The Rugby Championship

[Gumboot]

If Cane's demoted, I hope they resist the temptation to hand Whitelock the captaincy and give it to Savea instead.

[Kiwias]

And here we go:

Hookers: Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei’aho
Props: George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Aidan Ross, Nepo Laulala, Angus Ta’avao, Ofa Tuungafasi
Locks: Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i
Loose forwards: Sam Cane (C), Shannon Frizell, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu
Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, Folau Fakatava, Aaron Smith
First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Stephen Perofeta
Midfielders: Jack Goodhue, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Quinn Tupaea
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan, Sevu Reece


No idea why Retallick is there because he is injured, WTF is PT there, Where is Grace, Cane still there as captain ..... AAAAGGGHHHHHHH

[Guy Smiley]

What a fucking joke

[convoluted]

Second verse
same as the first

[Dan54]

The tight five's the most pressing issue. If that's not addressed first, tinkering with the loosies and backs is pointless.

Yep, and I honestly can't see much in the way of tight 5 players left out, worst we been there for years.

[Gumboot]

Bit of a nothing burger, then.

Glad they retained Cane as captain.

Happy Birthday, Ethan de Groot.

Not much else to say really...

[convoluted]

"I'm Ian Foster and I'm the All Blacks' head coach" ... his defiant opening sentence to the assembled journo shark pack.

Give the guy credit. That's gunslinger talk.

[Guy Smiley]

"I'm Ian Foster and I'm the All Blacks' head coach" ... his defiant opening sentence to the assembled journo shark pack.

Give the guy credit. That's gunslinger talk.

He’d go for the quick draw and shoot his own foot off.

[Thor Sedan]

Never before has an outcome summed up a problem more clearly than this moment.

RiP NZ rugby.

[Ymx]

Fuck this!

Who are we supporting? The Saffers?

Well, probably Argies first.

[Thor Sedan]

Fuck this!

Who are we supporting? The Saffers?

Well, probably Argies first.

I feel an affinity with SA....so I'll probably wear a bit of green.

[OomStruisbaai]

Look our Saffers are critical, but we'll never support the opposition. You got the Cape Crusaders mentality now. Not looking good for the Springboks. It's our kiss of death

[average joe]

We've previously lost games against all of you Northerners including fokon Japan so I don't know what historical standard you are measuring us against. I knew when people started mentioning a weak Wales that they were in for a surprise. The days of one or two teams ruling the roost is long gone.

You've lost games against better teams in the past. You lost to a dreadful England team in the autumn. Wales are genuinely dogshit - they've run out of players and lost to fucking Italy.

Like I said, it's not just about the losses. Do you think SA are playing well? Are they getting the most out of the talent they have? From a neutral perspective, you've got a lot of good players and the team is massively underperforming.

You have given yourself the answer twice already. We are playing absolute dogshit. Fortunately, our opposition hasnt been much better. Coaching staff is clueless, desperately trying to hang on to the dull formula that won us the RWC in 2019. Yet, we are missing the fitness and 3 key players to do it, Francois Louw, Francois Steyn and RG Snyman.

We have a ton of shit in this country to stress about, unaffordable fuel, Eskom, corrupt politicians ruling the roost, floundering economy, rising inflation, etc. I refuse to be negative about the one thing that still gives me hope for the future

[Sards]

You've lost games against better teams in the past. You lost to a dreadful England team in the autumn. Wales are genuinely dogshit - they've run out of players and lost to fucking Italy.

Like I said, it's not just about the losses. Do you think SA are playing well? Are they getting the most out of the talent they have? From a neutral perspective, you've got a lot of good players and the team is massively underperforming.

You have given yourself the answer twice already. We are playing absolute dogshit. Fortunately, our opposition hasnt been much better. Coaching staff is clueless, desperately trying to hang on to the dull formula that won us the RWC in 2019. Yet, we are missing the fitness and 3 key players to do it, Francois Louw, Francois Steyn and RG Snyman.

Blah blah bullshit

I think Frans Steyn is too old now. Coaching staff prefer to go with their favorites here.

The biggest talking point is the 6 2 bench.

It's a vokkop. We desperately needed a wing/ fullback the last game. What were we forced to do...play the backline all out of position......they need to get the balance of the reserves right.

[Sards]

Not buying the Kiwi capitulation.

