got an Uber there?

Sad part of that was oom was actually watching the game from home....

[Blake]

Really getting amped for this. It's been about 7 years since I last attended a test.

Perfect weather tomorrow for a perfect occasion. Enjoy it Handyman

So Sards was wrong again? Imagine that.

I'll give Sards a lot of kak when he gets things wrong, but when it comes to Cape Town weather I'll give him some leeway. This place is weird man.

So I also got the email yesterday for the last couple of remaining seats. Looked like fewer than 250 or so left, but I'm not dropping R3000 for nosebleeds. I had a better ticket for the Irish test at Loftus and it set me back R1500. Not sure what SARU is smoking with these prices.

[handyman]

Got 4 tickets for R 450 each. Like I said, upper tier. Middle tier was about R 2500 each at the time. I think those are going for at least 3 times that now.

[LoveOfTheGame]

The whole process was a debacle. I guess that's what happens when the demand is off the charts.

[assfly]

Sad part of that was oom was actually watching the game from home....

[Sards]

The whole process was a debacle. I guess that's what happens when the demand is off the charts.

Go figure. ABs pull in the money. So much in demand......wish we were so popular

[Sards]

Geez. It's chilli atm. But quite a bit of wind around and blowing off the sea here in Blouberg. Water must be cold.
Pretty much the same weather tomorrow. Make sure you are warm handyman.

Actually the water is around 15 degrees. So not bad
.....no clue why it's so Chilli. We have had a lot of sunny days. Got an outside braai tonight at my eldests school cricket pavilion. Going to freeze my balls off. And the wind is pumping