Bok Starting Team for World Cup Final Vs All Blacks

1 Steven Kitshoff: 
He is fortunate to be starting. The scrum improves when he leaves the field. Sure OX is playing well, but would a player like Nykani bring more? Too late at this stage to experiment. 

2 Bongi Mbonambi
One option is starting Fourie who contributes more to the breakdown, and his throws can't be worse than Bongi at the moment.  Bongi Improved in the 2nd half, but I was surprised Fourie did not take over the lineouts, even though he was lining up at flank.

3 Frans Malherbe 
I would prefer Koch, I think both Malherbe and Kitshoff are past it. Our pack is lacking physicality from the front row, especially since the loss of Marx.

4 Eben Etzebeth 
Not good. Lineouts improved with Snyman. 

5 Snynman
Mosterd is useful, but I would rather start with Snyman who improved the lineouts when he got on.

6 Siya Kolisi - 
If it was my choice, Fourie would be starting.

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
Playing well, but needs his pack to contribute more

8 Duane Vermeulen
He is needed at the breakdown. He will leave early if Wiese is on the bench, and when Fourie gets onto the pitch

9 Faff
Faff cut out basic errors against England 

10 Pollard
It looks like wet weather for next week

12 Damian de Allende 

13 Jesse Kriel  
Too late to change him for AM

14 Kurt-Lee Arendse 
I would be tempted to start Moodie, who could also cover outside center- and who is better in the air under the high ball.

15 Willie Leroux
Boks needs his passing to get the ball wide. Without Libbok, the Boks need this attacking flair on the field.

11 Cheslin Kolbe -

REPLACEMENTS:

16 Ox Nche 
I would be tempted to start OX, but he seems to have his best games off the bench

17 Deon Fourie - 
Should be starting, bring him on very quickly in the 2nd half. Kolisi is out of form, and is a passenger at present 
18 Vincent Koch
Again, I would be tempted to start him. 

19 Mostert
A useful bench option

20 Kwagga Smith
Another player who seems to do better as an impact player   

21 Wiese
Another ball carrier off the bench.

21 Reinach
Reinach is good, but seems better against the Minnow teams.

22 Willemse

1. Ox
2. Bongi
3. Koch
4. Etzebeth
5. Snyman
6. Kwagga
7. Mostert
8. Wiese
9. Reinach
10. Pollard
11. Kolbe
12. Esterhuizen 
13. Moodie
14. Kriel
15. Willie

Today’s game showed the bankrupt nature of Rassie ball. Take away the high ball and the maul and all that’s left is the scrum

OK 

Yestedays game sh owed the bankrupt natiure of the MNozart "Traditional Springbpk rugby".   high kick and charge - in fact totally ineffective when the kicking is poor. without effective follow-up.   10 man rugby was played by both sides - the difference being poorly strategic kicking leading to ineffectiveness in follow-ups by the Spring boks.   The  high priest of 10 man rugby (Mozart) criticizing Erasmus for playing the game he always supported in the past - what a farce.   

If you go with a game plan ensure you have players in the team that are able to implement the so called game plan.

The Sprigboks appear to be a bunch of forwards following the high kicks without being able to ensure ball possession or if they are lucky enought to get to the point of catching the ball they are unable to secure posession or to launch any attacking play.

Compared to the team they are to meet in the final they are amatures.

Kicking away possession play after play.

What a game plan!

Sharkie the team you posted is your choice but you suggest that Kaptein is not in form but you have not got the balls to leave him out and be replayed by Fourie in the starting team.

?????????????????

We don't have another option. However, Marx and Bongi are not that far in performance. As we saw throughout the time Marx played this season, he was blown away at the breakdown and a bit porous on defence. This one isn't such a quick and easy fix like the other problems. The were many problems in that first half. I really don't have anything positive to say about the performances this campaign aside from a few individual efforts here and there. We can talk personnel, but the coaching has been diabolical. It's a sad sight looking for lapses and off days from opponents, or ref calls to get a result. That's tier 2 stuff.

Yes, it is hard to argue with the facts, at least in a sane manner.

Here is this thing with Ex-Does.

The Boks players are useless. The management team is useless. Yet the Boks are ranked number 1 in the world. 

I think Rassie has made mistakes this year, but he has made another final, and my opinion is that of an armchair expert. Facing reality...

The Boks are ranked number 1 in the world and have made the World Cup final. If the coaching team was bad, that would not have happened.

Teams are more competitive than they have ever been, so while the Boks are losing lots of games, it is less than the other teams. All Blacks will probably go to number 1 if they beat the Boks in the final.

We have been outmuscled by the French and English.
Our pack lacks the usual physical edge. Our front row is concerning. 
The loss of Marx is noticeable. It has been ages since Malherbe and Kitshoff have played well. 

Snyman adds much more power. He is one of the best players on the team, being wasted on the bench. He is the best offloader in the game. Mosterd must be removed from the starting team and made into an impact player. 

