Springboks v England - Test #2
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@antipodean said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@catogrande from what I've read, there are four people happy with the selection. Shields, Jones and Shield's parents.
One thing England is not short of is players with Shield's skill set.
You sort of get the feeling that he's been selected because he's a Kiwi that qualifies for England rather than yeah, we need him 'cos the alternatives are dogshit.
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@catogrande said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@antipodean said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@catogrande from what I've read, there are four people happy with the selection. Shields, Jones and Shield's parents.
One thing England is not short of is players with Shield's skill set.
You sort of get the feeling that he's been selected because he's a Kiwi that qualifies for England rather than yeah, we need him 'cos the alternatives are dogshit.
Perhaps trying to import some of that "no dickheads" culture?
If Eddie knows that he can't keep Robshaw around too much longer, he might be trying to fill that gap (decent guy who gives his all, and can be a role model), rather than any on-field gap?
I don't really believe that... it seems like too much of an "anti-conspiracy theory", but it sounds nice. -
@stargazer said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
The Springbok team to face England in Bloemfontein (in order of name and surname, franchise/club, caps and points):
15 Willie le Roux (Wasps, England, 42, 55 - 11t)
14 S’busiso Nkosi (Cell C Sharks, 1, 10 - 2t)
13 Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks, 2, 0)
12 Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers, 29, 15 - 3t)
11 Aphiwe Dyantyi (Emirates Lions, 1, 5 - 1t)
10 Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls, 27, 235 - 3t, 41c, 43p, 3d)
9 Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England, 12, 5 -1t)
8 Duane Vermeulen (Unattached, 40, 10 - 2t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers, 34, 20 - 4t)
6 Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers, 29, 20 - 4t) - captain
5 Franco Mostert (Emirates Lions, 19, 5 - 1t)
4 RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls, 1, 0)
3 Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers, 17, 0)
2 Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers, 15, 5 - 1t)
1 Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks, 99, 10 - 2t)Replacements:
16 Akker van der Merwe (Cell C Sharks, 2, 0)
17 Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers, 25, 5 - 1t)
18 Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks, 2, 0)
19 Jean-Luc du Preez (Cell C Sharks, 11, 10 - 2t)
20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe (DHL Stormers, 2, 0)
21 Ivan van Zyl (Vodacom Bulls, 2, 0)
22 Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls, 30, 40 - 8t)
23 Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls, 3, 5 – 1t)Not really liking this team.
Tighthead - Wilco Louw's performance has fallen of a cliff since the start of the season and probably needs a rest, but Malherbe looked REALLY out of shape in the one outing off the bench that he had for the stormers this season. With Oosthuizen and Nyakane out injured and Thomas Du Toit still learning his trade I am not sure what the alternative is, but it is concern.
Three locks starting - I am not sure about PS du Toit at blindside, I really thought he would become Juan Smith's replacement there, but I was wrong and if frankly think Mostert would be better in straight swap.
Even then I would have my reservations about the tactic as it means that at least two of the big men will have to play the 80 which isn't ideal.
But at least it means we finish with two fresh loose forwards... well not really. Given where this team is at you would ideally have Vermeulen and Kolisi playing the full eighty so one of the bench loosies is basically relegated to being injury cover.
No flyhalf/goalkicking cover on the bench - So Pollard is slated to play the entire game on Saturday with no injury cover. Should Pollard go down injured, Le Roux will move to flyhalf (he's never done that at pro level to my knowledge) and De Klerk will take over the kicking (he's never done that at pro level to my knowledge).
But Pollard won't get injured... except his injury record is actually terrible having missed basically all of 2016 and 2017 with injury. But he is all better now... except that he was under an injury cloud this week with a bum shoulder.
The worst case scenario is for Pollard to take a knock, but if the game is close Rassie might not want to take him off meaning we risk losing him again for the season.
What this selection also means is that Erasmus can't really sub either De Klerk (with Van Zyl) or Le Roux (with Gelant) so the backline reserves are also only there as injury cover.
Except for Jesse Kriel - I don't have faith in him to produce a consistent high quality performance and in no way does his inclusion justify the risk we are taking here.
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@billy-webb said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@cgrant said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
They should have select Curwin Bosch on the bench instead of Gelant as he can cover 10 and 15, and he is a very good goal kicker as well.
