Nationality of the ref?
Nationality of the ref?
I think the form of Willemse on the day might be the difference. If he plays well, Boks by 10.
mmm, he hasn't played at 10 all season, now he is the bok 10. The best 10 in the country is on the bench
Should be close...les than 3 and could go either way.
The 10-12 access will be under the microscope.
I wonder if Delande will get the whole game at 12, or if Willemse will shift to the inside centre - once/ if Libbok gets on.
Or if Delande will get a chance to combine with Libbock, and Willemse is substituted.
With the rise of Esterhuizen, suddenly Willemse may not be considered at 12.
He might just be the utility joker card back on the bench
Other positions that Rassie will be looking at:
Lock:
Snyman could overtake Lomp, and Mostert.
Openside flank
Kolisi is certain, assuming he is a match fit. If not, then it is between Kwagga and Marco Van Staden for the starting 6th spot. (Skill vs power). Both get more turnovers than Kolisi.
Blindside flank:
Steph looks like he is getting back into form.
Mostert is solid at 7, even though most of his experience is at lock- but an inform Steph must be selected.
Eightman:
Jasper Wiese is the incumbent, but. Vermuelen has confirmed that he still has it at test level. Rassie may favour Vermeulen who is a more allround type of player that can adapt to the day- even though he is past his prime.
Scrumhalf:
Almost certain Faff is the starter, but with the recent form of Grant Williams maybe not.
Williams needs to make the bench position his own, so he can compete with Faff.
Wing:
With the form of Arendse, it seems a starting spot needs to be found for him.
I think Arendse can play on both wings. So that could mean Mapimpi is the most under threat.
Arednse can also fullback, which would make him a better match-day squad member.
I would prefer Arednse as fullback, than Damien Willemse.
My Superbru prediction is Springboks to win by 1 point.
Go Bokke!
Sharkbok, good summary. I really don't know what to make of the team selected for tomorrow or whether our best team played last week.
The other that really frustrates is that we know Willemse is super talent and he never gives. That try he saved last year running down Caleb Clark was pure magic. That guy just works so hard all over the field.
But when it comes to general play, he almost reverts back to type. Very instinctive player. He still holds onto the ball too long and want to step his way around. He did will for the Stormers as an 18 year old and I thought we found our next 10. But he couldn't get his backline going.
He needed at least 3 or 4 seasons at 10.
But now he has been shifted between 10, 12 and 13.
I can see why they select him at 10. He is more physical and play on the line. He has the skills to kick and pass, but need to learn and improve his game management.
Figure out how to harness that explosive power of his.
I think that is where Libbok excelled. He was very similar , wanted to run everything. Now you can see him set up plays. Manage his forwards and move the play around the park before he strikes.
But I wonder if the boks are going kick the leather off tomorrow hence why they picked Willemse
Imperative from an ABs fan’s perspective that we win tonight. Can’t have the Boks getting a psychological advantage over us heading into France in September by beating us at home. Boks haven’t won in Auckland for 86 years but then again, this isn’t Eden Park! ABs 23-20 in a tight one!
Weather Auckland
Often fine, but isolated light showers. Fresh westerlies, easing this evening.
Lekker for rugby
Hasbeeno, I see you are lining up your number 1 excuse again if the Boks lose….
NZ bookies .................. ABs $1.37 Boks $3.00
In the last two seasons since the WC the aggregate scores were 48 to 48 in 2021 both matches in Australia and 49 to 45 to the ABs in 2022, both matches in South Africa.
We haven’t played NZ in NZ since the WC. But to me approximate parity gives NZ a 5 point edge at home. I asked Chat GTP to confirm…. it declined to predict.
So that leaves me with the ABs by 5. But I’d be delighted to be wrong.
Duplicate
Close game. But I think NZ pull away final ten. 25-17.
20-15 ABs
16-22...Eben to score a running try.
ABs by 3. Score on the 20s.
