NPR

Siya and Pollard are both match winners when they fire. Both also are prone to off-days and this will be a concern when they are coming back from long injuries.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 8:33 am Siya and Pollard are both match winners when they fire. Both also are prone to off-days and this will be a concern when they are coming back from long injuries.

We carried captain legdrive the whole RWC 2019, worked wonders for us. We can do it again.

boere wors wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 8:42 am

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 8:33 am Siya and Pollard are both match winners when they fire. Both also are prone to off-days and this will be a concern when they are coming back from long injuries.

We carried captain legdrive the whole RWC 2019, worked wonders for us. We can do it again.

Sards wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 6:06 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Jul 19, 2023 2:57 pm

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Tue Jul 18, 2023 1:46 pm

Malherbe, De Jager, Wiese, Mapimpi and Mostert were the ones I saw falling off tackles they should have made in the first 20 mins. Kiwis made meters-for-fun through the forwards, especially on kick returns.

De Jager, Mostert and Wiese should not only be making tackles, they should dominate the tackle. Not a lot of that in the last test.

Does anyone have access to the tackle stats

No, I watch the games. Can make a much better assessment that way.

handyman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 10:24 am
No, I watch the games. Can make a much better assessment that way.

Look at you


So lucky to have so much leisure time.
I am jealous.
Haven't you got young kids....?

Sards wrote: ↑Fri Jul 21, 2023 11:08 am

handyman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 20, 2023 10:24 am
No, I watch the games. Can make a much better assessment that way.

Look at you


So lucky to have so much leisure time.
I am jealous.
Haven't you got young kids....?

We watch the games together.

Listening to JN being interviewed over Grant Williams' selection, it's clear he's in the top three 9s in the squad now. I also think his ability to play wing has helped.

Faf is definitely there too.

Which leaves Cobus, Henrikse and Herschell to fight it out for the last spot. I guess they'll be given a run in the last couple of warm-up games to fight it out. I suspect Henrikse may just take it.

assfly wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:19 am Listening to JN being interviewed over Grant Williams' selection, it's clear he's in the top three 9s in the squad now. I also think his ability to play wing has helped.

Faf is definitely there too.

Which leaves Cobus, Henrikse and Herschell to fight it out for the last spot. I guess they'll be given a run in the last couple of warm-up games to fight it out. I suspect Henrikse may just take it.

Why won't they take 4 scrumhalves?! The squad size is extended again for this RWC.
That being said, luxury problem to have. Can one of them Cover 10 or 13 as well?!

boere wors wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:54 am Why won't they take 4 scrumhalves?! The squad size is extended again for this RWC.
That being said, luxury problem to have. Can one of them Cover 10 or 13 as well?!

My understanding is that there is only room for 3.

But knowing the injury toll the next few weeks will have, a fourth will probably be called up anyway.

Imagine Faf at 13, I'd quite like to see that!

assfly wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 7:00 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:54 am Why won't they take 4 scrumhalves?! The squad size is extended again for this RWC.
That being said, luxury problem to have. Can one of them Cover 10 or 13 as well?!

My understanding is that there is only room for 3.

But knowing the injury toll the next few weeks will have, a fourth will probably be called up anyway.

Imagine Faf at 13, I'd quite like to see that!

He shoots out the line too much!

boere wors wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:54 am

assfly wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:19 am Listening to JN being interviewed over Grant Williams' selection, it's clear he's in the top three 9s in the squad now. I also think his ability to play wing has helped.

Faf is definitely there too.

Which leaves Cobus, Henrikse and Herschell to fight it out for the last spot. I guess they'll be given a run in the last couple of warm-up games to fight it out. I suspect Henrikse may just take it.

Why won't they take 4 scrumhalves?! The squad size is extended again for this RWC.
That being said, luxury problem to have. Can one of them Cover 10 or 13 as well?!

Can't say I have ever heard of a 9 that covers 13.

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:43 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:54 am

assfly wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:19 am Listening to JN being interviewed over Grant Williams' selection, it's clear he's in the top three 9s in the squad now. I also think his ability to play wing has helped.

Faf is definitely there too.

Which leaves Cobus, Henrikse and Herschell to fight it out for the last spot. I guess they'll be given a run in the last couple of warm-up games to fight it out. I suspect Henrikse may just take it.

