[2023 TRC] New Zealand vs South Africa

[TRF_stormer2010]

Springboks:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Duane Vermeulen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Pitch-fork sales in Limerick and Cork

SA are a scary deep squad right now. If attrition wins world cups you have to back them.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I don't have any massive gripes with that SA selection but feel a few of those players will have to step it up in order to retain their spots in the "A" team:

Mbonambi (Had a poorish game in relation to his usual standards- probably always should be Marx)
Think the idea was always to rotate the loosies and give everyone some time to get up to speed heading into the RWC but wholesale? Fair enough I suppose.
Mapimpi needs a big game to keep Arendse away from the 11 jersey IMO.
Esterhuizen also finally gave reward for his continued Bok selection. I feel him, Van Staaden, Kleyn and Libbok could perhaps do with more game time but there it is its probably fair enough to stick to your initial plan of rotation regardless of individual performances. Little point in getting Kleyn further up to speed if he is only your 5th/6th choice lock.

Happy for Reinach to fall out though. I felt he was the poorest starting Bok last week.

Pitch-fork sales in Limerick and Cork

SA are a scary deep squad right now. If attrition wins world cups you have to back them.

It helps that our only real injury is essentially Kolisi. In Pollard we know what he have as well so more value in giving the rest a go. Nche and the rest aren't starters.

My prediction: a see-saw game with a last minute Grant Williams breakaway try to seal a narrow W for the Bokke.

 

[OllyM97]

Springboks 30 All Blacks 28 - that’s my score prediction. SA normally have to score 30 points minimum to win in NZ.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Springboks 30 All Blacks 28 - that’s my score prediction. SA normally have to score 30 points minimum to win in NZ.

Very true. We will have to be more accurate than the weekend past. In a tighter match the ref probably also won't be awarding penalty tries as quickly. Take those14 points away and it shows how poorly we actually capitalized on the type of dominance we won't have vs NZ.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Please have mercy

 

[Kiwiwomble]

very early team naming!

i have no idea how this will go down, was hoping people like Frizell were only going to play the "easier" Argentina game...but he had one of his best AB game so wouldn't be surprised to see him in

 

[TRF_Olyy]

This game's got the potential to be amazing, based on the first round - looking forward to it!

 

[Bada-Bing!]

This is the El Classico of rugby - there are very few bad games between the two.

 

[Hydraulxx]

Eben Etzebeth's father passed away last night, I wonder if Eben will still play this weekend.


I am looking forward to this game.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

For me I prefer MVS over Kwagga Smith.
I like smith a lot but his big USP was his speed in the wider channels, but I just feel he has lost that effectiveness.
MVS hits harder and just as good if not better over the ball .

 

[Kiwiwomble]

read a rumor that we might see Talea on the left wing and jordan on the right with clark on the bench

 

[Kiwiwomble]

pretty excited to see Telea and Jordan on the wings....does go against my gut to have the a specialised player like clark on the bench and starting the more utility players

 

[ChicagoKid]

pretty excited to see Telea and Jordan on the wings....does go against my gut to have the a specialised player like clark on the bench and starting the more utility players

View attachment 17084

Way more scared of Jordan at 15, personally. Don’t understand why Taylor is starting either. Whitelock being out is huge. He was the best player on the pitch at Eden Park last year.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Way more scared of Jordan at 15, personally. Don’t understand why Taylor is starting either. Whitelock being out is huge. He was the best player on the pitch at Eden Park last year.

yeah, so we're assuming (and with fozzie this could be wrong)......RM or BB come off, Jordan to 15, Telea to 14 and clarke to 11

SB has arguably overtaken both SW and BBBR at lock so not too worried if this keeps SW around through the RWC

 

[Umaga's Witness]

I'd say Clarke in the reserves will be as a safety net in case telea or jordan struggle under the high ball.

