TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98)
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Not surprised at all by the selection of Todd, underrated by some Ferners again, I see. He had a great SR season and I think he has a good chance of making the RWC squad, because they're probably going to use Ardie as cover for Read. I can't see any of the other loosies doing that, at the moment. For the pool game against SA and finals, they're likely going to use Cane and Read at 7 and 8, with Ardie on the bench, but for other games they could use Todd and Ardie as starters, or Cane and Ardie as starters, with Todd on the bench. Cane has had a few injuries over the last few years (not just that broken neck), so also from that perspective it's a good idea to give Todd enough game time before the RWC.
Looking forward to seeing the 10-15 combo of RM and BB, and also keen on finding out where they're going to use Bridge when he comes off the bench, fullback or wing, and which wing.
SBW is the player who has most to prove, more than Frizell IMO. Fifita only used this way because of S Barrett's injury.
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@Bovidae said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
SA team:
15 Willie le Roux (Wasps, England), 53 caps - 60 points (12 tries)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse, France), 7 - 10 (2t)
13 Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), 6 - 5 (1t)
12 Damian de Allende (DHL Stormers), 37 - 20 (4t)
11 Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks), 5 - 20 (4t)
10 Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), 39 - 339 (4t, 59c, 64p, 3d)
9 Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), 21 - 15 (3t)
8 Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls, captain), 46 - 15 (3t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers), 47 - 20 (4t)
6 Kwagga Smith (Emirates Lions), 1 - 0
5 Franco Mostert (Gloucester, England), 29 - 5 (1t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (DHL Stormers), 76 - 15 (3t)
3 Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), 29 - 0
2 Malcolm Marx (Emirates Lions), 24 - 20 (4t)
1 Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), 37 - 5 (1t)Replacements:
- Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers), 27 - 15 (3t)
- Tendai Mtawarira (Cell C Sharks), 108 - 10 (2t)
- Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls), 38 - 5 (1t)
- RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), 12 - 0
- Francois Louw (Bath, England), 66 - 45 (9t)
- Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), 1 - 10 (2t)
- Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France), 57 - 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)
- Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 41 - 60 (12t)
Pretty happy with the team, I would just have rather gone with Nkosi instead of Mapimpi and Mbonami for Brits or "The Angry Warthog" as Mbonami isn't an impact player. You either start with him or leave him out.
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Springboks media release: http://www.rugby15.co.za/duane-vermeulen-to-lead-springboks-against-new-zealand/
Experienced No 8 Duane Vermeulen will lead the Springboks against the All Blacks on Saturday, when the two traditional rivals clash in Wellington in the second round of the shortened 2019 Castle Lager Rugby Championship.Eben Etzebeth (lock), last weekend’s Bok captain, and Pieter-Steph du Toit (loose forward) are the only two forwards who were retained from the win over the Wallabies, with Makazole Mapimpi (wing) the only backline player in the starting line-up who also started last weekend. The rest of the Springbok starting lineup consists mainly of the group of players who travelled to New Zealand last Thursday, a few days before the rest of the South African tour party.Some interesting stats and facts in that media release, too.
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@Stargazer said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
Fifita only used this way because of S Barrett's injury.
I don't expect either starting lock to be replaced unless it's because of injury. So Fifita will be a straight swap for Frizell while Papalii will move to 7 for Todd.
I hope this is a last chance for Fifita because it was a perfect opportunity to look at other options, and I've mentioned the obvious one. Fifita having to play lock for a large part of the test would be the worst case scenario.
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@Machpants said in TRC: Pumas v All Blacks:
Analysis: The All Blacks' 11th hour innovation to kill off Northern Hemisphere line speed
Fast forward to the first All Blacks test of 2019 and it seems as if lessons from that night are shaping some new ideas on the eve of the World Cup.
@Machpants posted this in the Pumas-Abs thread, and I think it deserves a wider audience
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@nzzp interesting...no keeping powder dry now!
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@taniwharugby said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
@nzzp interesting...no keeping powder dry now!
It's one thing to know wha tthe ABs are going to do, it's another to rewire your game to defeat it.
Dollars to donuts this has been practised in camp since christmas. Wonder if it will last to the final
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Welcome to welly, JAFA
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=12252169&ref=rss
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I reckon that inside back combination( at their best ) may be the best equiped on taking on the rush defence with both players naturally comfortable passing after they have taken the ball to the line, and that is why Sbw keeps getting opportunities.
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Big Karl and Big Patty T. look like significant losers with this selection.
Ofa and Angus as the bench props would be concerning for both Karl and Nepo Laulala, since it points a bit to one of those two missing the RWC cut - and since Karl hasn't been given a run, maybe it's him in the gun.
Not picking a specialist lock on the bench and instead two two loosies would be pretty concerning for Tuipolotou, who's definitely 4th lock at best once Barrett is fit. I'm pretty surprised that they didn't choose Hemopo instead of Fifita, but this might be a pointer towards the pecking order in that regard as well. I think the AB selectors have mainly picked Fifita ahead of Hemopo?
I can also be colored pretty surprised that Todd is starting and neither Cane nor Ardie is in the 23.
Richie at 10, Beaudy at 15 is a very big call - it's exciting - but, hope neither of them gets injured! Not sure what the "significant" injury rate is for the starting XV in test rugby, but it must be more than one player per game.
Big game for SBW I think - needs to show he's worth persisting with.
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@Bovidae said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
5 am Thu morning is when the AB team is officially released. All is good in the world.
You would think that when the real team is announced that the token Chief and token Highlander in the pack named by @SouthernMann is just a hoax....
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I like the TJP/RM and BB at 15 combo if true. If it clicks it could be our best combination as A Smith's form has dropped off and TJP has improved, while RM is the form 10 right now.
If Todd has a great game then I'll be happy but think it could be a waste of a pick. At the very least he will be reliable in his work-rate but against a big Saffa pack I'm not sure if he can bring the right level of physicality.
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@Chris-B said in TRC: The All Blacks against the Springboks (version 98):
Not picking a specialist lock on the bench and instead two two loosies would be pretty concerning for Tuipolotou, who's definitely 4th lock at best once Barrett is fit.
Patty T is safe to me. He is just locked in a weird position where he can't force play his way into the match day 22 and there seems little appetite to supplant him as the fourth best lock. They need to take specialist lock coverage given Whitelock/Rettalick will be carried in the squad if injured early but still have the potential of coming right for a semi or final.
He is a bit years Colin Slade, needs a modicum of game time to keep him fit, but otherwise he can just sit tight.
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Geez I'm with @Stargazer people really do underestimate Todd. He's a quality performer.
