RWC: Japan v South Africa (QF 4)
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@mofitzy_ true. But the big thing I hope Rassie and the boks took out of the Blossoms win over the bagpipe abusers was that they are very vulnerable to repeated breakdown fringe attacks by the heavies. Lood, RG, Kitshoff, Marx, Louw and Duane all have very good tight offloading games.
I’ll be hugely disappointed if we don’t target the fringe. Combine that swirling vortex of pain, with intense Attacking scrums (and here, spare a thought for Koo’s tender ribs) maul after maul, and you’d expect the Japanese defensive line to compress as the game wears on.
And on the defensive side of the ball, I expect the boks to put huge pressure on the BB’s rucks. The Blossoms rely on exceptional recycle speed both to drive their attack but also (and as a function of that) to commit very, very few bodies to securing possession. And the Scots showed in the second half that they’re vulnerable to contest there.
The boks are amongst the best in the competition at disrupting rucks. This was a huge reason the BB’s attack didn’t fire in the warmup these teams played just before the comp.
All of which is compounded by the hard road the Hosts have fought to get here. Their squad, particularly in the tighties, is not deep. And they are going to have heavy legs when the 2nd bok pack takes the field.
Enough wanking on, though. I am really worried about two things.
First, the red card roulette. I have a theory that this favours the boks generally, but against the Hosts with a rabid stadium all eager for Brighton redux, that theory sits in the closet.
Second, what the fuck happens if Kolbe does his ankle and Am hoops a hammie? Basically, the boks are two back line players colliding and failing a HIA away from RG lining up at centre. Then again, he is our best distributor.
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@Billy-Webb relax mate, you’re far too tense. If the boks play to potential we’ll put a sharp, violent end to the fairytale.
And if they don’t, then rugby really is the winner and we get to support the greatest Cinderella run our sport has ever seen. Can’t see a downside?
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@Smuts said in RWC: Japan v South Africa (QF 4):
First, the red card roulette. I have a theory that this favours the boks generally
Intrigued as to your reckoning on this one - the tall, big buggers that like to hit hard, versing the accurate smaller buggers that like to tackle around the ankles.
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@Bones our tackle height impressed me against you blokes.
My half-baked theory is that teams get psyched out by our aggression which leads to situations like the two Italian props trying to BOD Vermeluen.
Won’t be a factor against you blokes or England but teams like Japan and to a lesser extent Wales, France and the shackledraggers it comes into play.
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@Smuts said in RWC: Japan v South Africa (QF 4):
Can’t see a downside?
Nice sentiment.
Pretty sure @Billy-Webb sees the Boks being out of the cup by losing to Japan (again - sorry couldn't resist) as a downside. -
@Snowy don’t get me wrong- if we lose to fucking Japan again I’m liable to lose my fucking mind.
Edit - especially because I won’t have fucking Spiels Kriel to blame for it this time (spiels are mirrors in rockspider, I mean my mother tongue.)
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@jegga said in RWC: Japan v South Africa (QF 4):
You can count me on the side of supporting the Boks. Call me crazy, but I want the real fairytale ending to this tournament - the AB's and the Boks bashing the shit out of each other in their 100th test in the RWC final.
It just couldn't get any better than that.
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Japan better win. I have them picked for Superbru.
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I am quietly confident.
Barring an early red card, or a blistering scoring start by the Blossoms, or it being ball hair close with 10 minutes left, or the Boks being off the boil or....or... or.....Ok. I’m a tad nervous. But that’s kudos to the Japs who have earned my respect
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@Billy-Webb said in RWC: Japan v South Africa (QF 4):
I am quietly confident.
Barring an early red card, or a blistering scoring start by the Blossoms, or it being ball hair close with 10 minutes left, or the Boks being off the boil or....or... or.....Ok. I’m a tad nervous. But that’s kudos to the Japs who have earned my respect
I can see it going the way of the warm up match. The Boks are pretty used to playing a team that likes to up the tempo, I can't see Japan running them off their feet the way they did Ireland.
Just hope Japan can put in a big performance they can be proud of in their first ever quarter final.
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@Billy-Webb said in RWC: Japan v South Africa (QF 4):
I am quietly confident.
Barring an early red card, or a blistering scoring start by the Blossoms, or it being ball hair close with 10 minutes left, or the Boks being off the boil or....or... or.....Ok. I’m a tad nervous. But that’s kudos to the Japs who have earned my respect
Bokke will cruise it.
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@cgrant said in RWC: Japan v South Africa (QF 4):
Japan has topped a pool whose two favourites were exaggeratedly overrated, as we have seen. I don't think Japan can threaten South Africa.
Big call.
Think you're right though
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Jesus... my heart is having palpitations similar to pre-NZ-Ire... can't believe how much I've emotionally invested in the Brave Blossoms.
Or, it may just be the surfeit of booze drunk yesterday, and returning to the scene of the crime of 3 days' late night boozin' in Ueno. -
