NPR

Going with a hit and miss kicker against France will be the same as committing suicide. They don't miss kicks

With Mapimpi out I worry about our short wings in the air with those cross kicks

Well France it is then. Probably our best shot of getting to semi's.
The result where we lost to Ireland makes a lot more sense after watching Ireland against Scotland. Geez. ABs vs Ireland going to be a cracker. Boks vs France too.

Only the second time SA plays France at a RWC. Fantastic match. I am confident that we will win, glad we dont play NZ. Let the Irish handle them, great match as well

boere wors wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 9:38 pm Only the second time SA plays France at a RWC. Fantastic match. I am confident that we will win, glad we dont play NZ. Let the Irish handle them, great match as well

We need lots of rain again.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 9:43 pm

boere wors wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 9:38 pm Only the second time SA plays France at a RWC. Fantastic match. I am confident that we will win, glad we dont play NZ. Let the Irish handle them, great match as well

We need lots of rain again.

And gold watches

boere wors wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 9:38 pm Only the second time SA plays France at a RWC.

Yep, the infamous '95 semi-final, when Louis Luyt presented Derek Bevan with a gold watch at the after match function and triggered a mass walkout.

Edit: boere wors beat me to it.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 10:01 pm

boere wors wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 9:38 pm Only the second time SA plays France at a RWC.

Yep, the infamous '95 semi-final, when Louis Luyt presented Derek Bevan with a gold watch at the after match function and triggered a mass walkout.

Edit: boere wors beat me to it.

Made a number of players sick to their stomach.

Is the bok team against france only announced on friday?!

boere wors wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 9:44 pm

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 9:43 pm

boere wors wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2023 9:38 pm Only the second time SA plays France at a RWC. Fantastic match. I am confident that we will win, glad we dont play NZ. Let the Irish handle them, great match as well

We need lots of rain again.

And gold watches

And even more conspiracy theories.

Please stay on topic, not the past.

Given that All Black performance, would you rather be playing the All Blacks or France in the quarters? Would any of you switch your preference?

Sardy was ultra paranoid about playing the All Blacks and wanted to play France, some others posted the same (Boerie Roll? Oom?). That match had a strong smell of Ellis Park last year, All Blacks were beaten badly and looked totally lost in Nelspruit, only for them to be completely unplayable the week after.

I still would've preferred the ABs, even the maximum performance ABs which turned up in the quarters, which is a mad thing to say. It still sounds better than playing the hosts when the hosts are strong.

That was exactly the performance that i feared the ABs would deliver. They have been building quietly for 1 month now after the loss in the nothing match against France. With France at least we know what we get. Bokke by 10!

Congrats guys

Cheers Boet.

One of the things I like about the Boks is when pundits say you mustn't try to take them on physically
Well the Boks are going to make you do that whether you want to or not

Cartman wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 11:27 am One of the things I like about the Boks is when pundits say you mustn't try to take them on physically
Well the Boks are going to make you do that whether you want to or not

Excellent point

Congrats lads. I have a small wager on you so happy my bet is still alive.

May the best team win next week.

Cheers, boet.

Our coaches have to come up with something for the final against NZ. They can't go with the same squad again. It already almost backfired this evening. They looked fatigue, mentally amd physically, after the France game. Given the conditions that were to be expected today, they should have gone for a different squad. It was clear we would see a kickfest, they planned for running rugby.

boere wors wrote: ↑Sat Oct 21, 2023 10:13 pm Our coaches have to come up with something for the final against NZ. They can't go with the same squad again. It already almost backfired this evening. They looked fatigue, mentally amd physically, after the France game. Given the conditions that were to be expected today, they should have gone for a different squad. It was clear we would see a kickfest, they planned for running rugby.

They let all the stuff about the Boks playing a boring game get to them. Selected a running squad to prove people wrong, Rassie himself played in very running Bok sides that won a lot, and backed that side to run in tries to win a RWC. If most teams had our resources it would be 9 man rugby with 6 defenders until the end of time. Very lucky to be able to get Pollard on and turn it around (well not all luck, they did call up Pollard to replace Marx, but on the other hand they also left Pollard out of the initial squad).

Squad selection will be difficult now. Keep the same 23 and it's a risk, change it and it's a risk. Lean into the running game plan and it's a risk, change to more kicking and it's a risk. One way or another they're risking something, may as well do it consciously and make choices. Rugby is just a mini version of life after all.

The lineout needs to be fixed, that cannot happen again. We've known it hasn't been functioning since Marx and De Jager were both knocked out. That means dropping Mostert for Kleyn, or backing what is there to come right. Both are a risk, you definitely lose a work rate machine cutting Mostert, but it's not certain Kleyn fixes the lineout.
Do they drop Duane, move Mostert into the backrow and select Kleyn at lock?
I rate the Kriel (never disliked him, but he just never really gripped me much before), but they need to decide if they persist with Kriel who could go awol like he did in this match. Or risk starting Am, who if he's close will insert himself into the match more.
They need to decide if Kitshoff/Bongi/Malherbe is now exhausted and ready to be benched, Rassie talks about playing minutes, but he must know there's a difference between playing Romania and playing Ireland/Tonga/France/England inside one month and only Bongi/Malherbe being rested for Tonga.
Start Reianch or start Faf. Against France and now England the side seems to do better with Faf/Pollard, but that could just be the timing of when they come on.
If Pollard starts does Le Roux, is Libbok on the bench in that situation or is Willemse.
Do they go with a more kicking game or a more running game.

