[2017 Rugby Championship] Round 2: Argentina v South Africa (26/08/2017)

[FNS]

They should field the bigger players no doubt but avoid being so frontally and go back to offload and playing from odd places. Move the ball, dont let SA use they strength, keep them running.

 

[Durbanite]

They should field the bigger players no doubt but avoid being so frontally and go back to offload and playing from odd places. Move the ball, dont let SA use they strength, keep them running.

I agree, couple that with some territorial kicking, chips, grubbers and some rush/smother defence with emphasis on going for the legs then over the ball and SA will have a headache of a day. They can be tired out, and trying to out muscle SA won't work for the Pumas imo. We saw what kicking did for them last year in Salta and how dangerous they can be in broken play, why not stick to strengths. Just have to have better hands, less mistakes and fix up the scrums this week and it should be much more of a contest.

 

[Durbanite]

Hougaard starting at 9 and Paige off the bench are the only changes to the bok squad. Would've preferred it the other way round and with Vermaak instead of Paige but it definitely makes a lot of sense to have experience at 9 and Hougaard is a fine choice looking at the options we have

 

[SomeOke]

Hope Hougard proves me wrong and has a cracker!

 

[George Ford]

Hougaard starting at 9 and Paige off the bench are the only changes to the bok squad. Would've preferred it the other way round and with Vermaak instead of Paige but it definitely makes a lot of sense to have experience at 9 and Hougaard is a fine choice looking at the options we have

Hope Hougard proves me wrong and has a cracker!

AC giving Hougie the chance to make that 9 jersey his..

They should field the bigger players no doubt but avoid being so frontally and go back to offload and playing from odd places. Move the ball, dont let SA use they strength, keep them running.

Based on last week's game and the respective teams' showings so far this year, the Boks should have too much for los Pumas. Where the former have shown improvement on all aspects of their game, the home side has not i'm afraid. Would be bit of an upset if Argies come out on top.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Nothing ynexpected at this juncture.

Hougaard starting at 9 and Paige off the bench are the only changes to the bok squad. Would've preferred it the other way round and with Vermaak instead of Paige but it definitely makes a lot of sense to have experience at 9 and Hougaard is a fine choice looking at the options we have

Hope Hougard proves me wrong and has a cracker!

Sure. Me too on both accounts.

I would add Rhule to the 'hope he proves me wrong' list. I still need convincing that he deserves his place ahead of Lleyds and Combrinck. I am beginning to wonder whether it might the backline coaches' and Brendan Venter's own Cheetahs connection that sees Rhule there. I am going to stop assuming Rhule is there based on quotas and is the odd baal pick we see with coaches; I couldn't believe Spies being picked ahead of Vermeulen for what felt like forever under White for instance and the man did take us a RWC title at the end of the day despite his shrtcomings (both Spies and White).

 

[SomeOke]

I'm completely unconvinced by Rhule and would rather see him replaced ASAP.
It's not even about quotas if we must have a quota player there I'd rather have someone younger with more potential like: Nkosi/Ulengo/Senatla
He's just average, you can't tell me he offers more on attack than Nkosi or Senatla and both are far better on defense. Ulengo would be your safe option, he has plenty of pace and is a good defender. Why is Rhule in the mix?

Edit: OK so he's 24 maybe I should give him a chance.

 

[George Ford]

The Springbok side to face Argentina in Salta:

15. Andries Coetzee (Emirates Lions), 4 caps, 0 points
14. Raymond Rhule (Toyota Cheetahs), 4 caps, 5 points (1 try)
13. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 20 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
12. Jan Serfontein (Vodacom Bulls), 30 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
11. Courtnall Skosan (Emirates Lions), 4 caps, points (1 try)
10. Elton Jantjies (Emirates Lions), 15 caps, 147 points (1 try, 26 conv, 30 pen)
9. Francois Hougaard (Worcester Warriors, England) 43 caps, 25 points (5 tries)
8. Uzair Cassiem (Toyota Cheetahs) 2 caps, 5 points (1 try)
7. Jaco Kriel (Emirates Lions), 9 caps, 0 points
6. Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), 20 caps, 5 points (1 try)
5. Franco Mostert (Emirates Lions), 11 caps, 0 points
4. Eben Etzebeth (captain, DHL Stormers), 58 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
3. Coenie Oosthuizen (Cell C Sharks), 27 caps, 20 points (4 tries)
2. Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), 6 caps, 5 points (1 try)
1. Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 91 caps, 10 points (2 tries)
Replacements:
16. Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 9 caps, 0 points
17. Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), 14 caps, 0 points
18. Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 29 caps, 5 points (1 try)
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 24 caps, 15 points (3 tries)
20. Jean-Luc du Preez (Cell C Sharks), 5 caps, 0 points
21. Rudy Paige (Vodacom Bulls) 8 caps, 5 points (1 try)
22. Curwin Bosch (Cell C Sharks), 1 cap, 0 points
23. Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), 23 caps, 15 points (3 tries)

https://www.supersport.com/rugby/springboks/news/170824/Hougaard_to_start_against_Pumas

