Let's hope these are correct.

Stats and facts

• The 100th Test will be played in the centenary year of the famous All Blacks- Springboks rivalry. The very first Test was played at the historic Carisbrook ground in Dunedin on 13 August 1921, with the All Blacks winning 13-5 that day. The last Test match was the Pool match at RWC2019 which the All Blacks won 23-13.

• In the 99 Tests to date, the All Blacks have won 59 times, South Africa 36, with four drawn matches. The All Blacks have scored 2,050 points in that time including 225 tries while the Springboks have scored 1,577 points, including 153 tries.

• The teams will once again be playing for The Freedom Cup, which was introduced in 2004. The All Blacks have held the Cup since 2010.

• The All Blacks have scored 16,997 points in Test matches and are set to be the first international team to top 17,000 points.

now i dont know which "facts" i read on the internet to believe!

Can't argue with that. Strongest 23 available. Bring it on.

@kiwimurph said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Can't argue with that. Strongest 23 available. Bring it on.

@bovidae said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Let's hope these are correct.

The 100th Test will be played in the centenary year of the famous All Blacks- Springboks rivalry. The very first Test was played at the historic Carisbrook ground in Dunedin on 13 August 1921, with the All Blacks winning 13-5 that day. The last Test match was the Pool match at RWC2019 which the All Blacks won 23-13.

Pub trivia question: where was the 100th test between the ABs and Spingboks played?

Clue: it wasn’t a World Cup year.

Answer: Townsville

I'm hoping that BB can just focus on playing well and directing the team without the burden of knowing he is also the goal kicker.

@bovidae Jordie has been in fine form with the boot aswell so hopefully they keep using him in that role.

Shame Paps and ALB ain't available.

I 'm really not sold on George Bridge, apart from that this XXIII looks right.

@chris said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Good team selection I think,Taking into account injuries etc.
The selection looks like it has been well thought out to combat the Boks usual game plan.

Looks the best team if ALB and Paps are out.

Happy to see Jacobson at 8 anyway.

Totally expected to see George Bridge regardless given the Bok style of play.

Works for me too ...

Bridge has played okay, especially in the last test where he was superb under the high ball. It's tough on Reece because he the far more threatening attacker, but with Will Jordan you kind of get the best of both worlds.

For me the big thing is that the selection are looking both coherent and consistent, which I haven't seen until recently. Certainly seems to help the players.

In Fozzie we trust ... well, maybe we trust a bit more.

Let's give it a bit more time I reckon ... :winking_face:

Good team. ABs by 20

NZ TAB has NZ with a 12.5 points start.

NZ $1.22
SA $4.00

@act-crusader said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Samisoni Taukei’aho (6)
Karl Tu’inukuafe (22)
Ofa Tuungafasi (40)

Gotta say, those are some big bodies to bring on with 30 to go.

I was also shocked to see Patty has 39 tests which might be an indication of our locking depth at the moment. He is a great player I just don't think he has ever quite made it at test level. I hope to be proven wrong this weekend.

I'm actually pretty impressed with how our forwards look, that tight 5 is very experienced and the loosies are good. If we had Whitelock and Cane back that would be some forward pack.

Could be bad news for the Boks. They're going through what must be a crisis of confidence considering their A gameplan isn't working. And it would be a pretty bad idea to try a different gameplan against the All Blacks (of all sides), especially attempting a game that could involve playing wider.

So they might be stuck somewhere in between. And an indecisive Springbok team is not exactly a dangerous Springbok team.

Their best hope is that they find an emotional gear they haven't found since the Lions. Which they're capable of but still, if their execution is lacking it could be a loong day at the office.

@frye said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Could be bad news for the Boks. They're going through what must be a crisis of confidence considering their A gameplan isn't working. And it would be a pretty bad idea to try a different gameplan against the All Blacks (of all sides), especially attempting a game that could involve playing wider.

So they might be stuck somewhere in between. And an indecisive Springbok team is not exactly a dangerous Springbok team.

Their best hope is that they find an emotional gear they haven't found since the Lions. Which they're capable of but still, if their execution is lacking it could be a loong day at the office.

I think they tried their arm a little Vs Wallabies in the second game. I think all this talk of 'lost their soul' etc means they will go even harder into their Vs lions gamelan

I'm a bit concerned with ALB and Papalii missing and the back 3 selection. Would have preferred Reece to Jordan. And didn't think Pat T had earned a place. Hopefully it motivates him because we have a high energy bench that could run boks off their feet.

I'm amazed to find that Scott Barrett has nearly 50 tests under his belt. And we still think of him as the journeyman.

NZRU can pat itself on the back. That course they sent Foster on during the off-season “Selecting 101” was money well spent. In particular the chapter of the textbook by SF Forum “why Jordie Barrett is not an international wing” is now regarded as a classic of the genre.

@canes4life said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Can't wait to see how that loose forward trio works together against a bigger Springbok pack.

What?