ABABasquefan
Pro2,549 posts
20 Sept 2015, 02:46#1
this WC is getting more and more interesting.
The second day and we have a new Poool of Death..... now 4 teams can go to the next stages, Japan, Samoa, Scotland and even SA (with the lowest probabilities but still could do it)........ all the matches in this pool are going to be finals, live or death,......
DEDezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
20 Sept 2015, 02:53#2
I don't understand why everyone is surprised that the Japanese can play. It's been a long standing fact that they have been outstanding ball in hand, and with an ability to win some ball that was always going to be a fixture that the Boks should approach cautiously. They didn't. Now I am hearing the same arrogant bleatings as after the Argentina loss: "We should never lose to a side like that". If New Zealand can lose to Munster then we should all take every opponent seriously. There is no "should", there is no entitlement, you earn it. Arrogance, pride... very hard things to humble.
DEDezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
20 Sept 2015, 03:05#4
Samoa have their best opportunity to top a pool. Scotland will be a problem if we carry on in this failed model. Get back to what we do best and drop the chaff forever.
20 Sept 2015, 03:14#5
So will this fire up the boks or just utterly demoralise them ? Will panic ensue ?
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
20 Sept 2015, 03:18#6
The Boks will win the pool.
DEDenny
Captain12,893 posts
20 Sept 2015, 03:37#7
Good question Wardad.....I think we'll have an answer in their next game. I'm putting my faith in a wakeup call that will spark the Boks.

sharkbok
Captain23,281 posts

sharkbokCaptain23,281 posts
20 Sept 2015, 03:48#9
Pool B-
JAPAN SOUTH AFRICA SAMOA SCOTLAND USA

sharkbok
Captain23,281 posts

sharkbokCaptain23,281 posts
20 Sept 2015, 03:53#10
If Japan are to win all their games, the best the Springboks could do is 2nd in the group.
I would expect Samoa to beat Japan, but Japan are certainly a decent team based on their performance today. I dont remember them ever having backline players that are big and skilled.
The only team in the group that could realistically beat the Boks is Samoa- assuming it is another performance like the one dished up today.
Surely not Scotland. How embarrassing would that be.
I dont think the US have the team to beat the Boks- but then I could have said the same thing about Japan.
If the boks are to make a massive improvement,maybe finishing 2nd in the group is a better route
DEDezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
20 Sept 2015, 04:09#11
Scotland can shut teams out of games quite easily. The problem for them is putting up points sufficiently enough to allow their defence to strangle you. We lost in 2010 to Scotland because Peter thought we could run them off their feet. It all boils down to lack of respect and abandoning the fundamentals. Like running frantically and not protecting the ball yesterday, it cost us dear. In 2007, against Fiji, the Boks had the same problems early on but reset the situation and imposed their strengths, taking Fiji away from their comfort zones. Never allow your opponent to play the way they want.
Against Japan it was made too easy. The Boks can win this group, but if they persist with the likes of Lambie, du Toit, Mvovo, Pienaar et al it just won't happen. My biggest fear is that Meyer will play Damian ahead of Jean against Samoa as a knee jerk reaction. It should have been the other way around, but that damn Lambie, if Meyer doesn't see sense now then he never will. I thought he was smarter than our dumb pseudo supporters. Maybe I was wrong.
DEDezertFox
Pro2,288 posts
20 Sept 2015, 04:12#12
Sharkbok, the USA drag teams into a slugfest because their pack is their only point of competitive advantage over bigger teams. They fall into the same category as Georgia: big pack, no backs. They took Japan's backs out of the game. Essentially, everyth ing we didn't do. If we tried to play power rugby and lost I would be concerned, but we just played arrogant dumb rugby. Nothing more to it than that.
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
20 Sept 2015, 05:13#13
I watched the Eagles play Oz two weeks ago at Soldiers Field. They have a very big inside centre...some decent speed ...and quite good skills. They kept things close for the first half.
The main thing is the Boks have to arrive at all these remaining games with passion...today they were passive.