Below was my prediction on another thread for Saturday...
32-22 All Blacks
Got a feeling too much is gonna go wrong for the Boks in this first game.
The All Blacks have the advantage of a clean slate in their new coach. They won't be too worried about recent results.
The Boks are in a weird situation. Of the two recent games, one of them was clearly more dominant. But those games were away from home and the dominant game was a gamble that paid off.
Rassie might feel that the Eden Park strategy wasn't successful in NZ but that in SA it will be enough, and safer. He'll remember how had Kolbe not made that intercept in Wellington, the ABs could easily have won that game.
I have a feeling that Sacha hasn't been selected for his running game but rather because he has the biggest high ball of our three 10s.
The Boks have kicked the living shit out of everything this year, and I don't think Saturday will be different.
Perhaps I'm just voicing my fears but I think we'll kick all possession away and then fail to properly shut down the lighting fast AB ruck.
I am one to brag, and holy shit did i nail it!?
Rassie picked Sacha and told him to play like he wanted Pollard to play at Eden Park. It was very clear on Saturday that the objective was kick, kick and kick...and perhaps kick some more. It honestly does really tick me off that Sacha is taking heat after he has been forced into the narrow and braindead strategy. His hands are tied behind his back and people complain that he's not landing punches.
But what now?
Does Rassie double down and convince himself that Saturday's humiliation was down to errors rather than strategy or does he chuck caution to the wind as he did in Wellington?
I guess the question i have for the board is this: Are you as tired of this kicking shit as I am?
Ireland, France and the All Blacks play much more balanced rugby than the Boks do. You could argue that Rassie has won two WCs so it doesn't matter how attractive other nation's rugby is. But you have to wonder if Farell or Galthie had our player depth to choose from, what they could achieve?
Seriously, think for a second what would happen if Farrell had our scrum?
