England vs Springbokke
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@catogrande said in England vs Springbokke:
@machpants said in England vs Springbokke:
Nah settled Bokke all day for me. I’m half English and will be supporting them, but I feel a forwards based spanking coming on. I’m used to that now, thanks to Foster
I think you’re probably on the money though hopefully not an out and out spanking but I do expect us to get schooled at scrum time. If we can get near to parity there and IF Eddie picks a team to run the big Saffer forwards all over the park then we have a slim chance.
Claiming underdog status at home against reigning world champions in front of a packed Twickenham. I've seen this type of ambush before.
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@catogrande said in England vs Springbokke:
@machpants said in England vs Springbokke:
Nah settled Bokke all day for me. I’m half English and will be supporting them, but I feel a forwards based spanking coming on. I’m used to that now, thanks to Foster
I think you’re probably on the money though hopefully not an out and out spanking but I do expect us to get schooled at scrum time. If we can get near to parity there and IF Eddie picks a team to run the big Saffer forwards all over the park then we have a slim chance.
You have the Bok forwards coach from the RWC2019 triumph too in your coaching ranks. Surely he might have some insights that will help England?
Eddie is still quiet. I know it's only Tuesday, but he's rarely this quiet.
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@oompb said in England vs Springbokke:
@stodders the Scots have Pieter de Villiers, previously Bok scrum guru. Didn't work well for them.
Under Meyer. In 2015. Not exactly the same as Proudfoot who coached the forwards directly under Erasmus and with Nienaber 😜
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Forecast looks like no rain predicted at the moment which is good. Looking fwd to a proper test and hope Andrew Brace and his reffing team have a solid day out there too. Think it is going to be very tight either way
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@tordah said in England vs Springbokke:
Le Roux must be the most undeserving regular starter in test rugby. I'd take Frans Steyn's ballsack starting over him. Go Boks
Steyn can’t do Test 80
Better finisher -
@mikethesnow He did 70 mins vs Wales and was MOTM.
He is a properse Vrystaat farmer nowadays. Don't be fool by his looks.
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@oompb said in England vs Springbokke:
@mikethesnow He did 70 mins vs Wales and was MOTM.
He is a properse Vrystaat farmer nowadays. Don't be fool by his looks.
England is a very different proposition from Wales
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Sad news Jannie Doep 1 year old boy drowned on his birthday rocks SA Rugby and Boks
News 24
Vermeulen, a national team-mate of Du Plessis between 2012 and 2015, admitted that his morning started on an unhappy note by waking up to the news.
"It's not nice to get out of bed and read a message from your wife informing you of such a tragedy," said South Africa's talismanic No 8, who's currently in London where the Boks take on England this weekend.
"I simply can't imagine what Jannie and his family must be going through. I can't begin to comprehend what one must feel after such a loss."
Vermeulen himself is a father of two sons with spouse, Ezel.
As the day progressed, the whole squad had been made aware of the developments.
"As a family, they'll be in our thoughts throughout. We really want to offer them all our condolences, we understand it's a hugely difficult time," said Vermeulen.
"We'll stand behind them and support them as best we can as individuals."
It's not known at this stage whether the team will engage in some sort of gesture at Twickenham when they run on for their final Test of a taxing 2021 campaign, though the 35-year-old loose forward intimated it might not be appropriate.
"To be honest, we haven't sat down as a squad and discussed anything like that," said Vermeulen.
"If need be, we'll confer and do something for Jannie, but this coming weekend is about the game. We can always do something special for them a little bit later on."
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@nostrildamus 120%
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England team announced. Cato shakes head. Along with several million rugby fans world-wide.
England: Steward; Marchant, Slade, Tuilagi, May; Smith, Youngs; Rodd, Blamire, Sinckler, Itoje, Hill, Lawes (capt), Underhill, Curry.
Replacements: Dolly, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, Simmonds, Dombrandt, Quirke, *Malins.
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@catogrande can you elaborate for us few hundred that don't know much about English rugby.
I guess the issue with is the two eights on the bench is still there, but what's the story with Marchant?
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@sidbarret I’m not even sure I understand what’s wrong with that backrow/bench selection?
The starting backrow is bloody good. And, in its own way, nicely balanced.
Even if you could convince me that a standard loose trio was a better bet for England’s current style of play (and I’m not sure you could), I like the selection:
- Given the frontrow issues, I wouldn’t throw Dombrandt in as a starter against SA;
- Simmons and Dombrandt running lines off Smith in the last quarter against tired legs worries me.
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@sidbarret said in England vs Springbokke:
@catogrande can you elaborate for us few hundred that don't know much about English rugby.
I guess the issue with is the two eights on the bench is still there, but what's the story with Marchant?
I can understand @Smuts points above but... but. Dombrandt is a bigger more powerful unit than Curry. He is a specialist 8 who can carry and distribute very well and cuts some great lines in attack. He is no slouch defensively either. Not a noted jackal but when you have either of Curry or Underhill there as well as Itoje and Lawes, I don't think that is an area where we are lacking. Curry has been tried at 8 a few times now and whilst he hasn't let us down, I don't think anyone would suggest that experiment has worked. Eddie obviously sees Simmonds as a 6 or 7 replacement, which I can understand but that's a fairly big call for a guy that hasn't really played either for God knows how long.
Marchant is a very good player but primarily a centre. His selection reeks of defensive solidity over any form of attacking objective. Radwan (who I think is fit again) or Malins offer more of a threat, though in different ways. Malins has been playing some wonderful stuff for Bristol last season and Saracens this season, mainly from FB but lately on the wing. His solidity under the high ball and his nose for attack are both bloody good. From the 23, I'd have Malins start and Marchant on the bench to cover mainly centre and at a pinch wing. Slade and Malins offer cover at 10/12/15 and either wing.
Marchant is an understandable choice on the wing if your game plan is to have Youngs kick the ball to SA all bloody day and invite them to run at you. And how did that go for the Lions?
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@catogrande thanks, how quick is Marchant? He'll be marking Mapimpi so there might be an opportunity there
