The Silver Fern

The Irish will need to start quick. The Boks bom squad can be the difference. No locks on the Irish bench.

Sorry I post the teams on the wrong thread. Must be the age.

@Billy-Webb said in Springboks v Argentina Twickenham:

By all means, continue that conversation in SPORTS TALK, but let's focus on relevant game commentary / thoughts / analysis in this thread please.

Fair enuff.

I'll put a couple of thoughts in the Springbok thread.

@booboo there are a lot of Sharks souties. One foot in the UK other one in SA. Dick in seawater.

@Smuts said in Springboks vs Pumas I:

@stodders to be honest, I’m not sure who the coaches see as 1-5.

I’m in the minority (at least in my SA rugby chats), but I’d have Faf, daylight, Williams, Reinach and then a long way back van den Berg.

Faf is far from a perfect scrummie. But he’s the best ruck rat on earth for my money. A defensive menace who gets better as pressure increases and crucially makes everyone around him better too.

It’s probably too soon to tell if Williams has that killer instinct but I reckon we know Reinach doesn’t. Which is fine, so long as the coaches keep Reinach bracketed with a mongrel to deal with clusterfucks like Ellis Park, Eden Park or the RWC semi…

I hear you on Faf, but I’m not sure the coaches think he’s the 9 Tonyball needs.

I reckon he still has a chance of making the WC squad, if only to have on the bench with Pollard as the “reverse-choke squad”, tasked with coming on to wrestle back control of the game when Tonyball fails against a team that can catch and tackle near 90%, or the Boks run up against their 2027 Bryce Lawrence

@NTA said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:

@pakman said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:

On the box kicks, in particular post AB kick offs from around 60 to 70ish, Boks regathered four in a row. Noticeable that e.g. Hooker rushed almost beyond where the kick was likely to land and owned the space. I suspect the wind was playing ball back towards them as it came down. A skill which can be learned.

Jump a bit early and get into the space before the opposition - turn sideways or present your back to the opposition to deny them a fair crack, and reduce the chances of you knocking it on.

Looks like a fair contest; is anything but.

Saffers had a tactic a few years ago of going into that space early and flooding the zone with multiple people. Was very effective as most refs didn't seem to care - knocking people away from the all

@voodoo I understand the biomechanics a bit. As for the dark arts, that's outside my knowledge. But I don't doubt there are many tricks and treats.

@pakman said in Boks v Wobblies I:

Howard was extremely well regarded by Leicester.

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@Billy-Webb said in Springboks v Italy II:

I am deliberately going to ignore debating the legality or "spirit" of each of the 2 new tricks the Boks put on show in this game.

Good point. We're not on an internet rugby forum to discuss important sort of stuff affecting rugby.

@Smuts said in Springboks v Barbarians:

They both looked bang average. In fairness to Sotutu he was playing in a well beaten pack. But he didn’t seem to take the fight to the boks which is what I’d have expected from a guy playing to prove something to the selectors.

Edit to add that whatever @Mauss saw from Sotutu at the breakdown was too subtle for me. Nothing like another Auckland 8 criticized for being afraid of doing the hard graft, Zinny, getting stuck into the bok pack when they got the upper hand in Joburg in 97 say

I’ll agree that it was probably too subtle to make much of a difference in terms of selection. It just looked, to me, like he was trying to make some small adjustments to his game.

I’ve always interpreted the selectors’ critiques of Sotutu as being an issue of body height, especially around the breakdown and contact. Sotutu has a tendency to stay on his feet as much as he can, even when he’s cleaning the ruck, in order to ‘stay alive’ on attack and remain a viable support option. The problem is that this kind of cleaning can lead to weak shoulders and underpowered cleans.

In the game, I saw a few rucks where Sotutu actually went off his feet (in a good way), making dominant cleans with his shoulder. It might not be anything at all, but I felt like Sotutu has made an effort throughout the SR season to adjust his body height, in trying to be more effective around the attacking breakdown and play a more conventional loose forward-role in those areas.

I don’t think Sotutu is ever going to be a number 8 who revels in the nitty-gritty of Test rugby, and I’m pretty sure he’s not going to become Zinzan Brooke all of a sudden. You select Sotutu for his carrying abilities, lineout work and his unique vision and skills on attack. I think it’s pretty clear now what he does and doesn’t offer.

@Nepia no need to apologize.

The PR on Rassie’s doctorate:

“In addition to his visionary leadership, he has also shown an unwavering commitment to the Sport Transformation Charter – which is included in the Strategic Plan of the Department of Sport and Recreation – that has resulted in a systematic change in the development of talent and skills across the national rugby spectrum.

Erasmus has shown himself to be a nation builder of whom the country can be proud.

“Rassie embodies the principles of resilience, determination and teamwork that we at the North-West University hold dear in our educational mission. His contributions to South Africa, both as a rugby strategist and as a nation builder, serve as a shining example of what can be achieved when passion, dedication and visionary leadership come together. This esteemed recognition is not only well deserved, but also a testament to the remarkable contributions and exceptional impact Rassie has made in the field of sport and innovative sports management,” said Bert Sorgdrager, Council chairperson.

“His commitment to inclusivity and transformation in sport has not only revitalised rugby but has served as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and unity in a nation with a complex history. Under his guidance, the Springboks not only achieved rugby greatness, but also became a unifying force, bringing together people of all backgrounds and beliefs. His emphasis on teamwork, discipline and dedication has resonated far beyond the sports arena, offering life lessons that inspire not only aspiring athletes, but also individuals in their everyday lives. He has meaningfully used his sphere of influence to advocate for social change, fostering an environment in which diversity and inclusivity are celebrated, and differences are seen as strengths rather than weaknesses,” Sorgdrager concluded.”

@OomPB he’s been there since before RWC2023

@Snowy said in Scotland vs Springboks:

@Machpants said in Scotland vs Springboks:

Henry IV.

Macbeth one I know is not so relevant for a time of release

How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags?

A Springbok thread so:

"Is this a dagger which I see before me up Victor Matfield's arm band?"

I beg for justice, which you, Prince, must give. World Rugby banned Bakkies; World Rugby must not live

PSdT deservedly MOTM performance. That try looked like a knock, so was freakish. He had a perfect game. Glad Eben got this. Libbok after a week of critics played well.

There's a bit of historical revision going on in this thread, a sort of Bok to the Future.

No draw option available ?