Springbokke next 4 years to 2027

[LoveOfTheGame]

The more I think about it, the less this selection makes sense. The main thing to fix was the playmaker and kicker thing. What did Rassenaber do about it? Fuck all. They put the only guy capable of fullfilling that role on the bench. For what? So he can come on and kick the penalties when we are already chasing the game?

I don't know, it's a hellava ask to make your debut for the Springboks, never mind against a fired-up French team at home at the top of their game. Libbok is even with the best will in the world very much a confidence player, let him come off the bench and make his debut. I'm quite surprised he is on the bench at all against the French tbf, they won't be gentle and most certainly won't be forgiving. That backline is some scary proposition. The Bok's defense must be rock solid. Libbok will hopefully bring his bit not only with ball in hand and kicking, but equally as important defend his channel like a man possessed!

[boere wors]

ja, maybe with Faf and Willie things go a bit better for Willemse

[_Os_]

Someone has left boere wors on the braai too long and he's burnt himself, bit of an over reaction to the Irish loss chief. Never nice losing but it's hardly an end of the world result. It was away from home against a side that has won a test series against the All Blacks in NZ. It wasn't a settled Bok side, especially in the backline, and they got a very close result, on a different day they could've won. Best to measure it over the tour, we're two matches short of playing the entire 6N over successive weekends.

Some of the selections looked odd to me (moving Kolbe to fullback to fit in Arendse another mannetjie on the wing, a backline of mannetjies will not work), Mapimpi/Le Roux/Kolbe were all fit and should've all been selected in their usual positions. They seemed to be trying to shuffle Le Roux out who was benched during the RC too (which was crazy, but what do I know), but now Mapimpi isn't starting against France when he was the best Bok back three player against Ireland, so who knows. Maybe they just think Arendse is another Kolbe, I was proved wrong about Kolbe, but a good mannetjie still loses to a good large player most times. Not convinced Arendse has done enough to keep getting starts ahead of established players, this isn't CC or URC, the Ireland match showed once his space is cut down he struggles to add much.

Less worried about the inside backs. Willemse wasn't good with his place kicking, but was good at everything else. Kolbe will have to kick, or they'll have to get better at scoring tries through this tour.

In the pack still not really convinced by Wiese, at test level just seems average at everything and outstanding at nothing. The Boks should be aiming higher in the backrow probably the area where we're strongest.

[OomStruisbaai]

Excellent post Ox,

[OomStruisbaai]

The more I think about it, the less this selection makes sense. The main thing to fix was the playmaker and kicker thing. What did Rassenaber do about it? Fuck all. They put the only guy capable of fullfilling that role on the bench. For what? So he can come on and kick the penalties when we are already chasing the game?

I don't know, it's a hellava ask to make your debut for the Springboks, never mind against a fired-up French team at home at the top of their game. Libbok is even with the best will in the world very much a confidence player, let him come off the bench and make his debut. I'm quite surprised he is on the bench at all against the French tbf, they won't be gentle and most certainly won't be forgiving. That backline is some scary proposition. The Bok's defense must be rock solid. Libbok will hopefully bring his bit not only with ball in hand and kicking, but equally as important defend his channel like a man possessed!

That's Willemse biggest asset. When we down to 14 men he is the extra defender.

[LoveOfTheGame]

Someone has left boere wors on the braai too long and he's burnt himself, bit of an over reaction to the Irish loss chief. Never nice losing but it's hardly an end of the world result. It was away from home against a side that has won a test series against the All Blacks in NZ. It wasn't a settled Bok side, especially in the backline, and they got a very close result, on a different day they could've won. Best to measure it over the tour, we're two matches short of playing the entire 6N over successive weekends.