Noone here believes the boks can beat the Kiwis and Aussies. They are 2 very good sides

[OomStruisbaai]

South Africa v New Zealand
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Saturday, 6 August, 2022 Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

Argentina v Australia
Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza
Saturday, 6 August, 2022 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Chris Busby (IRFU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

South Africa v New Zealand
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Saturday, 13 August, 2022 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

Argentina v Australia
Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan
Saturday, 13 August, 2022 Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Assistant Referee 2: Chris Busby (IRFU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)

New Zealand v Argentina
Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday, 27 August, 2022 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Australia v South Africa
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Saturday, 27 August, 2022 Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tual Trainini (FFR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

New Zealand v Argentina
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Saturday, 3 September, 2022 Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referee 1: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)

Australia v South Africa
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Saturday, 3 September, 2022 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referee 2: Tual Trainini (FFR)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

Australia v New Zealand
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Thursday, 15 September, 2022 Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Argentina v South Africa
José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires
Saturday, 17 September, 2022 Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Damon Murphy (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Chris Hart (NZR)

New Zealand v Australia
Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday, 24 September, 2022 Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
Assistant Referee 2: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

South Africa v Argentina
Hollywoodbets, Kings Park, Durban
Saturday, 24 September, 2022 Referee: Damon Murphy (RA)
Assistant Referee 1: Frank Murphy (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
TMO: Chris Hart (NZR)

[boere wors]

You have given yourself the answer twice already. We are playing absolute dogshit. Fortunately, our opposition hasnt been much better. Coaching staff is clueless, desperately trying to hang on to the dull formula that won us the RWC in 2019. Yet, we are missing the fitness and 3 key players to do it, Francois Louw, Francois Steyn and RG Snyman.

Blah blah bullshit

I think Frans Steyn is too old now. Coaching staff prefer to go with their favorites here.

The biggest talking point is the 6 2 bench.

It's a vokkop. We desperately needed a wing/ fullback the last game. What were we forced to do...play the backline all out of position......they need to get the balance of the reserves right.

Well, the 6-2 has always been a gamble. Willie started his career on the wing, so they just could have put him there, without reshuffeling the whole backline. I remember last year, when they had to put Herschel on the wing, cant remember which game it was. Herschel!

Nevertheless, our Rugby is dire. We have to lift our game massively compared to the wales series against the ABs.

[Grandpa]

"I'm Ian Foster and I'm the All Blacks' head coach" ... his defiant opening sentence to the assembled journo shark pack.

Give the guy credit. That's gunslinger talk.

He’d go for the quick draw and shoot his own foot off.

And then talk about the learnings. See that foot? Don't need it... gets in the way of my quick step .

[Ymx]

Not buying the Kiwi capitulation.

Noone here believes the boks can beat the Kiwis and Aussies. They are 2 very good sides

NZR has shat the bed and royally fucked the All Blacks, leaving this mess to fester even more. A fostering mess.

The time has passed for reasoned opinions. It’s a bloody disgrace. And I for one am throwing my fucking toys out of the pram over this.

[Kiwias]

Just came across this on RugbyPass

According to a report from the New Zealand Herald, highly-regarded Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan is tipped to join the All Blacks imminently

I hope Ryan tells him to fuck off and stays with his contract with Fiji through RWC2023

[Ymx]

Exactly my thoughts

[Dan54]

Just came across this on RugbyPass

According to a report from the New Zealand Herald, highly-regarded Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan is tipped to join the All Blacks imminently

I hope Ryan tells him to fuck off and stays with his contract with Fiji through RWC2023

Wasn't the NZ Herald also the one who told us Canes was gone and Schmidt is going on coaching panel? By geez theywork if you speculate enough, eventually you will be proved right, and hope everyone ignores the rest of the shit you publish. Mind you I would be happy with Ryan there!

[Chilli]

I just can't get used to the Kiwis bleating on about how they are so badly coached and how deep in the dwang the All Blacks are.

They are still a formidable team with amazing players.

Just watch them go unbeaten throughout the RC and still complain about their coach.

[OomStruisbaai]

Duanne Vermeulen replace Marcel Coetzee and Frans Steyn Fassi in the Bok squad. Kolbey will be replace by Reinach

[boere wors]

Duanne Vermeulen replace Marcel Coetzee and Frans Steyn Fassi in the Bok squad. Kolbey will be replace by Reinach

Coetzee is probably gone for good now, okay. Still would have preffered him over useless Wiese.
Frans for Fassi? Reinach for Kolbe? We have 2 wingers left in the squad now, mapimps and arendse. But 5 scrumhalves. Whats the point?

[boere wors]

Since the Lions I wish they would have kept Duhan vdM in the Republic... He would cause havoc on our wing

[OomStruisbaai]

Since the Lions I wish they would have kept Duhan vdM in the Republic... He would cause havoc on our wing

He and Gelant were outstanding in schoolboy rugby for Outeniqua

[Chilli]

South Africa squad

Props: Thomas du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane

Hookers: Joseph Dweba, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi

Locks: Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Salmaan Moerat, Ruan Nortje, Marvin Orie

Loose forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Elrigh Louw, Evan Roos, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Duane Vermeulen

Utility forwards: Rynhardt Elstadt, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert

Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Grant Williams

Flyhalves: Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard

Midfielders: Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel

Outside Backs: Warrick Gelant, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi

Utility Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Frans Steyn, Damian Willemse



No Fassi, no Coetzee.

$ards & O$ will not be happy.

[OomStruisbaai]

No Fassi, no Coetzee.

