[2015 TRC] South Africa v New Zealand in Johannesburg (25/07/2015)

[William18]

Another Rugby Championship for ABs

Is Argentina going to help us out?

 

[Kiwi_]

Is Argentina going to help us out?

Doubt it, Australia mean business this year.

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Really enjoyed the first 60 minutes of this game. Was really impressed with the SA centres too.
De Allende was strong and attracted a lot of AB attention that was needed to keep him under control.
Kriel is a youngster who plays with no fear, and that paid off.

Why did you not enjoy the rest?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Shows how far ahead the NH game is to SH rugby though.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Why u no say Brown??

Because Brown is good and Goode is sh*t at FB. And Kiwis thought they have it bad with Dagg.:roll eyes:

Of the newbies, I thought Sopoaga did well overall. The break for the try and pass to Smith was great. Broadhurst not so impressed with. Tackled well, but carries were ineffective; unless he's given another chance in the next two games v the Wallabies and does outstandingly well then Thrush will likely go as fourth choice. Tuipolutu is going to be a big miss for the ABs come the RWC.

For SA, I thought De Jager was superb, as was De Allande and was also impressed with Kriel. But I also thought SA are missing so many key experienced players: De Villiers, Matfield, Vermeulen, Alberts, Du Preez. I started a thread about 5 vital players no team wants to be without at the RWC and these 5 appear to be ones SA need to be firing on all cylinders to challenge and beat the ABs. Time is running short to get them match fit and confident ahead of the RWC.

 

[SomeOke]

I thought it was a great game, lots of positives and quite a few negatives. Absolutely gutted to lose but the ABs were too crafty, too clinical and too good. Doesn't look like our year but I'm happy with how the future looks.
Well played ABs.
I have more to say but for now I'm off to drown my sorrows.

 

[Kiwi_]

Shows how far ahead the NH game is to SH rugby though.

The only thing the "far" in the NH to the SHs game is how far its head is up its own ass.

 

[SomeOke]

The only thing the "far" in the NH to the SHs game is how far its head is up its own ass.

I think he was being facetious, or he was trolling, either way don't be so defensive.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Would SA guys be happy for Senatla to come in for Hendricks?

Wouldn't really gain anything in terms of control, but you would get some outrageous pace.

Looking ahead maybe but not just yet. He'll be featuring in the 2016 Olympic 7s first. He still has some work to do on his 15 game for test rugby IMO but I do see him as Habana's long term replacement. Right now for the RWC at 14.. well, there are so many options but no world class options IMO. We might as well just have JPP do what JPP does there for my money; we hve enough other attacking threats if we go ahead sans JdV.

I thought it was a great game, lots of positives and quite a few negatives. Absolutely gutted to lose but the ABs were too crafty, too clinical and too good. Doesn't look like our year but I'm happy with how the future looks.
Well played ABs.

We certainly had ample opportunity which is what made me happiest. This is a young team and for the most part it was the youngsters that were coming up with the good plays. The focus and decision making will only improve with experience. This RWC- though we should still be a factor and cuold conceivably even go all the way with some luck on our side for once- was always going to be 2 years too early. Gutted about the loss but credit to NZ for doing their thing and a ton of positives for us; the weaknesses seem like the sort to sort themselves out in time.. I hope.

It's only Bismarck and Vermeulen that'll need replacing in the next 8 years.

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I hope the injuries today are nothing serious and that we'll get to see Coetzee/Alberts/Vermeulen as our backrow come the RWC; the Kiwis were better in those key positions IMO with Kanio to come.

 

[Kiwi_]

I think he was being facetious, or he was trolling, either way don't be so defensive.

It's called banter.

 

[ratsapprentice]

It's called terrible banter.

_

 

[Kiwi_]

Looking ahead maybe but not just yet. He'll be featuring in the 2016 Olympic 7s first. He still has some work to do on his 15 game for test rugby IMO but I do see him as Habana's long term replacement. Right now for the RWC at 14.. well, there are so many options but no world class options IMO. We might as well just have JPP do what JPP does there for my money; we hve enough other attacking threats if we go ahead sans JdV.



We certainly had ample opportunity which is what made me happiest. This is a young team and for the most part it was the youngsters that were coming up with the good plays. The focus and decision making will only improve with experience. This RWC- though we should still be a factor and cuold conceivably even go all the way with some luck on our side for once- was always going to be 2 years too early. Gutted about the loss but credit to NZ for doing their thing and a ton of positives for us; the weaknesses seem like the sort to sort themselves out in time.. I hope.

It's only Bismarck and Vermeulen that'll need replacing in the next 8 years.

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I hope the injuries today are nothing serious and that we'll get to see Coetzee/Alberts/Vermeulen as our backrow come the RWC; the Kiwis were better in those key positions IMO with Kanio to come.

Not meaning to sound rude, but you have lost a lot of games recently consecutively and to a number of different teams. There's a huge issue with your bench and mentality in the final quarter of games. I don't think it can "sort itself out". Anyway, it was a great game, Ellis Park is an awesome venue and you're right, you have a good number of positives. Le Roux is lethal, Kriel looks great as well, I really think Ruan Crombianck should have got that wing spot though. Hendricks isn't good enough, nor JP.