 

[mdaclarke]

This will be a real test of how far the Springboks have come as although they have 4 wins in a row they have all been at home. This is their first away game this year. For me Boks by 12

 

[petite]

well this looks a bit better juani had great 20 min last game and sanchez has been low. herrera and allemano in! good cubelli is also in i prefer him over landajo, hes been dreadfull latelly

 

[FNS]

I think its almost the best we can field(not counting a few euro players). Great 2nd and 3rd row. Big but with speed. 9 and 10 both can tackle. Im hoping that the keep penalty count down xD

 

[unrated]

I predict The Springboks will beat Argentina in a very close game. I don't think this SA team is as good as they looked in the last four games. If we lose to Argentina I won't be disappointed nor will I be discouraged about our future potential. People tend to overreact with some of these away loses in the rugby championship. Its going to be tough in Salta and if we lose it does not mean we will be consigned to a loss away to Australia. This team has a few selection issues to sort out before they can become contenders for #1 in the world.

This weekends rugby action might be overshadowed by the Mayweather vs Mcgregor fight.

 

[galumay]

I wont be surprised to see the Argies get up in this game, the home advantage for them is bigger than it is for other countries in the 4 nations. I have been impressed by the improvement in SA rugby this year, but I think this may be a tough ask. Could go either way. As a skippy I would liek to see the Argies get up and then we can have a crack in Perth!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Hernandez has looked good recently at 10 but he has just turned 35! This has a faint smell of panic for me from Hourcade, dropping his first choice halfback pairing after one game. I hope he is not under pressure from the union and media as I don't think that is fair on him.

I think he has underestimated the improvement in the Boks and that they would beat many Tier1 sides in SA by 20 points this year. I thought the Pumas put in a decent performance last week and that continuity made a bit more sense. That said, it's not a massive drop off as Sanchez has been underperforming for a while I think. So I'll stick with Boks by 13.

 

[FNS]

Hernandez is old but he still does things nobody does. He has an overall quality above the rest.

He has pressure, Hourcade and he should. He implemented the rigid system thats not working, he lost almost to everyone and jags are failing ( he is not the HC of that but he has a lot of power on how Jags plays).

As for match i think we either win here or lose again by 20+

 

[petite]

this pack is more likely to coplete with the big SA forwards, but it doesent mean it will happen. we are going to need an excelent game by juani in terms of strategy. cubelli is also better imo to play vs SA he is clearly stronger than landajo specially on defense around the base. if we can play the game to our strengths we have a chance. if we want to do it like last week and try to outmuscle the bokke we are done.

 

[Horacito]

Jesus, you bring Cubelli in together with Juani: it's like being kicked in the balls after being given 100 bucks.

Talk about failures from the UAR: What the in motherfugging earth is Pato Fernández doing in Urope? All that effort to bring in the Ezcurras and we don't get the single greatest prospect for fly half in 5 years? This is like Creevy out in 2011 under a 38 year old Ledesma.

Sometimes I just hate argentina, just hate it. Damn you all, you're ruining it dammit.

That being said, good choice for forwards this week.

Hourcade deserves a much larger post than I'm willing to write right now, maybe another time.

Goddammit.

 

[FNS]

Ledesma at 38 was better than Crevy now xD.

There was a time when almost no one could out muscle us. They would tear us a new one outside but close to the base oh boy. Better times.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

wrong thread

 

[The Jones Boy]

Pumas at home can be a whole other level of difficulty.
If they get the bit between their teeth early they can really make it tough for anybody.
Hernandez is 35?
I didn't realise he was that young.
Another world cup in him yet.

 

[FNS]

Nah. It was so clear the tackle. He tried to close the arms he couldn't but was not even a penalty.....

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Agree. BS call. His left arm was wrapping. Not clear from the cam angles waht the right arm was doing. No arms? Pfffff

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Btw, hernandez has already made two appalling kicks. 70 minutes to go

 

[Gavin]

Holy smoke that was awful my Argentina. Just pass the ball.

First time I've seen South Africa's away strip and must admit I don't like it.

 

[Ospervat]

17th minute - no way that was fwd- Arg unlucky.

 

[Durbanite]

Set piece gold!

 

[FNS]

This ref is killing us.

ps. Juani is kinda meh xD

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I canceled everything, got myself a couple of off the charts beers and this is ruining my night.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Little kicks are a strength of Jantjies but I don't understand why you do almost zero last week (and most Boks games), then do loads this week. Better to have sprinkling in both games to keep the defence honest surely?

Pumas scrummaging better with 7 this week than with 8 last week but a scrappier affair than last week so far.

Spoke too soon about the scrum!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Haha! Fastest try from kickoff ever?