Some points about France/England

I just finished this game on record without knowing the score. Great fun and knife edge stuff, I resisted the temptation to look at the result but I was tempted.

Firstly the game probably rescues two coaches who were on the ropes and probably should be gone,

Marcus Smith got England back in the game, as did Jalibert whose last superb break gave them field position and made up for his intercepted pass, another turning point in the game. Why the coaches have ignored these two talented players for the likes of Ntmack, Fin Smith and Ford is a mystery.

Biarrey was sensational but he was the player who blew France’s winning chance against the Boks last fall….I’d still take Kolbe.

Ramos ‘has never made such an important kick’….true…..but he has missed a more important one, to win the WC Quarters against the Boks.

The Six Nations is the ‘world’s greatest rugby tournament’. I thought that was the World Cup. How can you call it the greatest when Rugby’s dominant nations NZ and SA are not playing in it? The defense was not Bok standard. And England got back in the game near the end via a scrum penalty. None of these sides look like they have learned the lesson, if you can’t scrum you won’t beat the Boks.

Still finally a really exciting match and with better coaching, better tightheads, better defense and more consistency these teams could have a shot at the WC.

Biarrey was sensational but he was the player who blew France’s winning chance against the Boks last fall….I’d still take Kolbe.

The difference is how France use Le Beep. They purposely play towards him and feed him. Kolbe is lucky if he gets the ball twice in a Bok test. Hence my comment on the match thread that France know they have a weapon and they use it while the Boks seem inclined to do everything except use our weapon. Given the Boks dominance over the past 6 years Kolbe should be up with the top try scorers and strike rates, yet even Darcy Graham has a considerably higher strike rate.

as did Jalibert whose last superb break gave them field position and made up for his intercepted pass, another turning point in the game

And then Bollock got turnover ball and proceeded to hand it back to France. Another major turning point after the Jellybear break, which was just about undone by that turnover until Bollock immediately undid the undoing.

Two very good points Pakie, Pillock blew the game by not simply taking the tackle and securing possession, he would join Roos in Erasmus never, never land if he was a Bok.

It was also interesting how much more effective England was ball in hand vs box kicking…in part because the French version of the rush defense was a shambles. Still the forwards for both teams were making much more sophisticated passes than we typically do.

Yes, it’s amazing how throwing the ball around is a better tactic than kicking the leather off the ball…who knew ?

Man, England looked liked Ireland at times with the way they created space. I don't get this safety first box kicking channel 1 bashing bullshit rugby. All this nonsense about how there's no space in the modern game. You play smart and do more than just run into the nearest dude or drift across the field in a straight line, then there's space everywhere.

Oh I despise the box kicking. It drives me mad !

At the end, the Bok defence and scrum is what makes us dominate these sides. We don't get into these high scoring slug fests. The amount of points scored in both games yesterday, Rassie would murder someone if we got 40 points put on us.

These European sides play well when the passes land but when it gets dirty and down to power and guts they seem to come apart. The problem for them is that chaos is easier to create than what precision is.

However good Ireland looked yesterday, we had our foot on their throat for the entire second half when we last played them. They handle our defence slightly better than France do but we scrummed them into dust. France on the other hand man up to our scrum a little better can't cope with how we deprive them of space.

Saying that, at least Ireland never gave up against us in 2025 like the ABs and France did.

Age of the incumbent team is the issue. We need to make some hard decisions if form suggests some of our greats will be too diminished 18 months from now. But it has to be done early so the team can settle.

Yep, the Boks bring a different physicality. It will be interesting now that we've seen the Europeans go at it with one another how different their game looks when they take on the Boks again.

Whatever the case, I loved these free flowing games in the 6N, so good as a spectacle. Our domestic rugby is so hard to watch, dull and error-ridden and unimaginative, only the Lions consistently playing an expansive offload-based game.

I think that's the idea with all these alignment camps and musical chairs, Moz.

My feeling is that we can replace the players, and we can replace them early, but I dunno if we can replace the personalities. Eben, Kolisi, PSDT and Pollard have been aura farming for us for so long that when that axis departs it's going to leave a void. It has to. Each one of those guys adds a maximum amount of aura in what they do. Nobody has better warrior credentials than Eben, better captaincy credentials than Siya, better iceman credentials than Pollard or better assassin credentials than PSDT. Even if we don't necessarily buy into it all, the opposition do, and that's what matters.

Assuming we replace the players for better players, my feeling is we actually can't replace the respect and fear. We do have guys that can build that aura over time but not by the WC.

A little abstract, sure, but I think you get my drift.

Interesting. Well some of these players can be retained for that Aura….as long as it’s not Dud Allende. The two obvious choices are Eben and Dud Toit. Snyman is still young enough and he provides much of what we need in intimidation. I worry more about the technical positions like prop….if Ox is the player we have seen recently, he’s lost a lot and I see no dominant loosehead to replace him.

Snyman?...typo?...never mind...how could RG slip my mind? Duh!

"Assuming we replace the players for better players, my feeling is we actually can't replace the respect and fear. We do have guys that can build that aura over time but not by the WC."

We thought that about Thor and then Wiese stepped up to the plate... we'll be good... there's enough talent and Rassie seems to be good at getting the individuals to pull together in the same direction as a team.

Well done France but a tight finish.

Once more poor calls by officials that spoiled the game.

Better luck next year Pommies.

Mozart

Takin g into ccount the fact that you saidx the Sprin gboks did not deserve their victories in the 2023 RWC - d you think the same wisdom of ours applies o he French winning on Satiay.

