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Yeah, think 6-2, with Pollard covering 10 &12 from the bench, with another 9 also on the bench.This is the most intriguing matchup of the QFs for me, I have can have a guess at the winners of the other games but no idea here
My pre-tournament prediction was RSA to beat France, and I think I'm still leaning that way, but I think it's going to be real tight
No chance they'll do 7-1 but I reckon 6-2 is on the cards for the Boks, with them heavily targeting the French pack (after seeing them struggle vs Australia in the warmups)
DuPont has been cleared to get back into training today, if he plays (and the injury doesn't impact him) that's a mmaassssiivvee boost for France
Hard to compare the pack during the warmup and now, as we know that the team was in full physical prematation. But yes, it will be the match key.This is the most intriguing matchup of the QFs for me, I can have a guess at the winners of the other games but no idea here
My pre-tournament prediction was RSA to beat France, and I think I'm still leaning that way, but I think it's going to be real tight
No chance they'll do 7-1 but I reckon 6-2 is on the cards for the Boks, with them heavily targeting the French pack (after seeing them struggle vs Australia in the warmups)
DuPont has been cleared to get back into training today, if he plays (and the injury doesn't impact him) that's a mmaassssiivvee boost for France
Yeah, agree with that - it's just the only possible chink in the armour I can see with this French side, and is an area of strength for the BoksHard to compare the pack during the warmup and now, as we know that the team was in full physical prematation. But yes, it will be the match key.
It's games like this I feel Paul Willemse is a massive loss. His bulk stabilises them and he does so much grunt work to allow Flament to shine. Woki is more of a hybrid, and I think they miss the physicalityThis is the most intriguing matchup of the QFs for me, I can have a guess at the winners of the other games but no idea here
My pre-tournament prediction was RSA to beat France, and I think I'm still leaning that way, but I think it's going to be real tight
No chance they'll do 7-1 but I reckon 6-2 is on the cards for the Boks, with them heavily targeting the French pack (after seeing them struggle vs Australia in the warmups)
DuPont has been cleared to get back into training today, if he plays (and the injury doesn't impact him) that's a mmaassssiivvee boost for France
France have been held to less than 21 points just 6 times in the past 4 years (and only lost 4 of those games). They've had one game where they've scored less than 14. And always get in double digits (13 being theirr lowest score).It's games like this I feel Paul Willemse is a massive loss. His bulk stabilises them and he does so much grunt work to allow Flament to shine. Woki is more of a hybrid, and I think they miss the physicality
Danty will be huge too, but I'd pick the French back row over their Bok counterparts.
It could all come down to some magic, from Kolbe/Arendse, or Dupont/Penaud/Ramos. If anyone can play through the blitz, it's France
That's a big one for me. Hoping for Barnes actually. Barnes and Pollard starting. I hear most SA fans saying Manie to start but for me I go Pollard every day. He isn't the type of player that needs 5 games to get into his own.Anyone know the refs yet?
I think you play potentially England in the next round, we want Barnes for our quarter final!!!That's a big one for me. Hoping for Barnes actually. Barnes and Pollard starting. I hear most SA fans saying Manie to start but for me I go Pollard every day. He isn't the type of player that needs 5 games to get into his own.
I'm hoping for a 5-3 bench like Nov to go Reinach, Libbok and Am bench BUT I expect we'll see a 6-2 and no Am.
Hopefully we see no cards here. At some stage last year we were down to 13 men. PSdT and Dupont both seeing red but France had 40 minutes more of Dupont than we had Du Toit. Both France's tries were around the ruck. Vermeulen to start for my money. So hoping to see:
Kitshoff / Mbonambi / Malherbe
Etzebeth / Mostert
Kolisi / Du Toit / Vermeulen
De Klerk / Pollard
Arendse / De Allende / Kriel / Kolbe / Willemse
Nche / Fourie / Nyakane / Snyman / Smith / Reinach / Libbok / Am or Le Roux. I include Libbok only because I don't know how much about Pollard's fitness.
Scoring against the Boks should also be reasonably difficult. Defence has been a standout feature under the Nienanber HC reign and as you would rightly expect from a defence guru.France have been held to less than 21 points just 6 times in the past 4 years (and only lost 4 of those games). They've had one game where they've scored less than 14. And always get in double digits (13 being theirr lowest score).
They've won every game they've score more than 21 points.
Most of that should be fairly obvious but the point being containing France is ******* hard. Keeping up with them also bloody difficult.
Nic Berry would be hilarious. I'd keep clear of SA media if that were the selection. Oddly. I believe Brace has been appointed only as a touch judge? So not too concerned about that unless I am mistaken but TBF I wouldn't overly mind a coin toss. I'm just thankful we are garuanteed no French ref!I think you play potentially England in the next round, we want Barnes for our quarter final!!!
You can have... Berry, or Brace
Pollard for me is an auto selection. Am I don't know how fit he is. TBH I'd take Kriel over Am at this stage. Am was struggling in the RC- TBF he wasn't 100% I can't believe I am saying this but Kriel has been going well. We know the ball stops with him on attack so we'll have to skip him or the wingers will have to get the ball elsewhere- chasing kicks most likely- but he has been monumental on D.Am and Pollard back at the right time ? Leaning towards the Boks.
Momentum, yesFrance have every advantage going into this, momentum, home crowd, statistics...
I'm not sure if us NHers are just reluctant to make them favourites over the SH big names, we have had too much trauma over the last 100 years.
Same with NZ, people giving them a chance because... its NZ. No metric is giving Nz much of a shout.
That said go and watch it be an all SH semi final now lol
Oh you might be right actually.Nic Berry would be hilarious. I'd keep clear of SA media if that were the selection. Oddly. I believe Brace has been appointed only as a touch judge? So not too concerned about that unless I am mistaken but TBF I wouldn't overly mind a coin toss. I'm just thankful we are garuanteed no French ref!
Also Am has been absolutely critical to this, teams have struggled to get around him because of his defensive reads and intelligence. He's so so good. If it's Kriel at 13, that's definitely going to help France, and it's most likely to be at this pointScoring against the Boks should also be reasonably difficult. Defence has been a standout feature under the Nienanber HC reign and as you would rightly expect from a defence guru.