Wiese would add some bulk, so I expect he is going to be on the bench - assuming it is a 6/2 split. 
The Boks need a fetcher, so Vermuelen will get the first half 

Kolisi's days are numbered. His current form does not warrant starting - and being captain is keeping him in the team. Fourie is in better form. 

It seems that the Boks have a good chance of beating any team, as long as the score is close by minute 50. The Bomb squad is dangerous, especially when some of the players seem to be be better than their starting counterpart s.

The forward dominance only happened when Ox came on….so Kitshoff is simply not a destructive scrummager. Never has been. The physicality didn’t carry through to the mauls ie Snyman made no difference vs Mostert.

Snyman was excellent against the Poms and actually not great against France. Mostert was very consistent.

Erasmus will make very few if any changes. My guess is he names the same squad, with the same starters. 

Lomp who lost WC 2015? Who needs that loafer.

Okay so yesterday:

Etzebeth 2 runs  for 1 metre.

Snyman 4 runs for 4 metres

Mostert 5 runs for 4 metres.

So in the arithmetic of metres gained, perhaps Mostert being there vs Snyman was worth 1 metre. 

None of these tall locks are great runners with the ball. Running isn’t what distinguishes them. One lineout take against the throw covers 4 weeks of running differences.

Mostert is an outstanding lineout option, a totally reliable kickoff receiver, a brilliant defender who makes many crucial tackles every game and did so yesterday.

You either simply can’t see these things Dave or, more likely, don’t want to see these things. Fortunately the coach you idolize, does.

..

Rassie should send out the same team that beat NZ last time out but I suspect the only changes will be at halfback with Faf and Pollard replacing Reinach and Libbok.

Ed,

     Is it possible to create a Dave Mostert topic for you know who?

Lots of talk about Mostert versus Snyman. So which lock will play 80 minutes oaks. It wont be Snyman. So that leaves Mostert and Eben. We know Mostert can play 80 and he has a big engine. So he could be the guy. Or Eben must play 80. Then you could if you want play Snyman as a starter. You could then have Kleyn on the bench. 

I agree that Mostert lacks some physicality but he is far from being as pap as wee Matfiled the wannabee backline player. He makes a lot of tackles and is good in the lineouts. ONe has to look at what he actually contributes.

Yes of course we miss Lood a very good lock. 

As for the lineouts I saw in the beginning Bongi was throwing to the tail of the lineouts and was adjudged to have thrown in crooked. Its a high risk , high reward strategy. When he changed that the lineouts were fine and I have no concern.

Its nice to see some ignorant oaks you were complaining bitterly about the selection of Deon Fourie and insisting Rassie had no clue in contrast to their vast expertise now realizing what an amazing player this guys is as the very astute Beeno has said for many, many years.

But the oaks miss the big issue. That despite my mentioning it and mallet underlining it. There are certain Boks who have been starting who need to come off the bench for  a shorter 30 minute stint. Everyone noticed the uptick in energy but that was as far as the insight went. Bring Kitshoff, Bongi and Malherbe off the Bench. I back the against anything the abs can bring on.

Start with Eben and Snyman and consider Kleyn as a sub.

Start with Kwagga, Wiese and Du Toit. Bring on Vermeulen. That represents a 5-3 splits or bring on Vermuelen and Van Staden. That is a 6-2 split.

Backs

Reinach has been a big disappoint. Pollard and Faf to start. Bench Grant Williams and Willemse. IF you have a 5-3 split you could add Libok or AM.  Willemse covers Flyhalf, center and fullback. Note Faf can play most of the match. Give Williams 16 minutes against a tiring wee ab defence.

Centers - Allende and Kriel. Am would be a risk, but maybe  a bench option as mentioned above

Wings - Kolbe and Moodie

Fullback Willie.

So oaks this is the master plan and within it the big calls to be made.

The most important call is to start players who have previously been part of the bench. The wee abs will come out doing full on ballarino rugby. We must have a fresh pack to counter this. Twinkle toes wee Beau Bar rat must be mowed down as must his longer length boet Jordan. 

Glad you are ignoring Tavela Been, he's not threat at all, only 14 players beaten in the last game

I doubt Rassie will go for a 5/3 split.
These would be my starting benches based on a 5/3, 6/2 and 7/1 splits

5/3 split

16 Ox Nche
17 Deon Fourie
18 Vincent Koch
19 Mostert
20 Kwagga Smith
21 Libbok Wiese        
22 Reinach
23 Willemse

If it is a 6/2 split, I would go for:

16 Ox Nche
17 Deon Fourie
18 Vincent Koch
19 Mostert
20 Kwagga Smith
21 Wiese       Libbok
22 Reinach
23 Willemse

--------

If it is a 7/1 split, I would go for:

16 Ox Nche
17 Deon Fourie
18 Vincent Koch
19 Mostert
20 Kwagga Smith
21 Wiese       Libok
23 Klein Willemse     22 Reinach