Some of the selections looked odd to me (moving Kolbe to fullback to fit in Arendse another mannetjie on the wing, a backline of mannetjies will not work), Mapimpi/Le Roux/Kolbe were all fit and should've all been selected in their usual positions. They seemed to be trying to shuffle Le Roux out who was benched during the RC too (which was crazy, but what do I know), but now Mapimpi isn't starting against France when he was the best Bok back three player against Ireland, so who knows. Maybe they just think Arendse is another Kolbe, I was proved wrong about Kolbe, but a good mannetjie still loses to a good large player most times. Not convinced Arendse has done enough to keep getting starts ahead of established players, this isn't CC or URC, the Ireland match showed once his space is cut down he struggles to add much.

Less worried about the inside backs. Willemse wasn't good with his place kicking, but was good at everything else. Kolbe will have to kick, or they'll have to get better at scoring tries through this tour.

In the pack still not really convinced by Wiese, at test level just seems average at everything and outstanding at nothing. The Boks should be aiming higher in the backrow probably the area where we're strongest.

Ox wants Roos at 8. Here. First.

[assfly]

A lot of what Ox says about the team selection is true.

Which makes Saturday's team even stranger and more off-balance.

[Sards]

A lot of what Ox says about the team selection is true.

Which makes Saturday's team even stranger and more off-balance.

It's time Rassnabber gets replaced. They have not added anything to our game. Have branded us as ref whingers. Have not developed depth in positions and blooded a younger generation except for their pet project..They have really regressed our attacking play to the point it's non existent in the backline

[Sards]

One has to feel that the players taking the fall for the whole Willemse drama are Roos, Mapimpi and Hendricks

[assfly]

I think Rassie does have something to answer for when it comes to this renewed impression of all Bok fans being ref-bashers.

He's not an idiot, so I can only think he does it deliberately to take the heat off his team selection and performance.

Anyway, too late to change the coaching staff to let's see what the next 12 months look like.

A loss to France would turn this tour into a disaster.

[OomStruisbaai]

One has to feel that the players taking the fall for the whole Willemse drama are Roos, Mapimpi and Hendricks

Look like Willemse is the reason why your spoiled brat kid get new cricket bat.

[average joe]

I don't know man, the Irish loss was hard to swallow. I feel the team preformed really well except for the goalkicking. And perhaps World Rugby could have appointed a more senior ref for a game between two top teams, instead of some no-name rookie. But then I've been told that most of the call's come from the AR's and the ref doesn't do too much except blow his whistle.

[Sards]

One has to feel that the players taking the fall for the whole Willemse drama are Roos, Mapimpi and Hendricks

Look like Willemse is the reason why your spoiled brat kid get new cricket bat.

Man you are a nasty piece of work.
Fortunately we have no quotas in school cricket. It's all on merit.

You cannot deny that Roos was denied a start to keep Willemse at 10 and Mapimpi and Hendricks became the scapegoat

[OomStruisbaai]

How do you figure that out?

[average joe]

I was wondering that myself. Willemse can't be dropped if a wit fokor in a completely other position replaced another wit fokor.

[Sards]

How do you figure that out?

Simple. Because Manie had to take the bench they were forced to change the 6 to 2 split to a 5 to 3 split. Someone had to go. If they had started Manie and put Willemse at 15 a 6 to 2 split could have given Roos a go. He was obviously there to play. Not to get shafted .

Now Roos is shafted in the boks and the A team

[OomStruisbaai]

How do you figure that out?

Simple. Because Manie had to take the bench they were forced to change the 6 to 2 split to a 5 to 3 split. Someone had to go. If they had started Manie and put Willemse at 15 a 6 to 2 split could have given Roos a go. He was obviously there to play. Not to get shafted .

Now Roos is shafted in the boks and the A team

That's stupid reasoning. Willemse start can move to 12 or 15 and Manie to 10. Play no role in the 5/3 or whatever split.

You are so vokken obsessed with Willemse. Get vokken over it. I

[LoveOfTheGame]

How do you figure that out?

Simple. Because Manie had to take the bench they were forced to change the 6 to 2 split to a 5 to 3 split. Someone had to go. If they had started Manie and put Willemse at 15 a 6 to 2 split could have given Roos a go. He was obviously there to play. Not to get shafted .

