It was a poor performance by the Baby Boks against France. Their scrum was a disgrace. There are not enough hard men in the tightfive. Their props were piss poor.
Great opening try by Swanepoel, he is a class act at 13, but that little man Kolbe is something else.
Its just a pity he is so small as there will be no place for him at a higher level. But what feet he has
To be fair ... the French came at us.
They were not the same team that got thumped by the English and it looked as if we underestimated them a tad.
They caught us by surprise.
No matter ... an ugly win is still a win.
Our boys grinded it out and that on a bad day at the office ... good enough for me.
.
Snapster that black loosehead of ours held up his end well enough. It was the tighthead spot that caused all the problems.
My one suggestion is play Kriel at centre to partner Swanepoel. Who is better Robert Du Preez or Pollard?
Kolbe is an amazing runner and won the game for us. That last try he scored was launced from the scrumhalf position. Man the guy could be a better scrummie than Genia. I agree he will struggle at Super 15 level only because of size. But scrummie is just the place for him. He has a tactical sense, rugby brain, a good boot, is a beautiful timer of the pass. I really see little reason why he could not make a brilliant world class scrummie?
I sincerely hope somebody is thinking very seriously about all this. I would hate to see him wasted.
Not so sure I agree with you guys regarding Kolbe.
He's strong on his feet, even though he's small. A solid boy with powerful legs.
He's not like Aplon who moves around town depending on the direction of the wind that day.
Take a look at how solid Masaga is on his feet. Not the biggest man either but just about impossible to move.
To much obsession with size for me. The back three have been holding there own against very big English and French players. Man, that 11 made two crucial tackles and big blokes, got dragged a bit by the french number 1, but who wouldnt when you have to bring down almost the entire french front rown in sucsession.
I think that Senatla has been outstanding and have showed great leadership from the back. I really like this kid and think that he can exceed Bryan habana.
We have some fantastic up and coming outside backs coming through the ranks. Senatla, Rhule, Kolbe. All of whom have springbok writter all over them.
Agreed kingcorn ... the important thing is be-able to stand your man and not be run over like everyone does to Jantjies.
I remember a guy by the name of Sid Going. He played scrummie for the All Blacks. A block of a man. Solid on his feet. Not easy to take down.
I need to see more of Kolbe but what I've seen so far impressed the hell outta me.
We have unbelievable talent coming through. It's like a flood.
what the side is missing.
2 props with Grunt.
What they where missing last night besides the props with Grunt:
Ungerer ---- man he has a brilliant pass, I really like this kid, reminds me of Joost,big physical for a scrummie with a great pass. The scrummie that played last night did not impress me.
Robert du Preez at 10, ----- Distributio is the name of the game.
Pollard at 12 -- Those skip passes to the outside work like a dream, plus an extra tacktical kicking option with a split backline. Rohan is big on defense. but both him and Dries last night did not gell well they constantly left gaps in the defensive structure. No use you have a giant that can tackle but not enough up0stairs to keep a defensive line intact.
Geduld at 13 - He brings way more to the park than Dries does...
I like Luther Obi, but I think We saw last night Kriel on the wing with Kolbe at the back has more potential to create havoc.
So apart from the quite useless forwards, I can't do a thing about that as we don't have the players it seems. I will play the following backline, and keep it that way.
Ungerer, du Preez, Kriel, Pollard, Geduld, Senatla, Kolbe
with, janse v Rensburg, Obi and the other scrummie on the bench.
I have been a bit dissapointed with Pollard, he is turning into a robot, same as Morne Steyn. @Ek, I agree with you about Robert Du Preez, he really seem to get our outside backs into the game. Something that seems to evade most of our SA flyhalfs who more intersted in short passess or kicking good possession away.
The other point I would like to make about he current back three is that they always look to run it back and not once did I see them lose the ball in contact. The seem to manage to get up to the opposition 10 meter line. Putting the rest of the players in a good field position to built a solid attacking platform from.
Complacency is an awful thing. It can cost you more than you're prepared to pay.
The Bokke came through last night as victors and I believe they were brought back down to earth.
They will take the match against the Welsh and move to win back to back trophies.
Stop being such a cry baby, Mike!!!
Mike youare too pessimistic thsi morning.
"if this is the future of SA Rugby we are indeed in deeper trouble than we all think possible". Mike we have an incredible pool coming through. Your young talent is not confined to one year at the WC! Even as it stands the baby Boks have made the semies and could even make the finals. Just also remember Goosen and Jan Serfontein should have been in this side.
Du Plessis is a great in the making - huge guy mobile, grafter and physical. There were a lot of dropped balls on both sides - conditions Mike conditions.
I take heart from a very good closing session of about 20 minutes. The tighthead prop position is a big worry and its difficult to believe there has not been two selection errors as both tighthead props were useless - the back up guy - how on earth was he selected!!!!!!!!!. Cant they fly in someone!
Its vital they get the backline selections right. The Abs will be a severe test for the back three.
