All Blacks vs Springboks I

Those odds are nuts, but they are correct if we play like have last few weeks and SA play like they did against Australia.

As others have pointed out, discipline is key as is trying the flash stuff at the right time.

The Bok defence, which I earlier this year called the best I'd ever seen, was really found wanting this week. Australia played well, but they managed to find gaps all over the show which just weren't there previously. I think we can be fairly sure they'll drop back to their crimes against rugby style for at least the first half this week, and our job will be to try and keep possession and territory more than anything. We know there will be bombs, box kicks, wipers kicks and should ensure our team selection covers that.

@dagrubster said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiinmelb

Yes it has, this is par for the course for them when playing in Aus.

The game moves towards the springboks style of play in world cups.

Set piece focus, big defence, kicking comes more into importance and the game is slower as a result as teams play more risk free rugby the higher the stakes.

It’s why Japan can beat them and a few weeks later they nearly beat the best AB RWC side ever.

mmm…they made 8 changes to the starting lineup from the team that played Japan to the one that played us in the semi. So I’d say those results were down to personnel especially when their first choice 9/10 (du Preez and Pollard) didn’t play Japan.

@machpants said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@themojoman said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@canes4life said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

After last night who is everyone picking as our best XV to take on S.A?

This is the team I think Fozzie will select from what we’ve seen so far. I haven’t picked Leinert-Brown due to not being match fit and also uncertain of the status of his injury.

1. Moody
2. Taylor
3. Laulaula
4. Rettalick
5. Barrett
6. Ioane
7. Papali’i
8. Savea (c)
9. Perenara
10. Barrett
11. Bridge
12. Havili
13. Ioane
14. Reece
15. Barrett
16. Taukei'aho
17. Bower
18. Tu’ungafasi
19. Vaa’i
20. Jacobson
21. Weber
22. McKenzie
23. Jordan

Only change I'd have is Jordan for Bridge. I just think Jordan's positioning (why he keeps scoring tries and making breaks) is better than Bridge at the moment. IMO Bridge still hasn't regained his form from pre-injury. He seems to spend alot of time trying to run over people and cutting back infield, like he doesn't trust his top end speed? His aerial game particularly on defence continues to be top notch.

Article on the Ferald saying that we could see Ioane on the right, Bridge on the left 'cos of high ball

No wonder we are the world #1 again, we are tactical geniuses!!! The stupid big okes from SA will never think to kick to the other wing!!!

This game is as good as won already

@chris-b said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

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

@chris-b said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@chris-b

$3.50

To be honest, I thought they might be further out than that.

In a two horse race that has a proud nation like South Africa, 100th test (?) and [insert any name] reffing, those are still very long odds.

What happened to, "It's only South Africa?"

I agree

But you’d have to go back a long time that the Boks were paying $3.50 in a test match.

@stargazer said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Expect Kapa o Pango to be the haka against the Boks ... why else would they post this?

They also haven't done it so far this season.

Just quietly BBBR has a really good record against SA.

@stargazer said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Expect Kapa o Pango to be the haka against the Boks ... why else would they post this?

Because the social media person is looking to generate some interest.

It’s a long week and with not much happening before the team is announced, they dig up some old times.

Sadly this test should be in NZ. PSdT said the Bok players are away from friends and family since June. We'll if this test don't motivate them then nothing will. Would like to see a change in personal like Frans & Morne Steyn who has been there, done that

@machpants @Kiwiwomble

Would prefer Rioane on left, GB on right if we had to have the latter

@dagrubster said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@kiwiinmelb

Yes it has, this is par for the course for them when playing in Aus.

The game moves towards the springboks style of play in world cups.

Set piece focus, big defence, kicking comes more into importance and the game is slower as a result as teams play more risk free rugby the higher the stakes.

It’s why Japan can beat them and a few weeks later they nearly beat the best AB RWC side ever.

"Got close on the scoreboard"

@booboo said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@machpants @Kiwiwomble

Would prefer Rioane on left, GB on right if we had to have the latter

Definitely prefer RI on the left

@majorrage said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Those odds are nuts, but they are correct if we play like have last few weeks and SA play like they did against Australia.

The fitness is the big thing they can't change in a week. SA didnt' look able to cope with the pace of the game, and if they can't slow it down, that's going to cost them.

Should be titanic. I can't wait.
https://sarugbystats.co.za/south-africa-vs-new-zealand/ has NZ with 59 wins, SA 36 and 4 draws. Way more one sided than it used to be -- in the pro era it was 41-15-1 to NZ.

@kiwiwomble that was an interesting test match. It was the return match after the Matfield hit on Kelleher, so BK was still out.

Carter got hurt in the game prior against the Aussies so didn’t play and we had Rangi starting at 1st 5.

@oompb said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Sadly this test should be in NZ. PSdT said the Bok players are away from friends and family since June. We'll if this test don't motivate them then nothing will. Would like to see a change in personal like Frans & Morne Steyn who has been there, done that

Why stop there ? What’s Naas Botha up to these days ?