Yep Ramos did a Pollard on Saturday and the role of Freddie Steward who blew the QF with his blunder was played by Pillock. The French were very lucky to win and owe Ramos a huge thanks for making that pressure kick.

But even though they were very lucky that pales in comparison to our 3 one point wins…one against a team playing with a dubious red card.

...and yet our nerve held and we made it ...an achievement on it's own...we were put under extreme pressure 3 time in a row and did not cave under that pressure once ...we came back from behind vs France and England...mental strength I haven't seen from an South African team ever before...fantastic!

"Interesting. Well some of these players can be retained for that Aura….as long as it’s not Dud Allende."

If ever you want to give yourself a cringe induced headache...

https://youtu.be/uAQvdDRwX18?si=NedZTZWDoMOluv-Q

I honestly wonder if we've seen the last of him

Fair enough Draad, it took maturity, resolve and Pollard. But after listening to those Pom commentators with their greatest tournament stuff I’m hoping we bury France in November.

I’m guessing Dud Allende will play for the Boks this year…the man compounds his selection by never bringing injured. Started the link, but my stamina wasn’t up to it. Sounded like the only thing he didn’t cover is the future of AI….actually more articulate than I expected. He seems like a really nice bloke, but so one dimensional.

"If ever you want to give yourself a cringe induced headache...

https://youtu.be/uAQvdDRwX18?si=NedZTZWDoMOluv-Q

I honestly wonder if we've seen the last of him"

Show a bit of respect for his achievements at least...and I can guarantee you we haven't seen the back of him yet...great player.

Draad I can respect the medals he's won. But he's 1 out of 23 guys in a match day squad.

I've never liked his robotic approach and how he's basically just a flanker in midfield. I maintain that we have any number of actual flankers and 8s that could do what he does.

The key example being crucial try AE made in Wellington. It displayed everything the DDA lacks.

In my opinion one of the better interviews with DDA. A human after all...

The guy has endured a hell of a lot of negative energy from this forum...I have been part of it...but I'm not doing it anymore.

Like he says not all the players can be flashy and be that much in the "limelight"...he does do the basics well.

Also a very unselfish player in not getting to play flashy rugby, but doing the hard-core donkey work for the benefit of the team.

A tough as nails player, like Mostert or PSDT...just keeps on showing up and getting the job done. And yes we have not seen the last of him. When he plays, usually the Boks will win.

AE is made of the same cloth and a great player too...AE also deserves more starts like DDA...no wonder Rassie likes the two of them so much. So not cringe worthy at all.

We will se a lot more of D e Allende since i is his alsts eason wth h is Japan eam - sinc his is reportedy his alt season in apan and will etu tp play fo he Stormers after the, present series/

As to hsi Japan contract the following:-

Key details regarding his time in Japan:

1. Team: Saitama Wild Knights (formerly known as Panasonic Wild Knights).
2. Position: Centre.
3. Joined: Returned to the club in 2022 after previously playing for them in 2020.
4. Context: He is a key player for the team, which is coached by Robbie Deans.

Note: The Saitama Wild Knights are a leading team in Japan's premier competition, formerly known as the Top League

Team Leadership Overview

1. Captain:
2. Atsushi Sakate
3. .
4. Key Leaders:
5. Dylan Riley
6. serves as a senior leader and has been named vice-captain for the Japanese national team during recent tests.
7. Damian de Allende, a dual Rugby World Cup winner with South Africa, is a primary leader on the field for the club.
8. Director of Rugby: Robbie Deans, the former Wallabies and Crusaders head coach.

DDA is a nice guy, I just don't want to see him in a Bok jersey again. Esterhuizen is younger and also his superior in every aspect of play, apart from maybe the breakdown roaming DDA does. But Esterhuizen does that well too, and it won't be my primary consideration when choosing a 12. Are we really going to challenge for the world cup with a 12 that will be just about 36 by then?

Can we remember just once that Dud Allende ran a line like Menoncello did against England recently. Surely an inside center who is within a few games of 100 tests has one moment like that to show for all those opportunities.

"Are we really going to challenge for the world cup with a 12 that will be just about 36 by then?"

Maybe not starting, but he'll be in the mix...you can bet your house on it.

I remember him doing that when he was 21-22 and not a single time since.

How often do I remember him keeping up with play like AE did in that Wellington test...not once.

How often do I recall him making a line breaking pass...maybe twice at a push.

How often do I recall him stifling play with lethargic running...too many to count.

I'll happily concede that these guys analyse games more deeply than I can and perhaps there is something about DDA that I'm not realising. All I know is what I see and what I see is a slow ball hogger that could be replaced by a forward.

And nobody will ever convince me that DDA is even half the rugby player AE is. I've seen enough of both to be pretty certain about that.

You're welcome to try and convince me though

No use in trying...he is flawed, but he is a team man, loyal and almost indestuctable... humble too...Roos can take a leaf...

Well, then don't try to convince me about DDA.

Rather, try to tell me what it is about 12 play that I'm missing.

I'll you what I see as important characteristics and you tell me what I'm missing;

Defence

Defensive organisation

Distribution

Post contact meters

Handling

Offloading - sub of distribution but worthy mentioning on its own

Line running & Angles of attack

Support lines

Decision making

Game awareness

Creating space

Breaking tackles

When I break it down like that, I can't see an area where DDA excels.

When I look at players like Aki a few years back, Limoncello recently, Mcloskey, AE...I can tell you exactly what things on the list above they excel at. I can't do the same for DDA. I just can't.

So, really, I need help here.

You forgot tractoring.... tractoring should by top of the list.