Now Roos is shafted in the boks and the A team

Sards, I realise you're frothing from the mouth, but just a small point of contention: Roos is terribly out of form.

[OomStruisbaai]

How do you figure that out?

Simple. Because Manie had to take the bench they were forced to change the 6 to 2 split to a 5 to 3 split. Someone had to go. If they had started Manie and put Willemse at 15 a 6 to 2 split could have given Roos a go. He was obviously there to play. Not to get shafted .

Now Roos is shafted in the boks and the A team

Sards, I realise you're frothing from the mouth, but just a small point of contention: Roos is terribly out of form.

While we at it. PSdT and Kolisi need to step up. They are terribly out of form and both with Wiese play in the backline. With Marx and Kitshoff on the bench there is no one playing to the ball on the floor . Fourie or Kwagga needs to be in that 6 jersey.

[Sards]

How do you figure that out?

Simple. Because Manie had to take the bench they were forced to change the 6 to 2 split to a 5 to 3 split. Someone had to go. If they had started Manie and put Willemse at 15 a 6 to 2 split could have given Roos a go. He was obviously there to play. Not to get shafted .

Now Roos is shafted in the boks and the A team

That's stupid reasoning. Willemse start can move to 12 or 15 and Manie to 10. Play no role in the 5/3 or whatever split.

You are so vokken obsessed with Willemse. Get vokken over it. I

You don't get it. Ask Roos

[Sards]

How do you figure that out?

Simple. Because Manie had to take the bench they were forced to change the 6 to 2 split to a 5 to 3 split. Someone had to go. If they had started Manie and put Willemse at 15 a 6 to 2 split could have given Roos a go. He was obviously there to play. Not to get shafted .

Now Roos is shafted in the boks and the A team

Sards, I realise you're frothing from the mouth, but just a small point of contention: Roos is terribly out of form.

Ja. Would love to have seen him in action. Well. I guess he is vokked left and right now. No boks. No SA A team.
Pity

[Sards]

Simple. Because Manie had to take the bench they were forced to change the 6 to 2 split to a 5 to 3 split. Someone had to go. If they had started Manie and put Willemse at 15 a 6 to 2 split could have given Roos a go. He was obviously there to play. Not to get shafted .

Now Roos is shafted in the boks and the A team

Sards, I realise you're frothing from the mouth, but just a small point of contention: Roos is terribly out of form.

While we at it. PSdT and Kolisi need to step up. They are terribly out of form and both with Wiese play in the backline. With Marx and Kitshoff on the bench there is no one playing to the ball on the floor . Fourie or Kwagga needs to be in that 6 jersey.

Agree completely with that. Boggles the mind how Rassnabber is thinking

[Sards]

Oh my word. Nienaber has just said that Cheslin Kolbe will be the primary goal kicker. WTF........now you know why Faf is starting.

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/boks-trust ... ng-france/

After naming the team to take on world number two France, Nienaber said during a press conference on Tuesday that Kolbe will be the go-to goal-kicker on Saturday, based on his comfortability with the duties at club level.

Willemse and Faf de Klerk will take over from Kolbe if needed.

[assfly]

While we at it. PSdT and Kolisi need to step up. They are terribly out of form and both with Wiese play in the backline. With Marx and Kitshoff on the bench there is no one playing to the ball on the floor . Fourie or Kwagga needs to be in that 6 jersey.

I thought Kolisi was excellent, and PSdT was good for the first 30 minutes but should have been taken off sooner. I agree about the fetcher, but that Irish pack were so quick to clear out at the ruck I'm not sure if anybody could have won a turnover.

[OomStruisbaai]

While we at it. PSdT and Kolisi need to step up. They are terribly out of form and both with Wiese play in the backline. With Marx and Kitshoff on the bench there is no one playing to the ball on the floor . Fourie or Kwagga needs to be in that 6 jersey.

