All Blacks vs Springboks I

24C and 68% humidity is the forecast at kickoff. Expect a high tempo game to run them off their feet.

@mn5 said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

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

@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.

Yeah - a couple of weeks ago, no-one thought the Aussies would get close to SA.

In theory you'd think:

NZ>Aus
Aus>SA

So NZ>SA

But, it doesn't always happen that way.

However, the Boks will be paying plenty on the TAB.

It’s like when everyone thought since Frazier > Ali and then Foreman > Frazier then naturally Foreman > Ali was a logical conclusion.

I don’t know what this has to do with Rugby but shut the fuck up Laurie ‘funeral face” Mains. Predictions like that have a habit of blowing up in faces.

It has absolutely zero effect (unless the team starts to believe it). All it does is give opposition fans ammo to tease us if results go the other way.

@chester-draws said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

This will be the team if ALB is fit:

9 Perenara
10 Barrett

I don't see the B. Barrett has done anything this year to deserve being picked to start. People assume he is going to come right (blather about how class never goes, blah, blah, blah) but he doesn't add anything for me other than slightly better tackling. Nor has Foster ever seemed to pick him as his first choice.

If we start with Perenara, then the main criteria for the #10 will be who can best pick the ball up from around their ankles.

Not sure how to react to this.

Thought Barrett and TJP had played well in recent weeks.

Can I ask who your alternatives are?

@chester-draws said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

This will be the team if ALB is fit:

9 Perenara
10 Barrett

I don't see the B. Barrett has done anything this year to deserve being picked to start. People assume he is going to come right (blather about how class never goes, blah, blah, blah) but he doesn't add anything for me other than slightly better tackling. Nor has Foster ever seemed to pick him as his first choice.

If we start with Perenara, then the main criteria for the #10 will be who can best pick the ball up from around their ankles.

so you're saying you want DMac to start?

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@chester-draws said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

This will be the team if ALB is fit:

9 Perenara
10 Barrett

I don't see the B. Barrett has done anything this year to deserve being picked to start. People assume he is going to come right (blather about how class never goes, blah, blah, blah) but he doesn't add anything for me other than slightly better tackling. Nor has Foster ever seemed to pick him as his first choice.

If we start with Perenara, then the main criteria for the #10 will be who can best pick the ball up from around their ankles.

so you're saying you want DMac to start?

And Christie, I guess

@booboo said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@mn5 said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

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

@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.

Yeah - a couple of weeks ago, no-one thought the Aussies would get close to SA.

In theory you'd think:

NZ>Aus
Aus>SA

So NZ>SA

But, it doesn't always happen that way.

However, the Boks will be paying plenty on the TAB.

It’s like when everyone thought since Frazier > Ali and then Foreman > Frazier then naturally Foreman > Ali was a logical conclusion.

I don’t know what this has to do with Rugby but shut the fuck up Laurie ‘funeral face” Mains. Predictions like that have a habit of blowing up in faces.

It has absolutely zero effect (unless the team starts to believe it). All it does is give opposition fans ammo to tease us if results go the other way.

True, I shouldn’t worry. After all I constantly interacted with foreigners in 2003 but thankfully these days I don’t whatsoever.

Part of me wants the Springboks to show up for this one to keep the RC interesting for another week, and because it looks like the ABs are back to being better than everyone else by 20+ points which is a bit shite.

On the other hand, fuck their garbage anti-rugby tactics and their whiny cnut of a coach. ABs by 30+

@derpus said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Part of me wants the Springboks to show up for this one to keep the RC interesting for another week, and because it looks like the ABs are back to being better than everyone else by 20+ points which is a bit shite.

On the other hand, fuck their garbage anti-rugby tactics and their whiny cnut of a coach. ABs by 30+

They will put up a sterner fight guaranteed. I hope to see our quality shine through as the game wears on

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@chester-draws said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@tim said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

This will be the team if ALB is fit:

9 Perenara
10 Barrett

I don't see the B. Barrett has done anything this year to deserve being picked to start. People assume he is going to come right (blather about how class never goes, blah, blah, blah) but he doesn't add anything for me other than slightly better tackling. Nor has Foster ever seemed to pick him as his first choice.

If we start with Perenara, then the main criteria for the #10 will be who can best pick the ball up from around their ankles.

so you're saying you want DMac to start?

Well he does have less distance to reach down and catch the ball.

@no-quarter said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

The Boks will lift for us, the first 40 will be brutal. I expect them to run out of gas in the 2nd 40 though, but we'll have to play well and take our chances. The Boks are not Argentina, they know how to adjust to the game situation and get under the other teams skin etc. They've got some wiley old campaigners in their side.

Ditto, they will lift and it will be tight. I'm thinking a bit like the RWC semifinal in 2015 where the Boks fought tooth-and-nail, but with added Bok injury breaks

@derpus said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

Part of me wants the Springboks to show up for this one to keep the RC interesting for another week, and because it looks like the ABs are back to being better than everyone else by 20+ points which is a bit shite.

On the other hand, fuck their garbage anti-rugby tactics and their whiny cnut of a coach. ABs by 30+

Now now, if we pick on every team because their coach whinges, we* won't have many teams left to support. (*Considering the love he gets on here Foster and Co don't seem to whine that much IMO but who knows if the team starts playing badly. Actually AB coaches don't need to whine, we fans will do that for them).

@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.

@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

@machpants have we seen RI on the right before? surely they wont try something completely new, i know theyre not having a good run but its still the boks

@kiwiwomble said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

@machpants have we seen RI on the right before? surely they wont try something completely new, i know theyre not having a good run but its still the boks

Fiji in Hamilton when he replaced Jordan.

@bovidae ok, at least not completely new if it does happen

@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.

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.

@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.

and possibly Sotutu and Blackadder..and Samsoni would add some considerable ballast.

@duluth said in All Blacks vs Springboks I:

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The ultimate kiss of death right there. Someone tell Laurie that the game is past his bed time and he’s not allowed to watch.

@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.

@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?"

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.