South Africa vs England - 04/07/26

[big ginger 8]

I don’t really rate Libbok that much either. Is that harsh? I like the other Stormer dude a lot more but take it he’s still injured.

Sacha is class but yeah got injured in the URC quarters.

Libbok has a lot of the skills but just has some massive brainsfarts.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I can't be bothered figuring it out, but who's injured atm in the props?

Stuart, Baxter and Rodd

Stuart and Baxter would both in the 23, Rodd would likely be in the touring squad

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Yeah I can’t remember beating France, what I do remember is the last couple of 6 nations, we’ve changed the way we play for one last game after the tournament is lost.

Then we go back to playing like **** for the next game of the next series. Lessons learnt by Northwick = none

Fully expect England to revert too low risk, percentage rugby come the WRC

Rassie's comments roughly about Borths being data driven and chasing trends is about right

Not seen that comment but it must be true. Data and trends is completely rubbish without knowing what got that data in the first place.



I guess the only good thing about losing some more games is that we can finally be rid of that terrible coaching set up.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

They’ve known that since at least 2024. He keeps getting suspended.

He was on the bench for the RWC 23 final. Vermeulen was the best 8 in Springbok history and Rassie called him one of the smartest players he has been around. So it’s no wonder that it took Jasper a while to break into the starting 15.

Nah SA fans have been the biggest cry babies about him starting for so long

Roos was the golden child in the supporters eyes for a while

 

[rN_X]

Nah SA fans have been the biggest cry babies about him starting for so long

Roos was the golden child in the supporters eyes for a while

Depend on the circle. Most people I talk to about rugby has never liked Roos. When Jasper however started playing for the Boks he did concede a lot of penalties but he seem to have sorted that and would now be one of the first player to put on the starting list.

 

[unrated]

Nah SA fans have been the biggest cry babies about him starting for so long

Roos was the golden child in the supporters eyes for a while

Now it’s Hannekom, I expect hannekom to displace Wiese, and Paul de Villiers to displace Kolisi before the world cup

 

[Scotty]

Stuart, Baxter and Rodd

Stuart and Baxter would both in the 23, Rodd would likely be in the touring squad

I think Stuart and Baxter are actually huge losses, they both solid scrummages but they also get through a lot of work. Especially Baxter pre injury.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Now it’s Hannekom, I expect hannekom to displace Wiese, and Paul de Villiers to displace Kolisi before the world cup

Yeah it's been louw, Roos, Hannekom, hell I saw boks fans want Augustus ahead of him
Being honest Wiese brings something the boks kinda lack, he's not the smartest but he's a tank and IMO was prob the key forward in last years Rugby champ

God I miss him

I kinda wanna see if Pollok dares to rile up Wiese or Hannekom

 

[Geordie]

Yeah it's been louw, Roos, Hannekom, hell I saw boks fans want Augustus ahead of him
Being honest Wiese brings something the boks kinda lack, he's not the smartest but he's a tank and IMO was prob the key forward in last years Rugby champ

God I miss him

I kinda wanna see if Pollok dares to rile up Wiese or Hannekom

You know hes going to wind them up and he wont back down even if he is outsized

 

[TRF_Olyy]

he wont back down even if he is outsized

I dunno, he proper shat it when he tried it with Liebenberg the other week - he'll chip at them, no doubt, but I think he'll get slapped down pretty quick

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

You know hes going to wind them up and he wont back down even if he is outsized

IDK i've seen him look pretty quiet before
V Bordeux in last years euorpean final he was massively quiet to thepoint where UBB where actievely trying to get a reaction out of him

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I dunno, he proper shat it when he tried it with Liebenberg the other week - he'll chip at them, no doubt, but I think he'll get slapped down pretty quick

And Hanro is like a tedy bear compared to some of these players

 

[ChicagoKid]

Now it’s Hannekom, I expect hannekom to displace Wiese, and Paul de Villiers to displace Kolisi before the world cup

Never gonna happen

 

[wombles]

You look at the Boks 23 & that we are at altitude & I cannot fathom a way we get a win from this. South Africa are the best team in the world currently with a mix of brutality & skill which is awe inspiring to witness.
I think England will give a good account of themselves & it may be closer than many predict, but our battle is not with them this summer.

 

[Geordie]

....And Borthwicks next big hope is a South African centre not deemed remotely good enough for the actual South Africans.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Murley in line to start.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...south-africa-nations-championship-rugby-union

 

[higgik]

I know you guys love being pessimistic but Manie Libbok is the only 10 in the opposition 23...