I thought Kolisi was excellent, and PSdT was good for the first 30 minutes but should have been taken off sooner. I agree about the fetcher, but that Irish pack were so quick to clear out at the ruck I'm not sure if anybody could have won a turnover.

Against Ireland we started with Kitshoff and Marx. Not against France. They will be a different challenge. Don't know their players that well

[boere wors]

Oh my word. Nienaber has just said that Cheslin Kolbe will be the primary goal kicker. WTF........now you know why Faf is starting.

https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/boks-trust ... ng-france/

After naming the team to take on world number two France, Nienaber said during a press conference on Tuesday that Kolbe will be the go-to goal-kicker on Saturday, based on his comfortability with the duties at club level.

Willemse and Faf de Klerk will take over from Kolbe if needed.

Cheslins kicking didnt install much confidence. He tried to hit the post twice, second attempt was successfull

[OomStruisbaai]

Few charge office coffees later, feel we are in a good state for RWC 2023

[assfly]

Few charge office coffees later, feel we are in a good state for RWC 2023

Agreed. Still lots to work on, but the positives outweigh the negatives.

[Chilli]

What do we do with Pollard when he returns?

[OomStruisbaai]

What do we do with Pollard when he returns?

He will start , co captain.

[Chilli]

What do we do with Pollard when he returns?

He will start , co captain.

[assfly]

I think the only way Willemse can keep the 10 jersey is if he starts there for the Stormers and improves his place kicking.

But at least Pollard has some competition for the jersey.

[Blake]

So, on reflection, I'm quite happy with how the tour planned out. Before the tour I thought 2/4 would be a decent return given the year we've had.
The 2 we lost hurt, but they were not bad losses. Some better discipline, better goal kicking and a couple of 50/50 calls going our way, and the results could well have been different.

We're building some depth and putting the players into some pressure cooker situations which will only make them better during the RWC.

Goal kicking is a concern. Pollard, Faf, Willemse, Libbok and Kolbe can all technically kick for goal, but they have all had flakey performances with the boot in various matches this year.
Our pressure-based, strangling game-plan really need a 90% goal kicker to build a decent lead in the first half in order force the opposition into some risk taking in the second half.

Discipline is also a massive worry. We went from a squeaky clean RWC (with Beast's accidental tip tackle against Japan the only yellow in the tournament for us) to basically 1 or 2 cards a match now...with quite a few reds. Need to fix that urgently.

Loved some of the variation introduced into our play. That looks very promising. The fake-box-kick-snipe-down-the-blindside is a nice addition to the gameplan forcing the opposition to not be able to fall back deep enough. Also liked the play against Italy when we had a Libbok, Willemse, Le Roux axis at 10,12,15. Yes it was only Italy, bit the seed of a decent attack is in there somewhere.

The tour also exposed some deadwood. DDA at 12 and Jessie Kriel at 13 have me at my wits end. They are like Dewet Barry and Marius Joubert circa 2005. Good players with some amazing outings, but just like they were stifling the Bok attack and blocking Jean de Villiers' and Jaque Fourie's ascension, DDA and Kriel are now doing the same. We need to settle on centers that can both adapt to our defensive system AND create and exploit opportunities on attack. For me that's Willemse, Am and Esterhuizen...with maybe a bolter like Van Wyk or a warhorse like Rohan Janse van Rensburg in the mix.

I think the Willemse at 10 experiment was worthwhile, but ultimately a flop. He will do in a pinch, but we really need a specialist. Unfortunatly Manie's cameo against Italy, as good as it was, wasn't enough to give me comfort there just yet. I really wish he would've gotten more gametime as I wanted to see if he could unlock the Bok attack.

Roos was a dud...but I expected him to be. It's still a pity though because we need a backup for Wiese and Vermeulen is getting too long in the tooth. Not sure we can carry him into the WRC.

