Last test of the year for the Boks.

The team I would love to see:

1. Steenekamp (to make up for the YC and get some more experience).
2. Mbonambi
3. W. Louw
4. Etsebeth
5. RG Snyman
6. Kolisi
7. Elrich Louw
8. Wiese
9. Reinach (deserves a longer outing)
10. Libbok
11. Kolbe (would rest him, but need his versatility should Willie get injured)
12. Esterhuizen (deserves a run)
13. Am (due an extended run)
14. Moodie (good to get more experience)
15. Le Roux (will go to 99 caps)

Bench: 6 - 2

Ox (if fit)
Marx
Koch
PSDT (can cover lock too)
Kwagga
Cameron Hanekom (super keen to see this lad in Green & Gold)
Pollard
Grant

Surely Rassie will give all the others like Hendricks, Hanekom and Grobbies a run. If he dont release Hanekom against Wales, he will be poached by Wales.

Result is a foregone conclusion

Would love to see both sides running it with abandon

75-40 to the Boks

@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.

@OomPB

I expect Rassie will blend in a few of the newbies.
For me, Hanekom is a must. He deserves a chance to show what he can do one step up.

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

Gatlands last stand?

It will be another 50 pointer.

@Dodge sure, AE is one of my favourite players. Then we have the part timers like Willemse and SMZ.

@Billy-Webb Kleyn & Mostert will also play.

@OomPB

Lots of guys for Rassie to pick from.
I hope he blends experience with the need to give guys a run.

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, Steenkamp

Bench
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....

That’s a big FU to wales giving, hanekom his debut against them.

Much stronger team then mine. The bench is unbelievable.

@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.

FFS

It is about the coaching now

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?

@Smuts said in Wales v Springboks:

@nostrildamus nah - this is a job for a pact.

@W32 Paarl's grapevines

Ox out, Tank to LH, Wilco to TH

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

More changes , Kleyn out, Eben to start, Escom bench

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.

Decent crowd