Same number that we will have, when Ford starts and Marcus on the bench!!!!

 

[higgik]

....And Borthwicks next big hope is a South African centre not deemed remotely good enough for the actual South Africans.

Although has been said today that he would have been picked, if not already picked by us

 

[higgik]

Murley in line to start.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...south-africa-nations-championship-rugby-union

Please, please keep Freenan out if the 13 jersey.
As a roaming power wing, he has the space to pop up around the fringes and get go forward, as a 13 he doesn’t not gave that freedom or space. Combined with his comparative lack if passing skill, he needs to stay as winger.

 

[OllyM97]

Thinking about what SA are going to do to us here makes watching England stink the place out for 90 minutes in the footy almost seem like a pleasure. I know it’s total sacrilege on here but I’m far more bothered about the WC at the moment than any of these test matches. I’ll still watch them, but I can’t say I’m invested about whether we do well or not.

 

[Blueblackandwhite]

....And Borthwicks next big hope is a South African centre not deemed remotely good enough for the actual South Africans.

Well according to Rassie (when he was running his mouth today) Van Rensburg was at least remotely good enough.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, but....that's bullshit, isn't it?
If it were true then he'd have called him up and he'd be in camp with them - BJVR is on record saying he'd rather play for South Africa than England, he wouldn't have turned down a call-up

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeah, but....that's bullshit, isn't it?
If it were true then he'd have called him up and he'd be in camp with them - BJVR is on record saying he'd rather play for South Africa than England, he wouldn't have turned down a call-up

Basically, Rassie is just being nice. He's not been close to any extended training camps.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

The Springbok coach couldn’t honestly promise the former Cheetahs and Griquas midfielder a Test cap.

“We had conversations with him, and he was very keen to come,” Erasmus revealed.

“Our CEO asked me if I was interested in Benhard Janse van Rensburg and I said yes, obviously we were. We just had to see where he fitted into our pecking order.”

That pecking order ultimately proved decisive.

When asked whether Janse van Rensburg would play Test rugby in 2026, Erasmus refused to make promises he couldn’t keep.

“He asked me, ‘Are you going to cap him this year?’ and I said, ‘No, I don’t think so.'

Honestly, if anything, reading between the lines it seems damning
Like it's as recent as last year he was still asking SA if they planned on capping him

 

[Geordie]

Although has been said today that he would have been picked, if not already picked by us

Yeah just reading that...as a squad centre as they're a bit thin on the ground with centres.
Ill take that with a pinch of salt.

 

[Geordie]

Please, please keep Freenan out if the 13 jersey.
As a roaming power wing, he has the space to pop up around the fringes and get go forward, as a 13 he doesn’t not gave that freedom or space. Combined with his comparative lack if passing skill, he needs to stay as winger.

One of the big issues in the centres is the lack of a real power carrier or a power option full stop.

I like Atkinson for the 12 spot, and punches above his weight, but hes not heavy duty. Freeman is a big powerful carrier, who has all the skills (offensive and defensive) to play 13 to a world class level just like wing. I honestly can see why they want to do it.

However:
BJVR for all we hate this does change the horizon. He IS a quality all round centre who can attack with power and defend very strongly. Him and Atkinson could be a strong, solid midfield for once (something we havent had for a long time) that gives a good base for the rest of the backs and allow Freeman to stay on the wing.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Yeah, but....that's bullshit, isn't it?
If it were true then he'd have called him up and he'd be in camp with them - BJVR is on record saying he'd rather play for South Africa than England, he wouldn't have turned down a call-up

He also, hasn't been captured by England yet - and can't be; so IS still able to be called up by SA.
At best, they want him on the off chance that they have an injury crisis at both centre and backrow simultaneously, and need to use their 8-10th choice centre.
They've had a whole decade in which to select him, and haven't once even brought him into camp to take a look at.

 

[rN_X]

Boks rather played an out of form AM at 12 than tried BJVR. That should be telling. Also BJVR will be fighting with Ethan Hooker over the 12 jersey. BJVR is not even close to Ethan's level.

 

[Geordie]

Rumours..
11 Murley
13 Freeman
14 Waboso

 

[Scotty]

Rumours..
11 Murley
13 Freeman
14 Waboso

So
9 Mitchell
10 FSmith(I hope)
11 Murley
12 Atkinson
13 Freeman
14 IFW
15 Furbank

22 JVP
23 MSmith?( or Slade)