I'm a bit surprised...
I'm a bit surprised...
Grant Williams on the wing could be interesting but it highlights the imbalance in the squad with Rassie selecting 4 scrumhalves.
Looks like De Allende and Kriel remain the first choice centre pairing.
I'll forgive Rassie if he wins us the RWC but if he doesn't, he has a lot to answer for.
hopefully only a bit of poker.
Let's hope that he is using these two games to get AE some know time together before Ireland.
Probably not, but let's hope.
DA was close to being MOM against Scotland so he will be going nowhere
Agreed Rooi it’s really stupid how this squad was made up with a scrumhalf on the wing and the other on the bench as a flyhalf
What is the logic of all this?
I would have preferred to see Williams at 9 and Reinach on the wing as Williams is the future and the more time he has at 9 for the Boks the more confident and settled he gets
Stupid call by Rassie
Yes, it appears that Delande and Kriel will be the first-choice Boks for the remainder of the tournament. That is a sad fact that we have to come to terms with.
I don't understand. If the Boks are going to play small wingers that score tries, the whole idea should be to get the ball wide with space.
Willie Leroux's starting could mean he is now also a bench player.
Grant Williams is listed on the Sharks website as a scrumhalf/wing.
He obviously has the speed to play wing, but perhaps not the experience at test level on say defense in a tight test match.
Although it will be great to watch him on the wing when the Boks get good attacking movements going.
He almost scored against Scotland after side-stepping half their team, only to be halted by a fantastic ankle tap.
Williams is the fastest player in the squad
Moodie has to start at 13 against Ireland
Yes, apparently he is the fastest runner, and he might even have a better step than Kolbe and Aredense who have bulked up a bit for tackling.
That almost to be try against Scotland where he stepped half the team would match any wing in world rugby - at least on attack.
Willemse is going to be the pole kicker, but I suppose it does not matter as the Boks are going to get lots of tries in this match.
For team spirit, it looks like this match is being used to ensure everyone in the squad gets some game time at the World Cup. That way no one feels like a spare wheel and contributes to the positivity.
Esterhozen has to start at 12 against Ireland
Nope DA will start at 12 against Ireland and rightly so after his good game against Scotland
Williams has never had a better step than Kolbe or Arendse and is far less bulked up than Kolbe
Man it's amazing how the selection of one player can be so demotivating.
Agreed Plum I fucking hate it when I see Mostert’s name on the team sheet
But not as bad as when I see Orie’s
Hope I'm wrong but the only decent game this w/end appears to be the Aussies vs Fiji
"Agreed Plum I fucking hate it when I see Mostert’s name on the team sheet"
Lol
Saffex, I think everybody agrees that RG and Eben are our best starting combo.
DDA on the plane back home is the best position in rugby for him.
I seriously hope Rassie is giving AE and Moodie these two games because he wants them to work on some things before the Ireland game.
Nah I think Rassie will stick with Laurel and Hardy in the midfield…he might surprise us with AE & CM but I am not getting my hopes up….
Not surprised at all by the selections. Any WC squad has fringe players who play against weak opposiiton. Some f the players could end up in the team hat would play against Ireland - but Esterhuizen will not be one of those. Neither should Mostert be. He was too weak against Scotland to contribute to Tight 5 play.
I would rather see Etzebeth and Snyman starting with Klein on the bench than see Mostert anywhere against stronger teams. Mostert is a libaility in all respects of Tight 5 play.
Damian MOM against Scotland? In a game where the midfield was exceedingly poor? Interesting choice. Damian has never, ever produced a MOM performance at any level of the game.
DA was excellent against Scotland - most metres made post contact and more defenders beaten than any other Bok - all 6 of them
DA was good and will thankfully be our starting 12 all the way through the WC
15,191 posts
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Grant Williams, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi (c), 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20, Jasper Wiese, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Jesse Kriel