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@majorrage said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Those odds are nuts, but they are correct if we play like have last few weeks and SA play like they did against Australia.

The fitness is the big thing they can't change in a week. SA didnt' look able to cope with the pace of the game, and if they can't slow it down, that's going to cost them.

Should be titanic. I can't wait.
https://sarugbystats.co.za/south-africa-vs-new-zealand/ has NZ with 59 wins, SA 36 and 4 draws. Way more one sided than it used to be -- in the pro era it was 41-15-1 to NZ.

I'm old enough to remember when they had a winning record against us.

But quite frankly I was just a little too young to remember 1976 in great detail (i recall I watched in the early morning but not much more) and Gert Bezuidenhout who was apparently indicative of much of the reason they did win more often in the Republic.

@cgrant said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

I am more worried about the ABs discipline than the SA bombs. If the ABs are penalised in their own half, this would lead to kicks into touch near their goal line. Remember the first test against the Aussie when the SA scored three tries after rolling mauls. This is the aspect of the game where they are the most threatening IMO. We could see the same scenario as the AB forwards are not very good in defending mauls, with the notable exception of Brodie Retallick.

The big risk is we get caught playing too much side-to-side in the middle of the park, get turned over or give aways of penalties, from which they can launch these kinds of attacks. We did it a bit in the 2nd half against the Argies on Sat, whereas the week before BB would often put up a kick or put one in behind when we found ourselves in that areas of the park without having made much head way after a few phases. Something similar will be needed this weekend

In Sam Cane's absence, Blues openside Dalton Papalii has established his presence as the All Blacks' preferred openside flanker this season. Papalii's physicality on defence, ball carrying ability and strong work over the ball form a compelling package for a 23-year-old prospect.

Papalii suffered a minor hamstring injury in the first win over the Pumas, and must now prove his fitness to be considered to play the Boks in Townsville on Saturday. Hamstrings can be problematic, particularly for someone charged with maintaining a strong base and gaining breakdown turnovers.

Foster has been keen this season to make calls on player availability early in the week in order to give those who will take the field as much time as possible to prepare. Time is, therefore, against Papallii.

The same may be true for Anton Lienert-Brown, who hasn't featured since the Bledisloe victory in Perth after injuring his hamstring in training one day before the first test against the Pumas.

@tim I don't think anyone will cry into their cornflakes if we're "forced" to go with Ioane/Savea/Jacobson and Blackadder/Sotutu eh.

Would like ALB back though.

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim I don't think anyone will cry into their cornflakes if we're "forced" to go with Ioane/Savea/Jacobson and Blackadder/Sotutu eh.

Would like ALB back though.

I’d actually prefer this one against the Boks even if Dalton is fit.

Back 3 will be interesting if ALB isn’t fit.

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

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim I don't think anyone will cry into their cornflakes if we're "forced" to go with Ioane/Savea/Jacobson and Blackadder/Sotutu eh.

Would like ALB back though.

I’d actually prefer this one against the Boks even if Dalton is fit.

Back 3 will be interesting if ALB isn’t fit.

If it occurred would be interesting to see Ardie and LJ alternating 7/8 depending or whether attacking or defensive scrum.

@act-crusader ya reckon? If he's unfit I can't see it not being Bridge/Jordie/Reece.

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@act-crusader ya reckon? If he's unfit I can't see it not being Bridge/Jordie/Reece.

I’m hoping for that but I have this feeling they might go back to the DMac well…

And it could be a DMac/Jordan/Bridge

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

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@act-crusader ya reckon? If he's unfit I can't see it not being Bridge/Jordie/Reece.

I’m hoping for that but I have this feeling they might go back to the DMac well…

And it could be a DMac/Jordan/Bridge

Yeah, I would be uneasy about Jordan starting against a team that could really capitalise on his shortcomings - bring him off the bench to rub salt in the wounds a la his tinarse predecessor, BB.

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

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@act-crusader ya reckon? If he's unfit I can't see it not being Bridge/Jordie/Reece.

I’m hoping for that but I have this feeling they might go back to the DMac well…

And it could be a DMac/Jordan/Bridge

As long as we don’t have Jordie on the wing, I think we’ll be ok.

I’m sure that Dmac will be on the bench, so if ALB is unfit, the question will be whether Jordan can force his way to 14 and make the selectors choose between Bridge and Reece. In that case, Tupaea takes the bench spot, unless they are happy for Jordie/Reece to cover midfield.

If ALB is fit, he’ll either take the bench role or Rieko will, but if they start both then Jordan off the bench makes sense.

@mariner4life said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

i don't really believe in all this "motivating the opposition" guff, this isn't park football

but

we are starting to talk this up to uncomfortable levels.

Only a four-star clown or 5 star idiot would write off the Boks.

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim I don't think anyone will cry into their cornflakes if we're "forced" to go with Ioane/Savea/Jacobson and Blackadder/Sotutu eh.

6/7/8 seems to be the one area we really don't need to worry too much about.

Would like ALB back though.