Arendse the find of the tour. Kolbe clone and handy backup. Happy with Mapimpi/Moodie and Kolbe/Arendse. Contrasting styles of wingers to support our gameplan. Nkosi is going to have to have a stellar season at the Bulls to get his jersey back.

Herchel Jantjies might also find himself out in the cold soon. Faf, Reinach and Hendricks were all very good on tour. Jantjies is now battling for the #4 spot with Grant Williams.

[Sards]

So, on reflection, I'm quite happy with how the tour planned out. Before the tour I thought 2/4 would be a decent return given the year we've had.
The 2 we lost hurt, but they were not bad losses. Some better discipline, better goal kicking and a couple of 50/50 calls going our way, and the results could well have been different.

We're building some depth and putting the players into some pressure cooker situations which will only make them better during the RWC.

Goal kicking is a concern. Pollard, Faf, Willemse, Libbok and Kolbe can all technically kick for goal, but they have all had flakey performances with the boot in various matches this year.
Our pressure-based, strangling game-plan really need a 90% goal kicker to build a decent lead in the first half in order force the opposition into some risk taking in the second half.

Discipline is also a massive worry. We went from a squeaky clean RWC (with Beast's accidental tip tackle against Japan the only yellow in the tournament for us) to basically 1 or 2 cards a match now...with quite a few reds. Need to fix that urgently.

Loved some of the variation introduced into our play. That looks very promising. The fake-box-kick-snipe-down-the-blindside is a nice addition to the gameplan forcing the opposition to not be able to fall back deep enough. Also liked the play against Italy when we had a Libbok, Willemse, Le Roux axis at 10,12,15. Yes it was only Italy, bit the seed of a decent attack is in there somewhere.

The tour also exposed some deadwood. DDA at 12 and Jessie Kriel at 13 have me at my wits end. They are like Dewet Barry and Marius Joubert circa 2005. Good players with some amazing outings, but just like they were stifling the Bok attack and blocking Jean de Villiers' and Jaque Fourie's ascension, DDA and Kriel are now doing the same. We need to settle on centers that can both adapt to our defensive system AND create and exploit opportunities on attack. For me that's Willemse, Am and Esterhuizen...with maybe a bolter like Van Wyk or a warhorse like Rohan Janse van Rensburg in the mix.

I think the Willemse at 10 experiment was worthwhile, but ultimately a flop. He will do in a pinch, but we really need a specialist. Unfortunatly Manie's cameo against Italy, as good as it was, wasn't enough to give me comfort there just yet. I really wish he would've gotten more gametime as I wanted to see if he could unlock the Bok attack.

Roos was a dud...but I expected him to be. It's still a pity though because we need a backup for Wiese and Vermeulen is getting too long in the tooth. Not sure we can carry him into the WRC.

Arendse the find of the tour. Kolbe clone and handy backup. Happy with Mapimpi/Moodie and Kolbe/Arendse. Contrasting styles of wingers to support our gameplan. Nkosi is going to have to have a stellar season at the Bulls to get his jersey back.

Herchel Jantjies might also find himself out in the cold soon. Faf, Reinach and Hendricks were all very good on tour. Jantjies is now battling for the #4 spot with Grant Williams.

Thats a very balanced assessment. Agree with all of this. Also think Libbok needed a lot more games.

[LoveOfTheGame]

So, on reflection, I'm quite happy with how the tour planned out. Before the tour I thought 2/4 would be a decent return given the year we've had.
The 2 we lost hurt, but they were not bad losses. Some better discipline, better goal kicking and a couple of 50/50 calls going our way, and the results could well have been different.

We're building some depth and putting the players into some pressure cooker situations which will only make them better during the RWC.

Goal kicking is a concern. Pollard, Faf, Willemse, Libbok and Kolbe can all technically kick for goal, but they have all had flakey performances with the boot in various matches this year.
Our pressure-based, strangling game-plan really need a 90% goal kicker to build a decent lead in the first half in order force the opposition into some risk taking in the second half.

