My Bok Starting Team for the 2nd Irish Test

If I was selecting a 5/3 split on the bench, this would be my team. 

1. Ox

2. Marx (We need him competing at the ruck, where Ireland excels)

3. Kock (Flab Malherbe was poor on Saturday. Although Koch has usually been better on the bench)

4. Etzebeth

5. Mostert  (RJ could be a starting option with Mostert on the bench)

6. Kolisi

7. PSDT

8. Roos (With Marx starting, a specialist fetcher "might" not be needed. The Irish are very good at the ruck, but they always seem to have hands in the ruck as well). 

9. Faff  (Smith should get a run earlier depending on  how well Faf is playing

10. Manie Libbok  (Pollard could start, but putting him on the bench for safety is an option). Starting Sasha is also appealing, but wait for the next series where the teams are less competitive

12. de Allende (I would prefer to start Esterhuizen). 

14. Kolbe 
15. Willie  (Starting Fassi is an option). Again, probably not enough space on the bench with a 5/3 split, let alone a 6/2 split
11. Arendse

Reserves:

Forwards:
Steenkamp
Bongi
Koch

RG
Kwagga

Backs:
Williams
Sacha (Utility back)
? (Fassi/Pollard/Esterhuizen)

I would potentially have Pollard on the bench, but that would mean dropping Sacha or Fassi.
If it is a 6/2 split, that would only leave a scrumhalf and a utility back that can play flyhalf. 

Having Esterhuizen on the bench is also an option, but don't want to change too many players in the backs near the end of the game - given the scrumhalf and flyhalf will probably be subbed. 

I think this will be Rassies team ( if he goes for a 5/3 split): 

15. Willie

14. Kolbe

13. Am

12. de Allende

11. Arendse

10. Pollard

9. Faff

1. Ox

2. Marx

3. Malherbe

4. Etzebeth

5. Mostert 

6. Kolisi

7. PSDT

8. Roos / Kwagga

16. Bongi
17. Steenkamp
18. Koch
19. RG
20. Kwagga/ Roos

21. Williams
22. Libbok  (Libbok covers 10 and has utility value having initially played wing and fullback)
23. Esterhuizen

Manie Libbok just showed us what he can do against Glasgow.

I can't see the team changing much either, apart from perhaps at 8.

I can see not much changes rather than starting with  Sacha startig at flyhalf - a much better kicker at goal than either Libbok or Pollard is at this stage and priobably preferred by Brown - that being the reason he wss on the bench.   Based on Pollard's  injury record and actual on-field performances I do not think Erasmus and Brwon saw the need for inclusion Sacha on tthe field of play than Libbok.

So I see Sacha as being preferred by the coaches than Libbok.   Looking at what happened I think in the end Roos will be a definet choice at 8,   Faf wass a mess as well - so the only 7 changes I see could happen  iro  of the starting line up are -

*    replacing Le Roux  with Fassi  

*    replacing Pollard with Feinberg Ngomezulu

*    replacing De Klerk with Williams

*    replacing  Kwagga  with  Roos

*    replacing Mostert with Snyman

*    replacing Bongi with Marx

Of the above six players  would be  on the bench.  rather than starting,   The only two  not being benched could potentially  be Le Roux and Mostert    

The idea in the two remaining tests befire the Rugby Championsdhip . would look at certain positions to play in that series the question mark is whn De Jager and Willemse will be back to play - once he gets back in form - Mostert will not even be be in the squad anyway.   The Springboks need power in the  Tight 5 and Mostert is powder puff .      .    .                   \\

*    replacing Le Roux  with Fassi  

*    replacing Pollard with Feinberg Ngomezulu

*    replacing De Klerk with Williams

*    replacing  Kwagga  with  Roos

*    replacing Mostert with Snyman

*    replacing Bongi with Marx

I like it. 

ave lets look at the Springbok situatio in 2015.   Pollard was brought into the Springbok team to replace he ever-failing Steyn.  He played extremely well  against the AB's  and was alrfgbely responsible for the  Springboks winning their only win against the AB's in the Meyer era.   He obviously fail against the succeding test because  he wsas playing accordinbg to Meyer stgratgefgy to kick  the shit out of the ball.   Thereafcter Meyer brouht back Lambie as fyhalf .

The Meyer strategy in 2015 was for whenever the Springboks got the ball - it had to be passed to the no 6 or 8 players  - not to the flyhalf     I obce did anb evaluation of what really was the strfategvy in the 2015 WC.   In for instance the Japanese disaster - the ball was past  only to Burger or another forward of e 4e2 pasases the scrummies made only 7 went to the flyhalf .   Pollard did not play in the test and the game plan was a mess.   

After that Pollard was brought back intro the team  to play in succeeding test and he was scared stiff - as yu claimed above - and playedf the Meyer game.    Against Scotland trhe same game plan was to be implmented and  Pollard feared he might fail.    Fact is with De Villiers out of contension  he had De Allende at center.    The passing  of the ball by the scrunmmie to the  loos forwards the plan changed slightly wuih the ball more times being passed to a loosie or De A llende and the abll only passaed tpo the flyhalf when he was forced into kicking the ball. 