You'd have to think the boks will take the second half give the respective benches.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

I'd say Clarke in the reserves will be as a safety net in case telea or jordan struggle under the high ball.

You'd have to think the boks will take the second half give the respective benches.

arent both Telea and jordan safe bets under the high ball? ive always thought so

 

[Umaga's Witness]

arent both Telea and jordan safe bets under the high ball? ive always thought so

There's a massive difference between being good by super rugby standards and being good by international standards, especially against the boks.

The coaches will be hoping for an Aerial raid to see where these two are at, no doubt. Jordan has never been great defensively under the high ball, even at super, although he has been improving . Remember he did get dropped in 2021 after performing poorly under the high ball against the boks. Telea I Think has been reasonably good at super, but you don't really get tested at super so there is an unknown for him.

Im certainly hoping they do well so they can continue to be selected.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

...actually if beauden plays poorly and jordan plays well then jordan may become first choice fullback and never let it go

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Taylor’s darts haven’t improved he was poor v England and I noticed at least one intercepted one v Pumas when he came on.

 

[ChicagoKid]

There's a massive difference between being good by super rugby standards and being good by international standards, especially against the boks.

The coaches will be hoping for an Aerial raid to see where these two are at, no doubt. Jordan has never been great defensively under the high ball, even at super, although he has been improving . Remember he did get dropped in 2021 after performing poorly under the high ball against the boks. Telea I Think has been reasonably good at super, but you don't really get tested at super so there is an unknown for him.

Im certainly hoping they do well so they can continue to be selected.

The Bok high balls basically ended George Bridge’s career if I remember correctly.

 

[duncanb]

Slugfest here, boks to play 10 man till 22 out, all blacks trying to run the big guys out of puff.
Could be a mistake ridden game or a classic.
Hard to tell slightly favour ABs but wouldn't be surprised at any result.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

The Bok high balls basically ended George Bridge’s career if I remember correctly.

nah, bridge is actually ok under the high ball...it was his inability to beat his man...or score a try...or run fast that ended his career

 

[Umaga's Witness]

nah, bridge is actually ok under the high ball...it was his inability to beat his man...or score a try...or run fast that ended his career

Actually I think that game was a big factor. Because he was considered good under the high ball and good under pressure, as a great all round player, and then in that game he failed on both those counts it showed that he was not such a great All round player. If he didn't have the advantage of being a great all round player then you might as well go with players with more X factor

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Etzebeth is playing. If that's the way he intends to honor his father then good on him. Very excited for this match. I see the bookies have NZ as relatively firm favourites. I have them as 3 or 4 point favourites but am quietly confident.

 

[OllyM97]

Etzebeth is playing. If that's the way he intends to honor his father then good on him. Very excited for this match. I see the bookies have NZ as relatively firm favourites. I have them as 3 or 4 point favourites but am quietly confident.

NZ shouldn’t be favourites IMO. If it was at Eden Park I get it because of the record but I think it’s a 50-50 game. I would have it as a dead-heat. The only thing is that the Boks don’t always perform when there’s a bit of expectation on them v the ABs. Joburg last year being the classic example. SA prefer the “underdogs“ tag.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

NZ shouldn’t be favourites IMO. If it was at Eden Park I get it because of the record but I think it’s a 50-50 game. I would have it as a dead-heat. The only thing is that the Boks don’t always perform when there’s a bit of expectation on them v the ABs. Joburg last year being the classic example. SA prefer the “underdogs“ tag.

We certainly do perform better without the favorites tag. I think most teams do but us especially. That's what sets the Carter-McCaw era ABs apart in my mind. The mental fortitude to just keep on turning up. So I believe Nienaber will welcome the bookies' label and even a loss here will be good in terms of the bigger picture but I'd prefer to see us step up if possible. Looking forward to a good one either way.

 

[saulan]

Glad we have proper jackets today instead of generic grey Nike hoodies today.

 

[GoTheNaki]

35-19 to SA.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The All Blacks are back