Wales vs Springboks

[petej]

I find it surprising that Wales haven't rearranged the back row to fit in reffell. The sacking of Pivac now looks like a mistake.

[Blake]

Just glad to see Hanekom at last up for his first cap, long overdue. I can see him becoming more regular from next season now that he is part of the squad as he can cover lock, flanker and 8th man. Unfortunately I think it is time to put Eskom out to pasture

Not Van Staden but more likely Roos. If he can't find his 2022 form again, Hannekom will probably be taking his spot for the foreseeable future.
He really hasn't impressed in any of his 6 Bok outings to date and was also a bit meh for the Stormers in 2023 and 2024.

[assfly]

I have always liked van Staden, for me he represents what a 6 should look and play like.

But I'm still waiting for a BIG performance in a Bok shirt. Just seems to coast in every game; neither good nor bad. I can't quite put my finger on it.

[Blake]

I have always liked van Staden, for me he represents what a 6 should look and play like.

But I'm still waiting for a BIG performance in a Bok shirt. Just seems to coast in every game; neither good nor bad. I can't quite put my finger on it.

He gets a lot of hate, but to me he just does all the dirty work and many people are missing his contributions.
Nothing flash, no big plays. Just grinds, does the work and clocks out for the day.

Sometimes you need somebody to do that so that Kolisi or PSdT can play a little on the outside edges.

[Sandstorm]

I have always liked van Staden, for me he represents what a 6 should look and play like.

But I'm still waiting for a BIG performance in a Bok shirt. Just seems to coast in every game; neither good nor bad. I can't quite put my finger on it.

I’m with you. Van Staden shines at club level, but doesn’t make the final step up to Test star.

[_Os_]

Wales have not selected Wainwright and Anscombe in the 23. Maybe the best forward and back they have now. Sounds like both are fit.

Madness.

Lol and Costellow is playing.
Pmsl.

I suspect Costelow is rated by a lot of South Africans. He's been mentioned as a standout Welsh player in SA preview podcasts by rugby journalists I listen to. Rio Dyer is also rated I suspect, he's the standout Dragons back.

The main thing that makes us rate a player is if they've ever done anything against our teams. When our sides play Scarlets he's in the middle of a lot of stuff and converting his kicks. We're also not going to care if no one else is rating a player, because SA players we heavily rate often don't get recognition outside SA.

But the problem Costelow and a lot of this Welsh team has, is shallow experience. This is where doing better at URC level and playing big knockout games would've helped. They look more like raw URC talent than test players at the moment. Doesn't mean they're actually bad players though.

[Chilli2]

I have always liked van Staden, for me he represents what a 6 should look and play like.

But I'm still waiting for a BIG performance in a Bok shirt. Just seems to coast in every game; neither good nor bad. I can't quite put my finger on it.

I’m with you. Van Staden shines at club level, but doesn’t make the final step up to Test star.

This

[Blake]

Well, Van Staden gets another shot to prove his doubters wrong.

Kleyn withdrawn, EE to start, Eskom to the bench.

[_Os_]

Well, Van Staden gets another shot to prove his doubters wrong.

Kleyn withdrawn, EE to start, Eskom to the bench.

Rassie rates Bulls backrows, not Stomps.

Elrigh Louw is rated above Roos. Hanekom is rated above Dixon. Van Staden rated above every Stomp backrow.

Looks about right to me, other than maybe Roos comes back in, or Rassie thinks he's a doos and he never comes back in.

[OomStruisbaai]

Rassie is waiting for Fourie to return

[epwc]

Gatland the fall guy for Wales:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/ ... elsh-rugby

It is a big mountain to climb, whoevers in charge

[OomStruisbaai]

Can Wales select outside their clubs?

[C69]

Wales have not selected Wainwright and Anscombe in the 23. Maybe the best forward and back they have now. Sounds like both are fit.

Madness.

Lol and Costellow is playing.
Pmsl.

I suspect Costelow is rated by a lot of South Africans. He's been mentioned as a standout Welsh player in SA preview podcasts by rugby journalists I listen to. Rio Dyer is also rated I suspect, he's the standout Dragons back.

