Boks by 7

The considerations that predicted the exact Irish match result is suggesting a Bok win against France. Pollard is positioned to play the Morne Steyn role, but I think Libbok will kick better on Sunday after his better kicking performance against Tonga. The Bok bomb squad scrum won’t be as much of a factor, Koch is not a dominant scrummager. But we will test their lineout and mauls.

The backline is an odd contradiction  with Libbok/Arendse/Kolbe looking to run the ball….and the absence of Faff limiting the kicking. But then we have the mielie pap centres. Seems odd, I can only assume Am is a long way from peak condition.

But we have never relied much on our centres anyway and the French centres aren’t their strong point.

More critically we are playing France. They were actually completely contained by the ABs in the first half. In the second half they found some space and pinned the ABs deep, forcing them into a lot of penalties. Mostly that came from forward breaks.  Boks tend to defend that well with the umbrella defence limiting inside space.

France actually won that match with 4 penalties to NZ’s 12….with 449 metres to NZ’s 631 metres. They were incredibly disciplined for a French team. But the emotions will be running high on Sunday…they will be under more pressure. And a card wouldn’t surprise me.

Then you have WC pedigree. This Bok team has been in these kind of games at the WC, France has generally failed at this hurdle. That helps.

And brave as DuPont is, and as awkward as it is playing against a wounded player, it’s hard to see how he could be better for this….and easy to see how this would handicap him.

Put it all together I think the Boks will be totally focused and win this one….by 7.

Its going to be a very tough test. France will lay it all out on the field. I think we can win but nothing is certain. Fair post Moz.

They weren’t inspired in the Irish game, but if they lose tomorrow they miss out on all the fun….I trust and hope we will see the Twickenham Boks on Sunday.

Good man Dave!

Kriel is a better attacking player than Am, and hit or miss on defence. He will suit the more direct running of this Bok side. Am in 2021 was going sideways and backwards, and last year looked aimless. We cannot support his skill set, as we don't have many skilled players around him. The Boks are all about running, not passing, not linking, just running. It's less about what the Boks can do and more about whether France will give a good account of themselves. I'm edging towards a Bok win, but not because they are the better team; I don't think they can overcome the Bok method of dragging teams away from playing rugby. Ireland overcame it, but France cannot. I am also expecting Player 16 to show himself. I cannot point to many positives in this team. Many players chosen for their attacking ability are actually a liability to the cause, and worsen our already flaccid defence and physical presence. It's one of the worst backlines I have seen the Boks field. To think what they could have fielded, it's a disgrace. Be that as it may, we just have to hope that the Boks can get a bit of luck. Sometimes the French get passive on defence, and that changes everything. We could use some of that to settle us into the game. At least Fluff isn't starting, that's something at least. Boks to win. I don't know about score, but if it's that kind of game, I anticipate 3 or 4 tries. 

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Dave I can't take Doos seriously anymore. He is a nutjob.

Who has the higher strike rate Saddex? Like I say, the Church of Erasmus cult members are not Bok fans, as evidenced by their lack of knowledge of all aspects of Bok lore, stats, trivia... absolutely anything at all. 

Maybe its reverse psychology !

Boks can beat France but they have to impose their style of rugby. Much like the ABs, France can click and run away with it - I predict Boks will limit France so I agree with Moz, Boks by 7.

See you in the finals JW. No slip ups please. 

I hope you guys are correct with your predictions.

But two sides I never write off are the AB's and the French.

This French team is one if not the best French team to represent their country in my lifetime.

Two other years that stand out for me are 1959 (at Old Kingsmead) and 1995 (at Kings Park in a WC game against the Springboks).

Their scumhalf and captain is a match winner and motivator of his team beyond any of his peers.

Plus they will have the home crown cheering them on.....big time.

Mannie is going to have a ton of pressure to bear both with his kicking and the attention he is going to receive from the French loose forwards.

Fasbyt!

The French are good, but this team doesn't worry me like it others. The French in the early to mid 00s were much tougher. The standard of test rugby has slipped the past couple of cycles. What is elite today would be very good ten years ago. France is a 50/50, and that's the funny thing. This Bok side 10 to 20 years ago would be struggling to stay in the top 10. Ireland are the only test nation that impresses me with skill and cerebral play. Also their accuracy. 

Stick with Moz/Plum and the circle of Moz/Plum. That’s the proper form.

Not quite a 7 point win Moz but close enough!

I've a 8am kickoff & my coffees will definitely be fortified.

Cheering for Boks against France.

JW before that  brilliant Mo’unga break I thought you chaps were toast.

That's probably where Ireland lost the match - a breakdown in defense and communication. NZ had them nicely set up flooding the center with 6 potential attackers but if everyone kept their heads there was no need for a gap to open up. Even with the break they still had it covered, but a huge error by Lowe to not stay on Jordan as the cover would have gotten Richie had he tried to go himself. Lowe went for Richie and in that instant Jordan was clear.