@MiketheSnow said in Springboks vs Wales:
Result is a foregone conclusion
Would love to see both sides running it with abandon
75-40 to the Boks
The odds do seem stacked against you guys Mike.
But for some reason, Wales is always problematic for the Boks so while I am optimistic, I am not expecting a blow-out.
And agreed - would be great if both teams played fearlessly. Would make for a fun watch.
It kills me that Esterhuizen would walk into any other team in the world and only gets to carry the water for SA. They made him watch the England warm up last week. Being a Quins fan, having André the giant outside Smith was Quins greatest strength
@Dodge said in Springboks vs Wales:
It kills me that Esterhuizen would walk into any other team in the world and only gets to carry the water for SA. They made him watch the England warm up last week. Being a Quins fan, having André the giant outside Smith was Quins greatest strength
Tough when the guy ahead of you is de Allende!
But yes - I am a big Esterhuizen fan.
I never stress when I see him on the team sheet. The guy will deliver.
@Billy-Webb said in Springboks vs Wales:
@Dodge said in Springboks vs Wales:
It kills me that Esterhuizen would walk into any other team in the world and only gets to carry the water for SA. They made him watch the England warm up last week. Being a Quins fan, having André the giant outside Smith was Quins greatest strength
Tough when the guy ahead of you is de Allende!
But yes - I am a big Esterhuizen fan.
I never stress when I see him on the team sheet. The guy will deliver.
De Allende and Esterhuizen > Jordie Barrett David Havili
@Billy-Webb Kleyn & Mostert will also play.
Heard through the grapevines
Willie le Roux, Moodie, Am, AE, Mapimpi, Hendricks, Hendricks, Cameron Hanekom, Elrich Louw, Escom, Kleyn, Mostert , Thomas Tank, Grobbies, Steenkamp
Bench
Ox, Marx, Wilco, Etsebeth, Kolisi, PSdT, Williams, Libbok
@OomPB said in Springboks vs Wales:
Heard through the grapevines
Willie le Roux, Moodie, Am, AE, Mapimpi, Hendricks, Hendricks, Cameron Hanekom, Elrich Louw, Escom, Kleyn, Mostert , Thomas Tank, Grobbies, SteenkampBench
Ox, Marx, Wilco, Etsebeth, Kolisi, PSdT, Williams, Libbok
I'd be pretty happy with that team Oom.
A little surprised about the inclusion of Ox - I assume the stitches will hold....
@OomPB said in Springboks vs Wales:
Much stronger team then mine. The bench is unbelievable.
My thoughts, excellent for steadying the ship if required. But imagine of there is no need for steadying things and you have a good lead and the the Welsh guys see that lot coming on... Sheesh!
Left two tickets for Wales vs South Africa on the front seat of my car last night, some bastard only smashed the window and left another two…
52 players have played for the boks this season. Rassie is definitely not resting on his laurels
The planned IPL rugby competition starting in 2026 , we will lose 30 of the top Springbok players. He need to plan ahead.
@Dodge said in Wales v Springboks:
Left two tickets for Wales vs South Africa on the front seat of my car last night, some bastard only smashed the window and left another two…
Well you can count out the English forwards, they wouldn't be able to muster that sort of impact.
Costelow at 10. I have visions of @MiketheSnow sitting in a darkened room with a bottle of port and a loaded revolver.
@OomPB said in Wales v Springboks:
The planned IPL rugby competition starting in 2026 , we will lose 30 of the top Springbok players. He need to plan ahead.
Get ready the video camera and the permanent markers!
@nostrildamus nah - this is a job for a pact.
@OomPB said in Wales v Springboks:
The planned IPL rugby competition starting in 2026 , we will lose 30 of the top Springbok players. He need to plan ahead.
Really? 30 players… I would think most of the top players wouldn’t go for this, but I don’t know anything. What are your sources telling you?
The biggest concern for us in Wales at the moment should be the apathy among the supporters.
Many of my friends don't bother even watching games on TV anymore never mind buying a ticket.
It's a slippery slope. 
As for the game, it's a foregone conclusion.
We struggle against anyone with a degree of physicality and we're playing the most physical side in world rugby.
Again some strange selections but whatever the team it'd be like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic!!
@pooler-fan said in Wales v Springboks:
The biggest concern for us in Wales at the moment should be the apathy among the supporters.
Many of my friends don't bother even watching games on TV anymore never mind buying a ticket.
It's a slippery slope.
As for the game, it's a foregone conclusion.
We struggle against anyone with a degree of physicality and we're playing the most physical side in world rugby.
Again some strange selections but whatever the team it'd be like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic!!
Do you think the apathy is driven by the results, or do you think its a general lack of interest in rugby at all levels as attentions have turned elsewhere. I remember living in Cardiff in the late '90s and being amazed at how many public parks had rugby posts instead of football posts - so different to England, I get the sense that isn't as true anymore.
Results definitely have an effect on international crowds, it may not take long for those to turn around if results pick up. Worryingly, England have been pulling decent crowds and club attendances were ok last season but the RFU still managed to make a £40mn loss.
Rugby is still strong
Football is going well so in a tough economy some are choosing that live
The schedule from TNT didn’t help us
Last week wasn’t a sell out because lots of people couldn’t get home on public transport
@Catogrande said in Wales v Springboks:
Costelow at 10. I have visions of @MiketheSnow sitting in a darkened room with a bottle of port and a loaded revolver.
After weeks of defending Gatland, it’s all him
Dropping Winnett ffs and replacing him with a midget who can’t tackle and who has never played full back. Not at international level
NEVER
Thankfully Dyer is back
Drops Anscombe. Excellent
Puts Costelow at 10. FFS
Plumtree comes back in. Excellent
Rests Wainwright. The guy’s only played 4 matches this season ffs
Thankfully I was out in the mountains today enjoying the snow to alleviate my suffering
Pissing down, grey, and cold in Cardiff.
The roof worth it's weight in gold.
Gone from -8 to +8 C overnight
Hard to believe that this was a couple of days ago. All washed away now. Bastard Gulf Stream.
Great shot @MiketheSnow! Looks a little chunky but hard to complain in Nov
@Dodge interest in rugby has definitely reduced.
The majority of the Principality Stadium crowd is topped up with event goers who are on the lash and probably think "Shane" is still playing. 
As Mike says the schedule hasn't helped in that regard - Sunday games aren't great if you're in work on Monday morning & have to travel from west Wales or north Wales to get to the game with shit public transport.
Also of course the walk-ins & event goers don't tend to show up when the side is perennially losing & playing awful rugby.
Wales look like Minties.
Which could be apt as this game could well end up like a Minties ad for them.