Discipline is also a massive worry. We went from a squeaky clean RWC (with Beast's accidental tip tackle against Japan the only yellow in the tournament for us) to basically 1 or 2 cards a match now...with quite a few reds. Need to fix that urgently.

Loved some of the variation introduced into our play. That looks very promising. The fake-box-kick-snipe-down-the-blindside is a nice addition to the gameplan forcing the opposition to not be able to fall back deep enough. Also liked the play against Italy when we had a Libbok, Willemse, Le Roux axis at 10,12,15. Yes it was only Italy, bit the seed of a decent attack is in there somewhere.

The tour also exposed some deadwood. DDA at 12 and Jessie Kriel at 13 have me at my wits end. They are like Dewet Barry and Marius Joubert circa 2005. Good players with some amazing outings, but just like they were stifling the Bok attack and blocking Jean de Villiers' and Jaque Fourie's ascension, DDA and Kriel are now doing the same. We need to settle on centers that can both adapt to our defensive system AND create and exploit opportunities on attack. For me that's Willemse, Am and Esterhuizen...with maybe a bolter like Van Wyk or a warhorse like Rohan Janse van Rensburg in the mix.

I think the Willemse at 10 experiment was worthwhile, but ultimately a flop. He will do in a pinch, but we really need a specialist. Unfortunatly Manie's cameo against Italy, as good as it was, wasn't enough to give me comfort there just yet. I really wish he would've gotten more gametime as I wanted to see if he could unlock the Bok attack.

Roos was a dud...but I expected him to be. It's still a pity though because we need a backup for Wiese and Vermeulen is getting too long in the tooth. Not sure we can carry him into the WRC.

Arendse the find of the tour. Kolbe clone and handy backup. Happy with Mapimpi/Moodie and Kolbe/Arendse. Contrasting styles of wingers to support our gameplan. Nkosi is going to have to have a stellar season at the Bulls to get his jersey back.

Herchel Jantjies might also find himself out in the cold soon. Faf, Reinach and Hendricks were all very good on tour. Jantjies is now battling for the #4 spot with Grant Williams.

Thats a very balanced assessment. Agree with all of this. Also think Libbok needed a lot more games.

Agreed, good post Blake.

[assfly]

Good post Blake, summarises how I feel too.

We were only a few points away from a 4/4 so Bok fans should be happy. And there's still 6 months of URC for other players to push for some of the spots.

It's so nice to finish the year on a high.

[OomStruisbaai]

Good post by Blake. Agreed about 80%. Can't see Nienaber changing his midfield. I have faith in Nienaber and Rassie. We are in a much better position compare to 2019. I like the gameplan we play against Italy and England. If we stick to this we'll be great. Willemse is the key to attacking rugby.

[Sards]

Good post by Blake. Agreed about 80%. Can't see Nienaber changing his midfield. I have faith in Nienaber and Rassie. We are in a much better position compare to 2019. I like the gameplan we play against Italy and England. If we stick to this we'll be great. Willemse is the key to attacking rugby.

Willie is the key. Always has been. Always will be. He is hated on, but he is always there to make any plays work

[OomStruisbaai]

Good post by Blake. Agreed about 80%. Can't see Nienaber changing his midfield. I have faith in Nienaber and Rassie. We are in a much better position compare to 2019. I like the gameplan we play against Italy and England. If we stick to this we'll be great. Willemse is the key to attacking rugby.

Willie is the key. Always has been. Always will be. He is hated on, but he is always there to make any plays work

Sards supporting the Sharks made you missing players with flair and vision.

[average joe]

Supporters will always hate on certain players for certain reasons like "he does not play for my team, he earns more than my favourite player, he does not play the way I want him to play, etc". Just like they'll hate on coaches, it's normal. My wish is that come the World Cup, those players and coaches prove their hatters wrong like they did in the last World Cup. So that those supporters sit with egg on their faces like the eggheads they are.