It is RasNaber, I wouldn't be surprised if they've kept some powder dry. They have powder for the ABs as they were a potential quarter final opponent. The ABs are also the first RC team they've played and are more familiar with, if they have another monkey up their sleeve it's more likely to be one that knows those teams. Same is true in reverse of course, but the sides the Boks have played have already exposed a lot which can be addressed this week.

I feel they have to react to this match as if it were a loss and take some risks. But if there's too many changes that could have a negative psychological impact on the team (basically "they're changing everything, we're fucked!").

I would rotate the frontrow the starting players have looked exhausted two matches running, keep the locks as is, backrow as is (but tempted to swap Duane for Kwagga), start Faf and Pollard (without starting Willie at 15), bring Am into the 23. Whatever the game plan they need to be at the level they were for France.

Start Ox, Fourie and Koch. Also Kwagga and Faf. The rest as is.

Am

Boks were knackered. Rassie playing 2 teams has always managed to give the lads a 2 week rest between games. First time they play 2 consecutive games they are knackered.

Doesn't bode well for the final. 3 weeks in a row and knackered after 2.

Our small wings were very exposed yesterday too.

Like my wife said. What has happened to the Springboks. They weren't playing as a team

England were the first team that put pressure on Bongi in the lineout and predictably he crumbled. ABs always target our lineout……

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:32 am England were the first team that put pressure on Bongi in the lineout and predictably he crumbled. ABs always target our lineout……

I hope they get a second wind for the coming weekend. They are going to need it. Even Eben looked off his game.

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:32 am England were the first team that put pressure on Bongi in the lineout and predictably he crumbled. ABs always target our lineout……

His throwing in has been kak since he moved to the $harks

Sards wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:38 am

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 5:32 am England were the first team that put pressure on Bongi in the lineout and predictably he crumbled. ABs always target our lineout……

I hope they get a second wind for the coming weekend. They are going to need it. Even Eben looked off his game.

The Boks will take a huge amount from that SF. They weren't at their best after last week's titanic battle with France, but they're more than capable of making improvements. Sounds like the weather for the Final could be much of the same, so advantage SA. And their consecutive hard-fought, one-point KO wins will have strengthened their belief and resolve. And how can the ABs ever hope to counter the ruthless Bomb Squad? Nobody's been able to, so far. And finally, there's the Foster factor...

So many reasons for the Boks to go into this game as the reddest of red hot favourites.

Will be interesting to see if Rasnaber get it right for the final. Moodie at least need to be there. Ox , Willie and Pollard must start.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:10 am Will be interesting to see if Rasnaber get it right for the final. Moodie at least need to be there. Ox , Willie and Pollard must start.

If Rassie gets his selections wrong it will be a disaster.
I don't know if there is another game in some of the players.
Kitshoff is getting worse and worse. Eben looks fatigued

The weather will stay the same according to forecasts, windy and wet. So we have to prepare for another kickfest, not a running game. Strenghten forward play, lineout, scrum and aerial game.

boere wors wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:22 am The weather will stay the same according to forecasts, windy and wet. So we have to prepare for another kickfest, not a running game. Strenghten forward play, lineout, scrum and aerial game.

I don't think wet weather is in our favor.

I just discovered that a restaurant/ bar I did recently has Kitshoff as a partner.

Sards wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:25 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:22 am The weather will stay the same according to forecasts, windy and wet. So we have to prepare for another kickfest, not a running game. Strenghten forward play, lineout, scrum and aerial game.

I don't think wet weather is in our favor.

Me neither. We sucked yesterday, completely wrong gameplan and selections.

Sards wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:25 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:22 am The weather will stay the same according to forecasts, windy and wet. So we have to prepare for another kickfest, not a running game. Strenghten forward play, lineout, scrum and aerial game.

I don't think wet weather is in our favor.

Pollard and Faf in 10 is perfect in wet weather. Moodie aswell

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:37 amPollard and Faf in 10 is perfect in wet weather. Moodie aswell

Moodie's a sensational talent. Love watching him play. But not against us.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:37 am

Sards wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:25 am

boere wors wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:22 am The weather will stay the same according to forecasts, windy and wet. So we have to prepare for another kickfest, not a running game. Strenghten forward play, lineout, scrum and aerial game.

I don't think wet weather is in our favor.

Pollard and Faf in 10 is perfect in wet weather. Moodie aswell

Absolutely. They should have selected them to start. Also Kleyn for lineout strength in the 23.

Won't be fair to Mostert. He is a work horse.Doubt if Keyn is better in line outs. Mostert also cover 7.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:48 am Won't be fair to Mostert. He is a work horse.Doubt if Keyn is better in line outs. Mostert also cover 7.

Emotion doesn't come into it. Look at Libbok and Etzebeth getting hooked early today. It's about the team, not the individual, right?

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:48 am Won't be fair to Mostert. He is a work horse.Doubt if Keyn is better in line outs. Mostert also cover 7.

Not about fairness. He is one of my favorite players, but I would have preffered another lock replacement in the bench instead of 3 backs in a forwards game like in yesterday conditions

boere wors wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:56 am

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Oct 22, 2023 8:48 am Won't be fair to Mostert. He is a work horse.Doubt if Keyn is better in line outs. Mostert also cover 7.

Not about fairness. He is one of my favorite players, but I would have preffered another lock replacement in the bench instead of 3 backs in a forwards game like in yesterday conditions

Agreed. We need height. In forwards and backs against the Blackness. And energy, which is why Kwagga and not Duane.