Comments on what to expect in the AB-SA test

Based on what happened from the RC test in 2012 and subsequent away RC tests   the whole situation  look pretty dismal from a SA perspective – the Springboks lost all the tests.   There were two tests where the Springboks could have win - but individual players let them down badly and the tests were  lost.

 Dunedin – 2012  -  AB’s  won by 10 points

In this game Morne Steyn missed a total of 7 kicks  at goal – 6 penalties and 1 try conversion.   Even if half of those penalties were converted – most were very easy kicks – and the sitter required to convert the try kick at goal the end result could have been dufferent.

Wellington – 2014 -  AB’s  won by 4 points

The Springboks could have won this test   had Matfield not fouled  up a line-out on own throw 5 meters out from the tryline  three minutes before the end of the game.  He made sure there was no try scored.

Why did I mention those two games?   I mention same as an example of how individual  players can destroy team efforts,      

Now back to the test  on Saturday,   I do not believe that the Springboks  have even a 5% chance of wining the game on Saturday.   The reason is that there are too many players in the side in Saturday who will let the team down.   There are in the main two problems and those are –

*   players who are below international standard and at best questionable selections – Mostert. Kolisi, Whiteley  and Am; and

*    players who normally are good enough – but in the recent tests under-performed compared to their normal standard -those inter alia included Marx, Le Roux, Pollard. Faf and even Etzebeth.

The remainder of the team consisted of players who  more or less performed on an acceptable level – but not really match winners on their own.

For the Springboks to show positive signs all the players will have to improve on their recent performances and drastically so.  That leaves a team with 11 players who can make the team competitive - where 14 were  inadequate in 2012 and 2014,  11 would be incapable of cli mbing that mountain.  

So that will not be enough  to win the game – but could reduce the damage insofar as the scoreline is concerned,   I stated elsewhere that a loss by less than 20 points will mean an improvement on what Coetzee achieved  in 2016 and 2017 and a loss by less than 12 points will indicate that the team is developing better than was achieved under Meyer.

I stick with those comments and predict a loss of circa 14 points by the Springboks.              

What to expect is known already, NZ players and staff already opened about it.

It is going to be a story of brutes against noble men, a story of thugs against knights.

NZ already revealed the plot.

This thread should be titled "A convenient excuse to have another go at Morne and Matfield".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXXZ1p-9EUg

Watch from 1:38 to see how Matfield cost us this game. 

I watched the slow-motion replays a number of times - and the problem was clear - the ball actually was thrown at Matfield and he did not make a clear take.   It went to a prop and the real opportunity for an effective drive was gone.   They then despite the deficiency of the initial catch tried to initiate a drive which came to nothing.    

Victor wins a difficult lineout ball 4 minutes from time, after which Hougaard, Whiteley and Lood combine to mess up the Bok attack and cost us possession just meters from the tryline. But Matfield is solely to blame.

Kriel misses the tackle that gifts Japan the winning try with no time left on the clock, but he is not to get the blame.

Too funny.

Lood at his RWC15 best, Kaino in for the try.

we loose by 2 and its....... Matfields fault

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/7PDX4tTPaUa/South+Africa+v+New+Zealand+Semi+Final+Rugby/gtQwHuFARVo/Jerome+Kaino

Not worth discussing this with biased "experts".    Should have expected Matfield protective garbage from them.   

De Jager in 2015 was 10 times the lock Matfield was.  Matfield was the one who failed in his first line-out take on own throw and then had a penalty turned around - in other words his performance in the semi was BS,    No - I have to abide by the  twisted opnions of the local "experts".  

No - I have to abide by the  twisted opnions of the local "experts".

You don't. You can have your own. No need to get hysterical when people have views that differ from yours.

Tell that to Mozard - maybe he will stop with his pervert libel.   

The subject matter had potential for an interesting discussion. If you cast aside your bias you could make your input more enjoyable for other people Clever Mike. Think about that.