Yep. But I'm much less concerned now Reiko has some game time under his belt

For me aerial ability and low error rate earns Bridge hsis spot. Similarly ALB experience and low error rate earns his. Kind of leaves the other wing spot up for grabs, with Reiko, Sevu and Jordan all being somewhat flaky at times but I would have a toss-up between Jordan and Ioane because they at least can break a game open.

Yup…loosies loosies loosies …PSDT a big loss for us. Tackle count always brilliant and out with his shoulder(again) till next year by the looks of it. Duane just back off injury and not hundreds even if that means he is still first choice. Don’t expect him to do anything other than improve on post injury gametime clock….Age against him but watched him and Flo (FLouw) in provincials and some things dont change that much. He is first choice if fit IMO. Jasper Wiese is almost certainly a like-for-like mobility size choice. Defensive organization Duane tops of course….then our ex sevens player (voted best looking guy in comp right here on TSF:) Kwagga coz he was at RWC and knows. Van Staden still green and Elstadt used to be a card magnet. And Siya still coming back to his best post injury but value as glue incalculable. ABs have guys firing. Don’t know we won’t…but have t been….missed team tackle count both Oz tests awful….it has to improve or we are def toast… Hope Cheslin fit and Willemse and RG Snyman get starts with a couple bench tweaks. Its going to get messy….can’t wait

@mantissanet RG Snyman won't start for Munster. We need fire power Etsebeth and maybe Elstadt. In the face defense will do for 80 minutes. Anything positive will do at the moment.

@dmx said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

For me aerial ability and low error rate earns Bridge hsis spot. Similarly ALB experience and low error rate earns his. Kind of leaves the other wing spot up for grabs, with Reiko, Sevu and Jordan all being somewhat flaky at times but I would have a toss-up between Jordan and Ioane because they at least can break a game open.

For me, I'd pick Reiko over any other 11 option. He's just a more mature player for me.

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim I don't think anyone will cry into their cornflakes if we're "forced" to go with Ioane/Savea/Jacobson and Blackadder/Sotutu eh.

6/7/8 seems to be the one area we really don't need to worry too much about.

Would like ALB back though.

Yep. But I'm much less concerned now Reiko has some game time under his belt

Would still be a bit concerned if we ended up with DMac/Tuapea/Rieko in tight match with Boks. We’re still quite short on Backline ‘grey hair’.

@pakman said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@victor-meldrew said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim I don't think anyone will cry into their cornflakes if we're "forced" to go with Ioane/Savea/Jacobson and Blackadder/Sotutu eh.

6/7/8 seems to be the one area we really don't need to worry too much about.

Would like ALB back though.

Yep. But I'm much less concerned now Reiko has some game time under his belt

Would still be a bit concerned if we ended up with DMac/Tuapea/Rieko in tight match with Boks. We’re still quite short on Backline ‘grey hair’.

Agreed, I was thinking more of BB/DH/RI.

That said, I want to see more DMac/Tuapea/Rieko playing together to build that experience.

I'll eat my hat if we lose to this rabble!

(Am I doing it right??)

@hooroo said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

I'll eat my hat if we lose to this rabble!

(Am I doing it right??)

I have recipies.

@bones said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@act-crusader ya reckon? If he's unfit I can't see it not being Bridge/Jordie/Reece.

Ugh, I just threw up a wee bit.

Hopefully, ALB will be fit - and then I want to see a back three of Rieko, Will and Jordie.

It's been a dull year - let's live a little!!!

At least I'm probably not going to be more conservative than Fozzie - unless he gives DMac the 15 jersey!

I'm picking Fozzie will go for his more experienced and/or conservative options pretty much everywhere, so Sevu in the 14 jersey.

@kirwan said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@hooroo said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

I'll eat my hat if we lose to this rabble!

(Am I doing it right??)

I have recipies.

Never discount the bokke

@chris-b said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Hopefully, ALB will be fit - and then I want to see a back three of Rieko, Will and Jordie.

It's been a dull year - let's live a little!!!

At least I'm probably not going to be more conservative than Fozzie - unless he gives DMac the 15 jersey!

I'm picking Fozzie will go for his more experienced and/or conservative options pretty much everywhere, so Sevu in the 14 jersey.

that what i would love to see

wont complain if we see reece and will understand of they see Bridge as a safe bet under the high ball...but reiko on one side and jordan on the other could be great

TAB odds for SA out to $4.45.

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@chris-b said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Hopefully, ALB will be fit - and then I want to see a back three of Rieko, Will and Jordie.

It's been a dull year - let's live a little!!!

At least I'm probably not going to be more conservative than Fozzie - unless he gives DMac the 15 jersey!

I'm picking Fozzie will go for his more experienced and/or conservative options pretty much everywhere, so Sevu in the 14 jersey.

that what i would love to see

wont complain if we see reece and will understand of they see Bridge as a safe bet under the high ball...but reiko on one side and jordan on the other could be great

I will complain like a muthafucka. Not that it will have any effect whatsoever, but some anger typing is good therapy.

@nepia i also wont complain about you or anyone else complaining