GTGonzo the Great
Club Pro560 posts
GTGonzo the GreatClub Pro560 posts
01 Aug 2014, 18:51#2
Super rugby has never been an indicator of test credentials so i disagree strongly with you. The Boks and NZ are well ahead of everybody and only England comes close enough to them. The Boks have every chance of winning the RC this year, even with a bad ref dusaster we nearly dud it. Now our defence is stronger we have more secure lineout ball and a more settled personnel wuth greater depth. We are stronger now than last year so it can onlyb be a yes! Have NZ improved? No. Have Australia improved? No. And Ewan looks set to implement a model from the Tags wuth players who failed badly already. Astructure tgat has weak set pieces and a weakness to structure like you see in test rugby. Super rugby is a ling way off the type of rugby you see at test level fir a start. Its all about speed over accuracy or tactility. Our best XV are feared.
JWJust_win
Captain18,570 posts
JWJust_winCaptain18,570 posts
01 Aug 2014, 19:13#3
Boks have a "more settled personnel " , more settled than what ?/who? Not according to posters on this site.
I think Boks are improving, at least we saw they were capable of more variability in their game plan. I think ABs are still ahead but games could be close. Please consult sarugby.com "resident expert of excuses" to ensure the excuse list is up to date
sharkbok
Captain23,294 posts
sharkbokCaptain23,294 posts
01 Aug 2014, 19:54#4
I think the Boks will win this year. The reason being is that South Africa put in the most dominant performances of the tournament in 2013. If Australia or Argentina were asked who was the hardest team, who do you think they would say.
South Africa did badly in this years SuperXV for 2 reasons:
1. The backs were worse than usual. Our inside backs created next to nothing for the outside backs.
2. The forwards were not getting nearly as many rolling maul tries as in 2013 and other years.
However for the Boks it will be a different story. We have enough depth in the backline at Bok level to put together a top quality backline. Willie LeRoux gives our backline an edge when he enters at 2nd receiver . He gives our inside backs the creativity that is lacking, and he also pops up on the outside as a finisher as well. He takes a good backline and turns it into a great backline.
Our forward pack will do better in the lineouts and kickoffs than last year with Matfield running the show. This was a major problem last year.
BEBeeno1
Captain40,032 posts
BEBeeno1Captain40,032 posts
01 Aug 2014, 20:36#5
Bluebok the Stormers would definitely have been in the playoffs barring injuries. The bulle have stabilsed the ship re loss of players and watch out for them next year.
Our only problems are some players coming back from long term injury and will Meyer select wisely and get the right loose trio together.I do not like Pienaar and M orne as a half back pair - too passive.
I think that we will be okay and if the injured players like Etzebeth hit their straps it could go very well.
As always RAWs are a great concern as we get consistently robbed blind.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
01 Aug 2014, 23:02#6
With the team facing the Welsh in June - the answer is definitely NO. With the squad put on site by Mozart and his cohorts - the answer is definitely NO.
It depends entirely upon what Meyer comes up tomorrow. If the dud players are still in thee squad we will be hard-pressed to beat Argentina - especially away.
Can we get the wooden spoon this year - the answer is it depends on Meyer's squad selection. The June squad - very, very likely.
All will be revealed tomorrow - but I guess most of the real rugby lovers will be severely disappointed.
01 Aug 2014, 23:22#7
Average finish of teams in 2014 Super 15:
NZ - 6thSA - 10th
Number of players in Super Rugby Team of the Year:
ESPN: NZ - 6 , SA - 2 (Jacpot the Waratah being one)Planetrugby: NZ - 6, SA - 3 (again Jacpot is one)
Betting odds on winner of RC:
NZ - 8/15SA - 7/2
New Zealand are riding a 17 game undefeated streak, have won 8 of the last 9 matches with South Africa and have all their experienced, first choice players available and in match-ready fitness.
The safe, easy call here is to say New Zealand will win the Rugby Championship and trounce South Africa twice. Realistically South Africa should come third when considering the current crop of talent the Aussies have and how well their teams have done.
But the magic of the Boks, especially since Meyer has been in charge, has been that collectively we are better. Put it down to passion, national pride and good coaching - playing the most complete balanced game of any South African side but more importantly the execution Meyer has been getting out of the players has been world class.
I think the RC will again come down to the Ellis Park test although hopefully we won't be chasing 4 try bonus points and can play some real rugby against the AB's. We should win that game although somehow I have a sneaking suspicion that our RC fortunes may well turn on what kind of scrumhalf play we get - whether that is Pienaar, Hougaard or Reinach
First order of business though is to get bonus points against the Argies. Meyer will be well aware of this, so expect the balance to tilt to a more aggressive game plan those first two tests.
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
02 Aug 2014, 07:38#9
To win the RC, you don't need a huge pool of players. You need 23 good 'uns. We have rarely if ever been as good as NZ in the S15. Yes the Bools won, but on average, we have been mediocre. Nor have our B teams looked good in 2003, 2007 and 2011 when we rested our RWC players.
But our top 23 have always been a tough proposition....and they are likely to be that again this year.
We were closing th gap with NZ last year...and should continue that process this year. We may struggle to win in Oz, but they won't win in RSA. So we are probably going to be close....with everything hinging on NZ in RSA, whether Oz will beat NZ and/or the Boks in Oz...and the points differentials.
I'm assuming of course HM stays consistent in his selections...if he panders to the fans as Jake did, all bets are off.
CLclevermike
Coach57,555 posts
CLclevermikeCoach57,555 posts
02 Aug 2014, 10:13#11
Mozart
There are certain requirements Meyer must meet in the selection of players - that would have an impact on match outcomes:-
* If he selects players based on reputation and not proven performance* If he base selection on being safe and pick the players who were "safe" in the past and cost us dearly* If he selects players without competency in the positions they have to play.
The likes and dislikes of fans has nothing to do with it - selections have of essence to be based on physical requirements, ball sense and ball skills.
Meyr - if he picks a player like Matfield - must realize that the Tight 5 strength is seriously compromised. If he picks a player like Albertss, we are missing a loosie and the question is in exchange for what? If he p[icks Morne Steyn - what will he bring to the games other than past failures in the RC?
We need a top functioning team - not a set of reputation and low work rate players - who have failed us in the past and will inevitably do so again. If he picks the June Welsh test combinations - we are doomed to failure.