The main thing that makes us rate a player is if they've ever done anything against our teams. When our sides play Scarlets he's in the middle of a lot of stuff and converting his kicks. We're also not going to care if no one else is rating a player, because SA players we heavily rate often don't get recognition outside SA.

But the problem Costelow and a lot of this Welsh team has, is shallow experience. This is where doing better at URC level and playing big knockout games would've helped. They look more like raw URC talent than test players at the moment. Doesn't mean they're actually bad players though.

Costellow has been appalling for Wales and he has 17 caps ffs. He is utterly out of his depth and barely semi pro level.

[_Os_]

Lol and Costellow is playing.
Pmsl.

I suspect Costelow is rated by a lot of South Africans. He's been mentioned as a standout Welsh player in SA preview podcasts by rugby journalists I listen to. Rio Dyer is also rated I suspect, he's the standout Dragons back.

The main thing that makes us rate a player is if they've ever done anything against our teams. When our sides play Scarlets he's in the middle of a lot of stuff and converting his kicks. We're also not going to care if no one else is rating a player, because SA players we heavily rate often don't get recognition outside SA.

But the problem Costelow and a lot of this Welsh team has, is shallow experience. This is where doing better at URC level and playing big knockout games would've helped. They look more like raw URC talent than test players at the moment. Doesn't mean they're actually bad players though.

Costellow has been appalling for Wales and he has 17 caps ffs. He is utterly out of his depth and barely semi pro level.

Guessing he's played mostly from the bench in under performing teams. Brendan Nel one of the better SA rugby journos name checked him.

[sockwithaticket]

I feel like that has to be checked just because it's so unusual to see a second row taking a line like that even though, ostensibly, there's nothing wrong with it.

[PCPhil]

This could get messy.
SA look like they know the game is won and want to put in a show.

[Sards]

Libbok is sooooiio overrated

[SaintK]

Uh oh!!!

[Oxbow]

SA going in sans lube.

[Paddington Bear]

This is men against boys, Wales quite genuinely look like a tier 2 side

[sockwithaticket]

When have you ever seen second rows successively run in open field tries?

Ominous start. Think we all knew Wales were on for a pasting, but it's already looking like SA vs. clock RFC.

[Oxbow]

And now they're bringing a schoolboy on.

[sockwithaticket]

This is men against boys, Wales quite genuinely look like a tier 2 side

Half them look like age group players. The lad that's just come on for Costellow could be in the U18s and I wouldn't be surprised.

[Paddington Bear]

This is men against boys, Wales quite genuinely look like a tier 2 side

Half them look like age group players. The lad that's just come on for Costellow could be in the U18s and I wouldn't be surprised.

There’s a good chance Gats ruins them for their careers sending them out against the Boks like this

[Sards]

Libbok is sooooiio overrated

[ScarfaceClaw]

This is going to get horrific for Wales.

[Blackmac]

Scrum penalties are just utter nonsense in a game like this.

[sockwithaticket]

That's a really good bit of defending over the line from the Welsh 15.

[I like neeps]

Love watching Gatland's reputation collapse.

[Jim Lahey]

This is going to get horrific for Wales.

I'm genuinely impressed with them that they haven't conceded another 2 tries. They are getting an absolute battering, but not sure many other teams would be matching the Boks in this form.

[TheNatalShark]

How is the ref not getting these tackles in the air right, right in front of him.

[Paddington Bear]

This is going to get horrific for Wales.

I'm genuinely impressed with them that they haven't conceded another 2 tries. They are getting an absolute battering, but not sure many other teams would be matching the Boks in this form.

This is a training run, what form they’re in is hard to tell

[Oxbow]

There was a knock-on in there.

[TheNatalShark]

Yeah reckon a knock on or forward pass (or both) there

[C69]

ouch lol

[Jim Lahey]

If this was a boxing match it would've been over after 10mins.

[sockwithaticket]

At what point is a dominant scrum a safety issue?

How is the ref not getting these tackles in the air right, right in front of him.

It's Dickson, he's shite. His elevation to this level is an absolute mystery.

[Oxbow]

Wales need to kneecap a couple of their props to force uncontested scrums.

[Bloutoria]

Is Eben OK?

[TheNatalShark]

Is Eben OK?

Walked off in discomfort