The pack needs a reshuffle, Fouche needs to starts at prop as well as our replacement hooker needs to be switched with the starting one. Steenkamp is too small and negates strength and size of the other loose forwards. Our 6 seems to be a bit of a disappearing act as well. Senatla is the back which has the highest potential, he has a good work rate who often tackled beautifully but sadly got very little ball. The same cant be said of Obi who could not tackle, but I must be fair and say that we kept on getting sucked into the middle of the pitch then the French would pass it out wide where that lock and flank were just waiting to run through him. I'll admit that my choice for Pollard to be a 10 was a mistake but I just don't think he's a good enough tackler, if we do reach the final and face the Baby Blacks, Emery (Has Sasue's full support for being a future star) will run through that 12 channel with ease!
We had a very good win against the USA though, even better given we changed 11 from the side that lost to you guys and with a whole load of chaps who most likely won't get another run out this Tournament.
109-0.....highest score ever at the JWC. Not happy reading or viewing for the minnows, is it ?
Becs do you think you'll be able to progress any further? Baby Blacks are looking good!
Hi there Becs. congrats on making the semis. USA really need to do better than that!!!
How do you think the semis will pan out. Ready to repeat what the senior team did against the abs? The abs faded badly against Ireland who came close to stealing a win. A yellow cost the Irish dear as the abs scored twice in that period.
We dont appear to be in great shape but one never knows. A lot of confusion as to the right backline.
Shezza, I really don't know ! The Baby Blacks wobbled rather against Ireland.......it took that yellow card for them to really pull themselves together and it wasn't the walkover they expected, was it ?
If I'm honest, I wouldn't expect us to beat them. But I would like us to give it a good go. There's no reason why we should be so fearful of NZ. We need to be on top of our game in all areas, that's for sure and maintain concentration, but we shouldn't always walk out there treating them like they are automatically better than us by right, not at any level. That isn't the way to go at all !! Thay are beatable. Whether we can do it is up for debate, however !!
We've got some good young players though, I'm encouraged. And there are a number of my teams boys out there so that's a good thing for the Club too.
As you'll see from the Senior England side, we're finally bringing our youngsters through the ranks and it is working. Thank goodness for Stuart Lancaster !! :)
Who fancies an England/SA final ? !
Becs, that's a very good way to go about Rugby, a few other posters could take note *cough*Mike*cough*. I'd say it's a decent chance for a Bok vs England final (maybe 35 or 40/65 or 60) but we also must take Wales seriously as they've gotten themselves into the semis for a reason.
I think we need to take everyone seriously at this stage, but the money must be on the SH rather than the NH, I'm sorry to say.
I would dearly love England to get out there and prove me wrong. I shall be watching and hoping.
And yes, Wales played well.
becs not taking a team that reached the semis seriously ---- very dangerious thinking that.
So yeah, It's the semis. knockouts. it has to be taken seriously irrespective of who you are, if you made it, you deserve it.
Clevermike only one or two of our juniors team ever go on two higher honours and i'm guessing it's the same in SA so it's hardly an indicator of the future of Springbok rugby we are talking about is it?
This is almost schoolboy rugby and we were all good at that level.
Wow DomMike you really are a thick prick when it comes to rugby. To be honest I dont know why I bother responding to you for your stupidity and ignorance actually irritates me.
First of all v/Rensburg got very little ball down the line, the French had most of the possession. Given this fact, I struggle to see how you can conclude he lacks skills. What a load of shit - what skills is he missing exactly oh wise one - I cant wait for this answer.
Secondly, he never missed a tackle. The only defensive lapse was a communication error between the centres and a good line run by the French centre. Neither of our centres got a hand on the player - hardly a missed tackle you stupid man.
Pollard has been crap at 12, he tries to do too much on his own. I see some fool on here said Geduld was better than Swanepoel, what a joke. Geduld looked good against nobodies USA and did nothing against England before being taken out - probably thanks to his 70kg frame.
It was v/Rensburg and Swanepoels first start together for the Baby Boks, they got very little ball. The issue was our soft forwards.
As for your pathetic take on Jacques du Plessis, I have not read so much shit in a long time. du Plessis will be a Bok by this time next year. He is as good as Etzebeth and Steph du Toit were at the same age, in fact he might even be better.
So you are so thick that you conclude that du Plessis lacks skills because he had the odd ball knocked out of his hands in the rain. This after everyone has raved about the guy. How fucking thick are you?
So according to you he is not ready for CC rugby because of this? Wow, well be prepared to wipe the egg off your stupid face when we see him playing S15 rugby next year, CC rugby this year and a Bok squad spot next year.
You know fuck all about rugby and I am not just saying that
A win is a win...no need to overkill as long as you win. WC 2007 saw this...Tonga nearly upset SA but they (SA) went on to win the world cup against the finalists (Eng) who they previously beat in the pool stages by a huge margin. NZ on the otherhand likes overkill...when they play against the minnows. Saffa's do not waste unnecessary overkill on matches that are unimportant. Ironically Ireland nearly slipped on Georgia that year. Margins are really not that important just wins...afterall NZ only won the last WC by 1 point against a side that lost to Tonga. You win titles by winning...it really is not important by how much...this only gives an inflated perception...and only satisfies those with weak and inflated egos. Just get the job DONE and move on. Watch the golfers, tennis and cricket champs...good examples of winners.