Why won't they take 4 scrumhalves?! The squad size is extended again for this RWC.
That being said, luxury problem to have. Can one of them Cover 10 or 13 as well?!

Can't say I have ever heard of a 9 that covers 13.

Me neither, wasnt being serious. But Mike Phillips could have played there i guess

Why can't we have a box-kicking #13?
Think outside the box, guys. Rasnaber will be doing that for sure.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:59 am Why can't we have a box-kicking #13?
Think outside the box, guys. Rasnaber will be doing that for sure.

boere wors wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:57 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:43 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 6:54 am
Why won't they take 4 scrumhalves?! The squad size is extended again for this RWC.
That being said, luxury problem to have. Can one of them Cover 10 or 13 as well?!

Can't say I have ever heard of a 9 that covers 13.

Me neither, wasnt being serious. But Mike Phillips could have played there i guess

Or Joost.

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 11:28 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:57 am

handyman wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 10:43 am

Can't say I have ever heard of a 9 that covers 13.

Me neither, wasnt being serious. But Mike Phillips could have played there i guess

Or Joost.

Ja definitely

Boerewors the Bok coaches need your help urgently.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:34 pm Boerewors the Bok coaches need your help urgently.

How so? Everything going according to plan. We are building nicely. Aren't we?!

boere wors wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:37 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:34 pm Boerewors the Bok coaches need your help urgently.

How so? Everything going according to plan. We are building nicely. Aren't we?!

It's a clustervok

Faf and Herschel always fit. The other 9s who bring some speed to our game are constantly injured.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2023 8:09 pm Faf and Herschel always fit. The other 9s who bring some speed to our game are constantly injured.

You seem to have a hard on for Faf criticism. I replayed the match. Took particularl note and your assessment is a preconceived stereotype.

Ok. So apparently the guaranteed players are staying back to go through conditioning with Rassie. The hopefuls are going to Argentina with Nienaber. Seems to me the relationship has soured and these 2 are no longer happy campers. Hope there is a kiss and tell one day.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks are playing their first 23 into form week in week out.

boere wors wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 6:05 am Meanwhile, the All Blacks are playing their first 23 into form week in week out.

That's good. The real rugby is still more then a month away.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 6:40 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 6:05 am Meanwhile, the All Blacks are playing their first 23 into form week in week out.

That's good. The real rugby is still more then a month away.

Yeah, they will be totally past it in september

https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/spri ... s-20230730


What's going on here?

Chilli wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 1:09 pm https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/spri ... s-20230730


What's going on here?

That was way back.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:34 pm Boerewors the Bok coaches need your help urgently.

Van die wal af in die sloot ja.

We must now select our squads. 33 players. Must be able to select a 23 from it using a 5/3 bench split, the 10 squad players can be selected as you wish (for example: if you want you can select 2 specialist wings that play in the XV, and then no other wing specialists using utility players to cover wing, that's allowed).

Loosehead: Kitshoff, Ox Nche
Hooker: Marx, Mbonambi
Tighthead: Malherbe, Koch
Utility prop: Tank du Toit, Nyakane
4 Lock: Etzebeth, Snyman
5 Lock: De Jager
Openside: Kolisi (captain), Smith (not as an eightman!)
Eightman: Vermeulen
Blindside: Pieter-Steph du Toit
Utility forward: Mostert (5 lock/blindside), Deon Fourie (openside/hooker), Jean-Luc du Preez (openside/eightman/blindside)
Scrumhalf: Faf, Hendrikse, Reinach
Flyhalf: Pollard, Ruan Pienaar (vice captain)
Wing: Mapimpi, Kolbe, Moodie, Arendse
Inside centre: De Allende, Esterhuizen
Outside centre: Am, Kriel
Fullback: Le Roux
Utility back: Willemse (flyhalf/inside centre/fullback)

Injury standby list: Akker van der Merwe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Dan du Preez, Marcell Coetzee, Grant Williams, Robert du Preez, Curwin Bosch, Rohan Janse van Rensburg

There is no way JL du Preez or Ruan Pienaar will make the team.

Ox’s (Brain) Injury Standby List

So I wonder how far Pollard and Kolisi is from returning to play? Wales? Surely they need to get some game time under the belt? If they are ready or available.