Not looking good for the Boks Beeno. Is it the refs fault yet? Lol
Not looking good for the Boks Beeno. Is it the refs fault yet? Lol
It's quite a mystery that Willemse is seen as a talent. I have yet to see it. I certainly didn't see it this morning. As per Esterhuizen, it's no sudden rise. He has been the best 12 by some distance for many years now. We keep suffering the idiocy perpetuated by sloppy pundits and extremely ignorant journalism. If only the obvious were noticed, this team would look quite different. It used to be that the team had to carry one or two mythical entities, but now the team is loaded with them.
"Not looking good for the Boks Beeno. Is it the refs fault yet? Lol"
Lol JW...yes the ref made a few errors, but the Boks looked good enough to me...Boks did way better than the score card...enjoy the confidence...
The Boks did some good things, but it was hardly inspiring stuff. It was another C- quality test. As per Boks and reffing? The Boks are the least penalized team in the top tier over the last eight years. Under Erasputin the ref is quite markedly in the Bok's corner, turning losses into wins in many tests. Beanbag is singing a tune from 2010 and some years earlier.
Congrats.JW. ............... Jordan's on his way to superstar status.
Well done all blacks, did the job up front. Different game with Richie at 10. Those kicks punished us, they were all contested and turned the boks around. The forwards simply blew the boks pack away.
Just as I predicted. Thought the pack was to weak. Mostert, Bongi, Wiese, hardly had any impacts. Kwagga only came into the game in last 10. Should be on the bench.
Will Jordan is sublime and knew he would cut the boks to shreds.
Jordie Barret monster was the difference. Really great deep drops from the goal line.
The All Blacks young front row will be a handful. Then another monster prop on the bench.
Rassie have given the blue print. We just don't have those units in SA.
Wonder who will hang around or if Rassie will stick with these guys.
That AB pack is Formidable but definitely beatable….we also need to start afresh there …we have Thomas, Gerhard Steenkamp and Wilco needs to be there….a lot of reformation needs to get done….but Rassie is a stubborn Mule.
The Boks could field a power pack, but we haven't fielded one since Meyer. The last truly fearsome Bok pack was in 2013. They simply bludgeoned their opponents, and were lethal on attack.
Name them lemur, who do you have in mind?
Eben, RG, Dan d/P, Wiese, Kwagga. They must be starters. I'd have van Rensburg on the bench with Mostert. As per the front row? I don't know the new names very well, but we need a shake-up. They currently look stale and unfit. We need changes here pronto.
Well I got the Boks total points right….
That young forward pack under Jason Ryan will get better think the strategy of having the Boks strongest pack on the bench was fucked up
One thing the ABs seem to want to do, that we appear not to, is to focus on disrupting high balls.
We seem to always go for the catch while they're happy to slap it backwards out of the air.
A hand looking to slap/tap the high ball is always higher than hands looking to catch.
Disrupting seems the easier thing to do.
...but then, the ABs chase effectively enough that somebody is likely to gather the scraps.
Even when it's a straight contest to catch, we are losing these battles. Erasputin has miraculously made us even more one dimensional.
Even when it's a straight contest to catch, we are losing these battles. Erasputin has miraculously made us even more one dimensional.
2,905 posts
Right now I just want to go to bed, wake up and watch the game. Haven't been this excited about a game in ages. Any takers?
Who do you think will win.
NZ at home, probably their best team, decent pack that can match the boks, better flyhallf, can kick the goals, and really pacy outside backs and not to mention Rieko who is like a 3rd winger for them.
Jordie Barret is settling in nicely at 12.
Will Dud starve the outside backs, who will kick, Willemse haven't played all season at 10. Will the boks from Japan that didn't feature last week feel a bit rusty.
Why on earth is Marx on the bench, we have kittshoff, Marx and Malherbe who is our best front row and should stay on the field as long as possible.
We have 2 locks on the bench with Oupa Duane.
No real options at 10. When will Libbok come on and how will he cope under pressure.
My heart want the boks, but my mind is saying All Blacks.