Predictions: England Vs Boks

Faf and Willie are a big loss. Two players we can't really replace. We'll lose a lot of pressure on defence. How will Kolisi cope playing a tighter game? When it gets tough he vanishes. If we can dominate up front, then we'll likely see more of him. We have alot of power amongst the forwards, Duane tips the scales significantly in our favour. I'd expect the conditions to benefit Lood.

I'd have favoured Van Zyl as a safe option until Faf returns. Which Kriel will show up? He was phenomenal ball in hand to close the RC, he wasn't particularly impressive prior to it. Can he defend? As a chaser and first up defender, he was porous throughout the season. Damian hasn't offered anything of note on attack or defence. Rassie has tried to bring him into the game, but it just isn't there. 

I feel the backs will be our weakness going into this test. Particularly on defence. However, England have suffered many injuries and the surprise retirement of one of their props. I think we have the edge. 

England (17) vs Boks (33)

England to win.

 ...Courtney Lawes is the latest to add to a long list of injuries for England...

SA must at least have half a chance... especially with Rhodes in the team 

...Unavailable also

Mako Vunipola (calf), Ellis Genge (knee), Beno Obano (knee), Matt Mullan (knee), Joe Launchbury (knee), Jonny Hill (hand), Nick Isiekwe (ankle), Chris Robshaw (knee), Sam Simmonds (knee), Jack Willis (knee), Billy Vunipola (arm), Dan Robson (ankle), Jonathan Joseph (ankle), Anthony Watson (Achilles), Marland Yarde (knee).

Doubts

Ben Te’o (thigh + calf), Jonny May (shoulder), Joe Cokanasiga (concussion).

Suspended

Nathan Hughes (unknown)

...Sharkbok i had no idea you were in the Springbok squad...what position do you play...

I will not make any decision until I have seen the teams.   If May is not playing they have an immediate problem.   I think England will play Ford at flyhalf and will be forced to play a different center combination,

The weakness at scrumhalf is obvious - but in the CC where both scrummies (Van Zyl and Schreuder)  played - Schreuder was the better player.

And to my mind Willemse will be better at full back than Brown.   In space and with Dyantyi and Nkosi lining up with him will cause major defensive out wide for the English.   The English up-and-unders will have to be deadly accurate and follow-up possible - otherwise they will have  a heap of problems. 

Hope Vermeulen is match-fit, but he will be better in NH conditions and it is likely that he would play well enough in the first test on tour.   

What happened to Coke-and-a-sanger ?

Boks 21 Poms 15

Willemse better than Brown at fullback? That's very optimistic. 

AO

Brown is not in the England squad and will not play.   I did not know when I wrote the above.   Brown was dismal under high balls  which were followed up - both on test level and club level.   But since you and Mozart do not see matches and sometimes only highlight packages - you obviously did not see that problem on Brown at all. 

Rhodes is not in the squad either,

It's hard to be good under the high balls when you aren't under them. 

You're right Blue, this could go England's way. The Jones factor is no trivial thing either. Despite losing the series, England really outplayed us for most of the three tests. No Willie and No Faf will make our backline a significantly lesser threat. I base my prediction purely on our forwards. They've lost a few of their best to injury. In the end, I think we have too much power to be bullied around, which will hopefully get us through. We will likely feature some defensive sieves though. These can unravel a good performance and England are capable of exploiting it. Hopefully all goes according to plan and we win. 

Already lining up excuses...

SA players are left available by their clubs. Some chose to decline the call in fear of losing their position in the club team. They are expendable.

Blubok you sick sod.

Find a gun and do away with your you poor sod.

Rugby Linda

I have not seen one post of yours in which you really are discussing anything rugby relate issues and you sound more and more like The Traditionalistm whose specialize in writing nonsense on site.

Please help us all by discussing teams, players, etc and not members or political issues,  

WTH??? Sorry I can't edit my posts to repair the format.

And, no Rooinek, the irony isn't lost on me.

If only Google Translate was more accommodating, we'd unravel this Neandertaal. At best, maybe Caesar Milan can bring it to a calm submissive state.

@Rugby Linda 

Halloween is over, back in your cave till next year.

Thank you for your participation. 

I'm fearing the worse but that's not unusual ....... Anyway closer to kickoff, fortified with a dop or three I'll probably have a change of heart. Its definitely a 50/50 game .

Calm thyself BB2. The Boks have the advantage. It would be, in my mind, an upset if England won. If we lose, I'll have to don the farmer overalls and get the pitchfork out.

Boks by 4, nudge it at the end.

Hope so X-Man, I'll go with that too. Boks by 4.

My forecast is a hesitant win by 12 points by the Springboks.   I said hesitant - because injuries may result in replacing backline players and I have no faith I the 22 and 23 players.  

Worry yourself about 12, 13 and 15. Two centres who have lost entire games by themselves; O ne yet to have a single satisfactory test. 

AO and 22 and 23 have not lost test after test whenever they p lay together?   I hope 10, 12 and 13 stay on the field and we do not have to let the other two in.  

I don't get Vermeulen starting at 7 instead of his usual 8, Rassie must have a reason and I hope it's a damn good one and then why start lightweight Whiteley when there's the option of bringing him on later when the game slows down and when his speed would be more effective. 

Other than that there is a lot more beef in the team than what we've experienced in previous tests this year. If Marx, Vermeulen and Etzebeth bring their A game along then England are going to struggle at the breakdown and around the ruck where I believe the game is going to be won or lost. Our pattern of play won't or should not differ from the Ellis Park test against NZ and if the Boks were to be marginally more clinical than that test then they'll romp home. After a break they'll need a game or two to get back into the groove, so I don't expect they will be, the game itself will be an arm wrestle between the forwards and the kicking boot of Pollard.

Bokke by 6 +

BOKS by 5

Boks by ten or more!