Springboks v Wales - 1st Test
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@antipodean The 6-2 bench indicates how the Boks intend to win it. A big game for the young Georgian Ref Nika Amashukeli, only 27 years old.
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@Daffy-Jaffy That's a strong pack. Good to see 2 new caps in it as well albeit from the bench in Moerat and Louw. To be frank, a couple of guys not in the 23 will feel unlucky not have made it too, so decent forward depth.
It's the backs that worry me a bit. Especially at 10 where if Elton Jantjies gets dinged or just has a very off day, the options are limited. Likely Willemse will shift to 10, but he has played a large junk of this season at 12 (where he has been very good). Will still feel a bit makeshift. But if Willemse develops and can cover 10, 12 and 15 going forward, that solves the post Frans Steyn dilemma of the 6-2 split for the Boks...
Here's hoping.
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@antipodean said in Springboks v Wales:
@Daffy-Jaffy I don't need to see the Welsh team to pick the winner. Sorry @MiketheSnow
I don't think you needed to see the Bok team either.
Not much looking forward to this, expect that it's going to be chastening
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@gibbon-rib said in Springboks v Wales:
@antipodean said in Springboks v Wales:
@Daffy-Jaffy I don't need to see the Welsh team to pick the winner. Sorry @MiketheSnow
I don't think you needed to see the Bok team either.
Not much looking forward to this, expect that it's going to be chastening
Lots to very little
Could easily be a 50 point spread
I hope to fuck it's not a repeat of the '98 humiliation
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Springboks v Wales:
@antipodean The 6-2 bench indicates how the Boks intend to win it. A big game for the young Georgian Ref Nika Amashukeli, only 27 years old.
He did the Ireland v Italy match earlier this year. A one sided affair so there wasn’t as much pressure for him given Ireland’s dominance at the breakdown and open play.
This is a big step up though and two contrasting styles that often lead to messy rucks which will put pressure on him.
Despite Wales poor results in the 6Ns, I always look forward to their clashes against the Boks. They’ll be getting my cheers!
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D Daffy Jaffy referenced this topic on
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Glad to see some new faces in the match 23. Look like Willemse get rewarded for his URC performance. Played through injury in the finals and now get a shot above Willie in 15. Elrigh Louw is a specialist 7 (SA) and should have started. Glad Moerat get his place on the bench. He has been brought through the structure and have some serious rugby blood. He is more an Etzebeth workhorse type. Holding thumbs all the newbies have a good test.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Springboks v Wales:
@antipodean The 6-2 bench indicates how the Boks intend to win it. A big game for the young Georgian Ref Nika Amashukeli, only 27 years old.
They can because Kwagga can be used in the backs
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Springboks v Wales:
South Africa:
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nché
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Willie le RouxDate: Saturday, July 2
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17:05 local (18:05 BST, 16:05 GMT)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)Not a huge change from the final over 2 years ago, a couple injury inforced, retirement. But that is a stable team!
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@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v Wales:
@gibbon-rib said in Springboks v Wales:
@antipodean said in Springboks v Wales:
@Daffy-Jaffy I don't need to see the Welsh team to pick the winner. Sorry @MiketheSnow
I don't think you needed to see the Bok team either.
Not much looking forward to this, expect that it's going to be chastening
Lots to very little
Could easily be a 50 point spread
I hope to fuck it's not a repeat of the '98 humiliation
I think you and @gibbon-rib are being overly pessimistic. Wales have proven to be a very tough nut to crack for the Boks for quite some time now. I am not expecting it to be any different this time around.
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@Billy-Webb said in Springboks v Wales:
@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v Wales:
@gibbon-rib said in Springboks v Wales:
@antipodean said in Springboks v Wales:
@Daffy-Jaffy I don't need to see the Welsh team to pick the winner. Sorry @MiketheSnow
I don't think you needed to see the Bok team either.
Not much looking forward to this, expect that it's going to be chastening
Lots to very little
Could easily be a 50 point spread
I hope to fuck it's not a repeat of the '98 humiliation
I think you and @gibbon-rib are being overly pessimistic. Wales have proven to be a very tough nut to crack for the Boks for quite some time now. I am not expecting it to be any different this time around.