Good point cgrant. Bosch would definitely have been better cover. And one can argue he brings as much x-factor as Gelant.
Look, it may all work out well anyway... but it does feel like tempting fate a bit too much for my liking.
That's a hard no for me -
1- Bosch has been varying between meh and terrible, especially in defence. And he doesn't kick for the Sharks anyway.
If you feel you need to drop Jantjes (and I wouldn't, though I am in the minority on that count), then it makes more sense to select Robert Du Preez. He is an excellent goal kicker and covers 12 in a pinch.
2- Gelant has been brilliant for the Bulls this (and last) season. I would say that he has been the best SA back in the super 15 this season and is superior fullback in every sense to Bosch with the possible exception of goal-kicking.
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I've never understood Malherbe (I've never seen him dominate a scrum and he isn't any more likely to after a second serious neck injury. Plus now he's lazy.)
Or Kriel (defensive liability, attacking black hole.)
Or Gelant (defensive liability, weak positional play, poor kicker - he's like a worse version of '97 era Percy.)
I feel like I must be watching different players than the coaches, journos and public.
And I don't understand this bench.
How I hope they all prove me wrong tomorrow.
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@sidbarret said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
No flyhalf/goalkicking cover on the bench - So Pollard is slated to play the entire game on Saturday with no injury cover. Should Pollard go down injured, Le Roux will move to flyhalf (he's never done that at pro level to my knowledge) and De Klerk will take over the kicking (he's never done that at pro level to my knowledge).
De Klerk kicked for Sale. Few games I watched he kicked well.
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@kruse said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@catogrande said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@antipodean said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@catogrande from what I've read, there are four people happy with the selection. Shields, Jones and Shield's parents.
One thing England is not short of is players with Shield's skill set.
You sort of get the feeling that he's been selected because he's a Kiwi that qualifies for England rather than yeah, we need him 'cos the alternatives are dogshit.
Perhaps trying to import some of that "no dickheads" culture?
If Eddie knows that he can't keep Robshaw around too much longer, he might be trying to fill that gap (decent guy who gives his all, and can be a role model), rather than any on-field gap?
I don't really believe that... it seems like too much of an "anti-conspiracy theory", but it sounds nice.Either that or Jones is a shit coach.
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@sidbarret question about your locks: where are Estebeth and de Jager?
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@booboo said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@sidbarret question about your locks: where are Estebeth and de Jager?
Injured.
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@billy-tell thanks. Not following SA closely enough/at all.
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@antipodean said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@catogrande from what I've read, there are four people happy with the selection. Shields, Jones and Shield's parents.
One thing England is not short of is players with Shield's skill set.
Do they drop the ball a lot too?
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@mikethesnow Wyatt Crockett - 71 test caps 25 starts, 46 off the bench.
DMac is going to struggle to get future test starts when Beauden and Jordie are around and fit (and while Ben Smith remains around). I think Richie Mo'unga is a better first five starting option than DMac, as well.
If he recovers from his head knocks, I reckon Will Jordan will eventually push DMac down the fullback queue as well, but DMac's utility value will likely see him get a lot of test appearances from the bench.
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@mn5 said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@antipodean said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
@catogrande from what I've read, there are four people happy with the selection. Shields, Jones and Shield's parents.
One thing England is not short of is players with Shield's skill set.
Do they drop the ball a lot too?
That is not a position specific skill set in England.
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@tim said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
If rugby still had fights, I don't think that anyone would mind a forward smacking Owen Farrell.
I'd written something similar, but too lazy to post.
He's going for the ”Most Unlikeable Character” in the England team... and while you'd think it's hard to pip Mike Brown, shit he's giving it a red hot go. Ask the ref just now, I'd say he'd vote Farrell. -
@sapetyvi said in Springboks v England - Test #2:
Talk about refs not carding a team, how the fark did Mako escape without a yellow there?
The amount of niggle in this game, they just don't know where to draw the line.
I'd have liked to seen Itoje's lashed boot out at der Klerk (sp?) again on replay... just nasty niggly shit all over the field. -
@kruse the line should definetily be around there where someone smacks another player trapped in a ruck. Maybe not overly dangerous, but that belongs shit belongs to a cage, not a rugby field.
On another forum someone suggested Itoje kicked de Klerk on the testicles in the same phase, didn't see it myself tho.
