Spingbok Post Mortem

The Bok team is not playing as a cohesive unit, probably down to having 2 B-teams and facing such a tough Irish team. 

The number one problem was the breakdown, where the Boks were missing Marx and Vermuelen. The other players did not step up enough, even with 2 open sides on the pitch. 

Rassnaber has made mistakes with selections - all raised as concerns before the match:

a. No Pole Kicker (Although Liboks form for kicking poles is bad)

b. No Specialist Hooker (Deon Fourie is not a hooker. I would rather use Escom at 2) .
Dweeba is not a very good thrower either)

c. Settled Squad vs Musical Chairs (Bok team looks too individualistic)

d. Pushing too early in the scrums. (3 penalties conceded in the 2nd half)

e. No Willie Leroux on the bench to create space for tries, and plan-B.

The Boks played well. What an amazing Test Match. You would have won if you scored those penalties but I did not want you to. See you guys in the Finals.

Weren't good enough  to score enough  points in the first 20 when Ireland were dog shit, goal kicking was abysmal. 

Should have won by 10

Hi JW What a Test Match. Wow. Yes it went according to plan. Jacques and Erasmus agreed - at the last ruck even though the ball was there in front of the ref's big eyes we whispered in his ear piece to blow the whistle for Game Over. 

It's as simple as that Hakwa. Job well done!

But seriously, two really good teams battling it out and it sounds like no serious injuries or cards wreaking the game.

We didn't turn up...

We didn't turn up...

Neither did we

You could see the difference in the guys coming out….our chaps smiling and gesticulating. The Irish deadly serious. 

Moz  Part of me did want you to wipe those Irish Smirks and grins but then I again looked at the big picture

Marx is below average at the breakdown, and Thor has about one good carry per game. Both players would have made no difference. Both are either slow to rucks, and/or early cleared off of it.

The team needs an entire rebuild and real coaching. Clown Pants and Igor got lucky once, and have proven it was just a flash in the pan. This is the worst ever prepared Bok side at a WC. The Irish made us look good for about 20 IQ points when they moved the ball. 

Ah the big picture Hakwa …Nienaber alluded to the useful learning after we lost this anticipated contest. Sort of what the NZ coach said after Twickenham.

That ball was definitely coming out of the last ruck of the game. The ref may have not seen it or perhaps it took too long, although I don't know if there is a time limit for rucks.

JW the ref made some mistakes….both ways. The fact is we had several maul cracks at Ireland in the last 10 minutes. I’m so over the ref excuses.

JW the ref made some mistakes….both ways. The fact is we had several maul cracks at Ireland in the last 10 minutes. I’m so over the ref excuses.

Sure the ref is not to blame for the Bok loss, they had 80 minutes to win the game. I was just wondering if others thought happened in that last ruck.

The ball was there infront of his Big Eyes. He was staring at it as he blew time. Irritating. I did not like the fact he spent more in small chat with the Irish than the Boks. 

I will sumn up the situation in 4 words - "missed kicks at goal"

Pemnnalty kicks at goasl - 5 missed 1 made

Try sonversion                 -   1 missed - 0 made.     

Ou mozzz so over ref being criticused. If the Boks lose the ref mustn't be criticised. Bad ref decisions can't you a test.  The other worn out shibboleth is that the bad decisions always even out even if they don't.

Ou mozzz will grasp at any straw like a downing man when it comes to discrediting Rassie. Hahahahaha.

Given that really there was a reasonable case for not playing Pollard ( and I didn't see anybody before the match saying Pollard should play?) It was not  Rassie fault we lost the match via missed penalties and a failed conversion.

The coaching staff insisted they're not worried about goal kicking in the weeks leading up to this game. It seems they're not worried about a lot of things they should be worried about. Flashing lights won't send the ball between the uprights.

Flashing lights won't make the BS going through the posts. Wow Pakster strikes gold. 

So without Pollard who would you have picked. 

I note that the misses were very close. 

The game was lost due to the fact that the Springboks did not have reliable post kicker in the squad.

Libbok is piss poor at the very best and Faf was really no better.

Libbok is out of his league and it shows big time.

At least 14 points missed.

No top team can afford to miss so many kicks espically against a team rated #1 in the world.

Hats off to the Irish.