$ards & O$ will not be happy.

They were kak against Wales after a lot of chances. Time for them to move on.

[_Os_]

No Fassi, no Coetzee.

$ards & O$ will not be happy.

They were kak against Wales after a lot of chances. Time for them to move on.

Give Marcell more chances.

[OomStruisbaai]

No Fassi, no Coetzee.

$ards & O$ will not be happy.

They were kak against Wales after a lot of chances. Time for them to move on.

Give Marcell more chances.

[Dan54]

Hey Oom, can you enlighten me a bit, how do touring teams deal with playing on the High Veldt these days, do they go up early or tend to leave it late? It was aways a huge discussion point in 60s-70s etc, and you half expected ABs etc to run out of stem in last 15 minutes or so.

[OomStruisbaai]

Hey Oom, can you enlighten me a bit, how do touring teams deal with playing on the High Veldt these days, do they go up early or tend to leave it late? It was aways a huge discussion point in 60s-70s etc, and you half expected ABs etc to run out of stem in last 15 minutes or so.

Jens gave you the answer on PR.

The Stormers/Sharks fly out as late as possible. Worked well for them.

Bomb squad is also important. The Springboks have a very good bom squad with Kitshoff , Marx, Kwagga, exc.

Our rush defense and packs of forwards will be the All Blacks biggest challenge.

[assfly]

A bit harsh on Fassi, but given the Boks' depth in the back three he was always going to struggle to get game time. Rather let him do pre-season with the $harks and get some games under his belt.

[Dan54]

Hey Oom, can you enlighten me a bit, how do touring teams deal with playing on the High Veldt these days, do they go up early or tend to leave it late? It was aways a huge discussion point in 60s-70s etc, and you half expected ABs etc to run out of stem in last 15 minutes or so.

Jens gave you the answer on PR.

The Stormers/Sharks fly out as late as possible. Worked well for them.

Bomb squad is also important. The Springboks have a very good bom squad with Kitshoff , Marx, Kwagga, exc.

Our rush defense and packs of forwards will be the All Blacks biggest challenge.

Cheers ta Oom, haven't been in PR to check before coming in here.

[boere wors]

A bit harsh on Fassi, but given the Boks' depth in the back three he was always going to struggle to get game time. Rather let him do pre-season with the $harks and get some games under his belt.

While he is behind willie, damian, frans, gelant at 15 in the pecking order, we have only 2 real wingers left in arendse and mapimpi with kolbe out. So we can expect Kriel to cover there again, which is pretty poor. Instead, they drafted reinach in which gives us 5 scrumhalves now.

[Sards]

A bit harsh on Fassi, but given the Boks' depth in the back three he was always going to struggle to get game time. Rather let him do pre-season with the $harks and get some games under his belt.

While he is behind willie, damian, frans, gelant at 15 in the pecking order, we have only 2 real wingers left in arendse and mapimpi with kolbe out. So we can expect Kriel to cover there again, which is pretty poor. Instead, they drafted reinach in which gives us 5 scrumhalves now.

They are deliberately not playing Fassi at fb his natural position. He should tell them to vok off as they don't want competition for the favorites in the squad.
It's a lot of bullocks

[LoveOfTheGame]

A bit harsh on Fassi, but given the Boks' depth in the back three he was always going to struggle to get game time. Rather let him do pre-season with the $harks and get some games under his belt.

While he is behind willie, damian, frans, gelant at 15 in the pecking order, we have only 2 real wingers left in arendse and mapimpi with kolbe out. So we can expect Kriel to cover there again, which is pretty poor. Instead, they drafted reinach in which gives us 5 scrumhalves now.

They are deliberately not playing Fassi at fb his natural position. He should tell them to vok off as they don't want competition for the favorites in the squad.
It's a lot of bullocks

Or perhaps he needs to go back to basic training and learn how to tackle.

[Sards]

While he is behind willie, damian, frans, gelant at 15 in the pecking order, we have only 2 real wingers left in arendse and mapimpi with kolbe out. So we can expect Kriel to cover there again, which is pretty poor. Instead, they drafted reinach in which gives us 5 scrumhalves now.

They are deliberately not playing Fassi at fb his natural position. He should tell them to vok off as they don't want competition for the favorites in the squad.
It's a lot of bullocks

Or perhaps he needs to go back to basic training and learn how to tackle.

Like the team that played last. Missed a shit load of tackles almost 10 percent more

[OomStruisbaai]

While he is behind willie, damian, frans, gelant at 15 in the pecking order, we have only 2 real wingers left in arendse and mapimpi with kolbe out. So we can expect Kriel to cover there again, which is pretty poor. Instead, they drafted reinach in which gives us 5 scrumhalves now.

They are deliberately not playing Fassi at fb his natural position. He should tell them to vok off as they don't want competition for the favorites in the squad.
It's a lot of bullocks

Or perhaps he needs to go back to basic training and learn how to tackle.

His defense is terrible