 

[Car]

I know! When I heard Habana from the commentators, I saw him, and thought it was another Habana. Lol.

So it wasn't only me then...

Great game, if only rugby was like that more often.

While the comeback of the Wallabies against the Boks really surprised me, I more or less expected it to happen today. South Africa really need to sort this out. I think there's something seriously wrong with the bench and the mentality as well. Sure, South Africa have many great players, but you need to win games when you actually dominate them.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Not meaning to sound rude, but you have lost a lot of games recently, in concession and to a number of different teams. There's a huge issue with your bench and mentality in the final quarter of games. I don't think it can "sort itself out". Anyway, it was a great game, Ellis Park is an awesome venue and you're right, you have a good number of positives. Le Roux is lethal, Kriel looks great as well, I really think Ruan Crombianck should have got that wing spot though. Hendricks isn't good enough, nor JP.

I tend to agree RE Combrinck but we have to face certain realities in SA and then there is the fact that JPP and Hendricks have the inside track cap-wise which is somthing we are very low on ATM.

The losses really irk me but what I mean when I say sort "themselves out it" is that I see the solutions being time and experience to our halves (assuming we go Reinach/De Klerk post 2015) and Le Roux and then some luck with injuries and thus continuity in selection which have contributed greatly to our run of losses IMO. I mean one even tends to forget this pack is only 50% starters. Those aren't issues you can deal with really.. it's just an issue of time and its against us for this RWC but looking ahead we have some confirmed test quality youngsters that we are hoping can only build ahead.

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So it wasn't only me then...

Great game, if only rugby was like that more often.

While the comeback of the Wallabies against the Boks really surprised me, I more or less expected it to happen today. South Africa really need to sort this out. I think there's something seriously wrong with the bench and the mentality as well. Sure, South Africa have many great players, but you need to win games when you actually dominate them.

Injuries, inexperience and Meyer's wanting to "give everyone time and test" go a long way to explain it though. I for one prefer to look at the positives if only for the sake of my sanity.

 

[Cookies]

Phew. Another close one in Joburg. Not an easy place to win. If my stats are correct, then since the RWC 2011 kicked off, that is now 48 wins 2 draws 2 losses in 52 games. Not bad.

And one of those shouldn't have been a loss (v RSA, 2014 was not a high tackle).

 

[smartcooky]

Saffas just lack the clinical touch.

How the hell was that uncontested?

Due to unfortunate circumstances and a bit of a cock-up in selection by Heineke Meyer

South Africa had four props in their team

1 Du Plessis (Specialist THP)
3 Beast (Specialist LHP)
17 Nyakane (Specialist THP)
18 Koch (THP/LHP)

Earlier in the game, DuPlessis was replaced by Koch, then in the 60th minute, Koch copped a head injury with blood. He went off for blood and a concussion test. Nyakane came on, and then left South Africa with two specialist LHPs so the scrums went uncontested, and then Koch failed the concussion test.

You have six front row players in a team of 23. Surely, at this level at least, you have the two props on the bench able to play both sides? I cannot say that I have ever previously seen scrums go uncontested at test match level, when both teams had two props packing at prop in the scrum. South Africa has 20+ elite level props and I have great difficulty in believing they don't have two among that number, capable of playing both sides at this level.

I suspect Heikeke Meyer has been a victim of South Africa's "political" selection policy.

 

[Car]

Injuries, inexperience and Meyer's wanting to "give everyone time and test" go a long way to explain it though. I for one prefer to look at the positives if only for the sake of my sanity.

Sure, I know what it is like when everyone goes crazy just because of some bad results before a big tournament. That happens every two years here in soccer after all. As long as those things are sorted out when the WC starts, that's ok.

 

[Jaguares]

Is Argentina going to help us out?

No, but the Bledisloe has a single owner and won't change this year. I've bet for the Wallabies in the last 3 years, I won't make that mistake this year

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

It's called banter.

Someone better close he window the banters getting out.

 

[austingtir]

No, but the Bledisloe has a single owner and won't change this year. I've bet for the Wallabies in the last 3 years, I won't make that mistake this year

##Rushes down to the TAB##....

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Its going to be bloody interesting to see who Hansen runs out against Australia. Some big names went missing in this match for us.

I dont know weather to drop Conrad or give him another game to sort his **** out. He was bloody woeful you'd have to hope he cant play that bad twice in a row surely. And Woody just looked old. The difference when Crockett came on was crazy. Its concerning game on game imo Conrads getting beat defensively by top sides. Remember England at twicks last year?

I didnt think id be saying this but SBW is looking more and more appealing defensively to me.

 

[William18]

Isn't it amazing that SBW can have a terrible Super Rugby season, get lambasted and finally play well against Argentina. Conrad on the other hand, had a great Super Rugby season and has had one poor performance. On top of that, he is a legend. It shows how quickly things can change.