I still believe the coaching by Meyer caused a potential career disaster for Pollard.   He was injured in 2016 and 2017 and did not play for the Springbok in hose two years,   The Coetzee flyhalf ofc peferfence wasz Lambie and when the latter was injured Coetzee was hunting for a flyahlf and chose Steyn for two tests against the  AB's - wo rank dxisasters allowing the AB's t scxore 114 points againtthe Springboks with Morne only kicking 5 penaklty conversions for the Springboks.   After the Coetzaee used Jantjies at fdlymhalf with the sdisasater against Italy in 2017 the expected result.

When Erasmus becxame coacxh in 2018 He called in Pollard and it si public knowledge  that Erasmus asked Pollard on how he saw the role of the flyhalf in the Springbok team. Pollard got Erasmus' his full support fcor what Pollard suggested and he fclourished in teh flyahlf position in 2018 and 2019.    

Unfortunately since 2019 Pollard was frequently injured  and often outt of rugby witht eh result he became rather erratic,    For instance at the time of the squaad annoubncment for the 2023 WC wsaz ou for months  and played no rugby as a result.   According to WC rules ifc Pollard was in teh squad and could not play - he would not be rfepalced.    So there was a mess in the earlky trests both Marx and Mbonambi wasz injured and instead ofa proper hooker Meyer was forced to call up Pollard instead of a hooker and in actual fact Pollard's only real contribution was kicking at goal and not continuation of hsi own game plan at flyhalf as happened in 200018 and 2019,    In other words he beame a Steyn kind flyhalf.

Morne also had bad kicking at goal gamnes and his line kicking also turned into a disaster.   There was no difference between how Pollard played on Saturday and how Morne used to play.   He missed 3 kicks at goal and his one relieving kick was a total disaster.    I am afraid that unless Pollard return to his 2018 game plan as to the role of the flyhalf he would not eb the future when it comes to flyhalf play.    That will  mean his replacement will become enecessary before 2027.

Why not just play the Bools team they had less trouble defeating  Leinster than the Boks did on Saturday. That said Eluckmiss may not be as smart as the banners imply….but he isn’t stupid enough to replace Willie, Pollard and Mostert with players, some with no test experience, all at once in a series he badly wants to win to confirm our world champs title.

Noobs in mid season form.

There was no difference between how Pollard played on Saturday and how Morne used to play.

Where do you get the idea that Pollard played a conservative game on Saturday? His 13 got more quality possession than he knew what to do with. You're not going to get that next to a flyhalf who isn't distributing.

RG's main selling point is his running and offloading, but as we saw Saturday a smart opponent can read him and exploit it. Witness him being turned over while carrying in one hand and being denied the offload, witness the target of one of his offloads, Van Staden, getting taken man and ball because the opposition anticipated it. Witness him messing up a lineout take. He still feels like a player who's never lived up to his potential to me. Hard when you're injury prone I guess. Same issue with Lood. Can't settle in a side and make your mark if you're in recovery half the time.

I predict one change . . . Roos in for Kwagga.

Probably right.

I gave a detailed reason why Mostert should not be in the Springbok set-up.    I think as atatck coach Brown will point out the reason for backline playing a wider game in playing a weaker Tight 5 that will force the  opposiion loosies to stay inn  the mauls and not let them, spread out to strengthen the defense in dealing  with the Springboks  attacking game.   Keepong opposition loosies to spread out - while it allows Du Toit and Roos to join the backline in attacks.,   

Oh man that’s brilliant….send it to Erasmus, I’m sure he hasn’t thought of that.

I gave a detailed reason why Mostert should not be in the Springbok set-up.    I think as atatck coach Brown will point out the reason for backline playing a wider game in playing a weaker Tight 5 that will force the  opposiion loosies to stay inn  the mauls and not let them, spread out to strengthen the defense in dealing  with the Springboks  attacking game.   Keepong opposition loosies to spread out - while it allows Du Toit and Roos to join the backline in attacks., 

And so, on a cold July winter's evening, Ou Maaik cracks the code for Bok success.

Mozart

No need to - Brfown will know rtthat and that is the way Nedw Zralamnd always play wh en attacking.  So Brown will deal with the issue.

Mozart

No need to - Brfown will know rtthat and that is the way Nedw Zralamnd always play wh en attacking.  So Brown will deal with the issue.

Mozart

No need to - Brfown will know rtthat and that is the way Nedw Zralamnd always play wh en attacking.  So Brown will deal with the issue.

Hall Of Fame

51781 posts

Mozart

No need to - Brfown will know rtthat and that is the way Nedw Zralamnd always play wh en attacking.  So Brown will deal with the issue.

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I agree

You don't get all you want regarding forward dominance with Mostert, Kwagga and even Kolisi though the latter is not too bad physically. 

I think Van Staden is under rated. Very strong. 

I would like to see a replacement for Mostert. One other problem is that Mostert plays 80 minutes. He has a big engine. What lock would you pick to start and play 80 minutes? 

As Mike notes Roos on for Kwagga should be a definite. 

Faf was not properly protected by the pack. Too few forwards at the rucks at times. 

In the backline I would put Edwil in for Arendse and think seriously of starting Sacha. He looks to me to be a calm type with BMT. and bags of talent. Pollard on the bench.

I see poor mozzietard still trying to undervalue the Bok win. Talks about Bulls versus Lens ter etc

 Hahahahaha. The dope keeps digging. He will reach China soon. 

My edit butt on has disappeared.