Kolisi is back. Pollard not

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 9:39 am Kolisi is back. Pollard not

I wonder if he’s going to make it, he’s been out for a very long time now.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 4:54 am There is no way JL du Preez or Ruan Pienaar will make the team.

I'm checking and they're in my team. Don't make me drop Kwagga for Marcell, or cut a wing and add Fassi at 15, or add Cameron Wright to the injury standby list, don't make me do it oom!

Pick your team.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 8:33 am Ox’s (Brain) Injury Standby List

Pick your team!

Cameron Wright is a good one.

LoveOfTheGame wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 9:02 am So I wonder how far Pollard and Kolisi is from returning to play? Wales? Surely they need to get some game time under the belt? If they are ready or available.

Checking my squad, Robert du Preez is added, Marcell Coetzee is added, Ruan Pienaar becomes captain. Looks good to me.

Putting all the names into a team makes the following clear:

1. Backrow selections have always been a bit odd. There's been a lot of exceptionally talented players overlooked for really average (at test level) players that just have a high work rate. So we're left with characters like Wiese and Smith and Mostert. When it could've been Marcell, Du Preez twins, Roos, Jaco Kriel. Speed and accuracy is important for the Bok game plan, it's built on line speed on defence. But I've never been convinced on not selecting massive talents, and instead going with lighter faster players. Jean-Luc du Preez was on the field for 20 minutes and was the best backrow in the last two tests.

2. There's been a lot of bad luck in the backs. At flyhalf Elton Jantjies (personal issues disrupting the team)/Morne Steyn (retired)/Frans Steyn (injured retired)/Lambie (injured retired)/Robert du Preez (only given one cap from the bench in 2018). At fullback Fassi was never given a chance (3 caps on the left wing), Gelant was given a chance (11 caps including 5 as starting fullback) but never really stepped up. It's meant we're now short of quality players covering 10 and 15 if Pollard and Le Roux go down, for me it's Willemse covering both and then no one. Flyhalf situation couldn't have been avoided, they were always going to have to just pick someone and hope and they've gone with Libbok. Fullback situation could've been different if selections were different, my bet is the third choice (which could actually be the second choice, if Willemse plays 10), is Kolbe.

A lot of the problem is all the specialist wings that have been selected. Wing should be used as a position to blood new players before moving them inside (Jean de Villiers/Jaque Fourie/Ruan Pienaar/Frans Steyn, all started test rugby on the wing, Percy started at 13), the point should be to find flyhalves and fullbacks. So they start on the wing and are moved further inside if their decision making ability is up to it, in order of difficulty 10/15/12/13. But obviously if you keep selecting small specialist wingers, they're never go to play anywhere else. So then you just end up with 4 specialist wings. Definitely Moodie should be moved inside, probably to fullback.

3. The situation at flyhalf/fullback, has absolutely fucked us with place kicking. Huge risk taking a punt on Libbok, when there are better place kickers out there. Rassie played in the 1997 Lions series, his 1st test cap was the 3rd test, the Boks were the better attacking side and scored more tries but failed to kick goals and lost the series.

Completely agree with 1. Backrow selections are totally off for years now and are a problem for us. Our coaches start Kwagga at 6, 7 or 8 ffs

boere wors wrote: ↑Sun Aug 06, 2023 1:09 pm Completely agree with 1. Backrow selections are totally off for years now and are a problem for us. Our coaches start Kwagga at 6, 7 or 8 ffs

It worked with Mostert, who definitely proved me wrong. If he plays at his best and tackles and runs all match at max speed, he adds a lot. If he's coming off the bench and covering lock, he's adding there too. It then got out of hand and they started selecting any average backrow to do the same thing, cover ground and tackle. Kwagga Smith I've never rated much, but there's no way he's a blindside or eightman doesn't have the size (especially for eightman, the player needs to be able to pick and go from the back of the scrum making ground through heavy defence!), but he's acceptable at openside given the players they've picked and who has the experience now ... but Marcell Coetzee would've been a better investment in my book. Elstadt was capped, somehow. Wiese probably going to the RWC, not that impressive really, unconvinced he would stand out in the URC.

This will sound like an extreme statement (it's not, it makes complete sense), for the Boks given the level of interest among South Africans and talent available, if a player gets to around 10 to 20 caps and it's clear they're not in the conversation for at least being the best Bok in their position of that decade, then they need to be dropped and another player brought in.