I'm happy to be proven wrong, but not expecting it. Best I feel that I can hope for is that we'll be competitive for a test and a half, before being bulldozed for the rest.
Our recent record against the Boks is pretty good (at least compared to the other Southern hemisphere giants like NZ, Australia and Fiji), but our record in South Africa remains played 10, lost 10.
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@MiketheSnow @gibbon-rib what do you think?
Likely team: Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Dan Lydiate, Josh Navidi, Taulupe Faletau.
Likely replacements: Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Taine Basham, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Patchell, Louis Rees-Zammit
Lydiate and Cuthbert in likely Wales team to face South Africa
Wayne Pivac will name his team for the first Test in Pretoria later this week
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A Wales team without a fit A-W J starting must be a first for a long time
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Wales XV:
Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar (capt), Kieran Hardy
Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Dillon Lewis; Adam Beard, Will Rowlands; Dan Lydiate, Tommy Reffell, Taulupe FaletauReplacementss:
Dewi Lake, Rhys Carre, Tomas Francis, Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Owen WatkinReffell the bolter
Very handy bench for Wales
Still won't be enough
Boks by 16-21
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@MiketheSnow that’s a solid team. Backline looks dangerous. Loosies look ok. But fatties look … appetizing.
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I've got an opinion on everything, but if I'm honest I have zero insight to add. I don't watch any URC, so while I know all the Welsh players I have little idea about fitness and form. I'm stoked to see Dan Lydiate back, but that's because I'm thinking of 2012 Dan Lydiate, when he was one of the best players in the NH and chopping ball carriers in half for fun.
Welsh backs do look stronger than the forwards, which isn't ideal against the Bok. Bench looks decent as well, I just hope we're not squeezed out of it before they can make a difference.
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@MiketheSnow @gibbon-rib said in Springboks v Wales - 1st Test:
I hope to fuck it's not a repeat of the '98 humiliation
Nah, you'll do OK. Wales teams may now win everything but they always play their guts out and rarely lose badly
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@gibbon-rib said in Springboks v Wales - 1st Test:
I've got an opinion on everything, but if I'm honest I have zero insight to add. I don't watch any URC, so while I know all the Welsh players I have little idea about fitness and form. I'm stoked to see Dan Lydiate back, but that's because I'm thinking of 2012 Dan Lydiate, when he was one of the best players in the NH and chopping ball carriers in half for fun.
Welsh backs do look stronger than the forwards, which isn't ideal against the Bok. Bench looks decent as well, I just hope we're not squeezed out of it before they can make a difference.
If you support Wales, is probably good you didn't watch the URC....
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@Machpants said in Springboks v Wales - 1st Test:
@gibbon-rib said in Springboks v Wales - 1st Test:
I've got an opinion on everything, but if I'm honest I have zero insight to add. I don't watch any URC, so while I know all the Welsh players I have little idea about fitness and form. I'm stoked to see Dan Lydiate back, but that's because I'm thinking of 2012 Dan Lydiate, when he was one of the best players in the NH and chopping ball carriers in half for fun.
Welsh backs do look stronger than the forwards, which isn't ideal against the Bok. Bench looks decent as well, I just hope we're not squeezed out of it before they can make a difference.
If you support Wales, is probably good you didn't watch the URC....
We have a proud decades-long tradition of our clubs / regions / whatever being utterly abysmal, and then the same players being awesome (sometimes) when they pull on the red jersey
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@gibbon-rib said in Springboks v Wales - 1st Test:
@Machpants said in Springboks v Wales - 1st Test:
@gibbon-rib said in Springboks v Wales - 1st Test:
I've got an opinion on everything, but if I'm honest I have zero insight to add. I don't watch any URC, so while I know all the Welsh players I have little idea about fitness and form. I'm stoked to see Dan Lydiate back, but that's because I'm thinking of 2012 Dan Lydiate, when he was one of the best players in the NH and chopping ball carriers in half for fun.
Welsh backs do look stronger than the forwards, which isn't ideal against the Bok. Bench looks decent as well, I just hope we're not squeezed out of it before they can make a difference.
If you support Wales, is probably good you didn't watch the URC....
We have a proud decades-long tradition of our clubs / regions / whatever being utterly abysmal, and then the same players being awesome (sometimes) when they pull on the red jersey
Fingers crossed, Cymru am Byth
