Los Pumas vs Springboks
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@SidBarret said in Los Pumas vs Springboks:
The line-out is a weakness despite playing four jumpers and our first choice tight head is a pot plant...
Glad you raised this.
It has started to concern me too. In that last game against Argie, it felt to me like Mbonambi would throw exclusively to Duane at around 4, and then Marx just to Etzebeth at 2.
So much so that I joked to a friend that these were probably the practice combinations.
Would definitely be an area the Boks need to work on, because if an armchair "expert" like myself starts picking it up, you can be sure brighter rugby minds in opposing teams have planned to target the Boks here. -
@Snowy said in Los Pumas vs Springboks:
@Billy-Webb said in Los Pumas vs Springboks:
Pack looks good.
First time I read that as "Pact looks good" and thought well you really are favourites then.
Hahaha.
No definite news on Pact yet. Apparently it was last seen playing a round of golf with Aura.
Last known scores were that they both level par. -
The Springbok team to play Argentina in Pretoria (in order of name, franchise or club, caps and points) is:
15 Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Bulls), 6, 5 (1t)
14 Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks), 7, 25 (5t)
13 Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls), 43, 60 (12t)
12 André Esterhuizen (Cell C Sharks), 7, 0
11 Dillyn Leyds (DHL Western Province), 9 5 (1t)
10 Elton Jantjies (vice-captain – Emirates Lions), 34, 239 (2t, 47c, 45p)
9 Cobus Reinach (Northampton, England), 11, 15 (3t)
8 Marcell Coetzee (Ulster, Northern Ireland) 29, 30 (6t)
7 Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse, France), 1, 0
6 Siya Kolisi (DHL Western Province), 41, 25 (5t)
5 Lood de Jager (Vodacom Bulls), 39, 25 (5t)
4 RG Snyman (Vodacom Bulls), 14, 0
3 Vincent Koch (Saracens, England), 14, 0
2 Schalk Brits (captain – Vodacom Bulls), 12, 5 (1t)
1 Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), 9, 0
Replacements:
16 Scarra Ntubeni (DHL Western Province), uncapped
17 Lizo Gqoboka (Vodacom Bulls), 1, 0
18 Wilco Louw (DHL Western Province), 12, 0
19 Marvin Orie (Emirates Lions), 2, 0
20 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), 2, 0
21 Kwagga Smith (Emirates Lions), 3, 0
22 Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks, England), 23, 15 (3t)
23 Frans Steyn (Montpellier, France) 59, 132 (10t, 5c, 21p, 3d)
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So Rassie has gone with a fresh team. Will be interesting to see how well they all gel together.
I guess this is the last moment to put a hand up for inclusion to Japan.Of that lot, I'd say the following probably have a plane ticket:
Gelandt (15)
Kriel (13)
Jantjies (10)
Kolisi (6)
de Jager (5)
Snyman (4)
de Klerk (22)
Steyn (23)Fringe I would say would be: Kwagga Smith
The rest have it all to play for.
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@ACT-Crusader Thanks mate, I never really left, I have just not been lurking about.
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@Billy-Webb said in Los Pumas vs Springboks:
So Rassie has gone with a fresh team. Will be interesting to see how well they all gel together.
I guess this is the last moment to put a hand up for inclusion to Japan.Of that lot, I'd say the following probably have a plane ticket:
Gelandt (15)
Kriel (13)
Jantjies (10)
Kolisi (6)
de Jager (5)
Snyman (4)
de Klerk (22)
Steyn (23)Fringe I would say would be: Kwagga Smith
The rest have it all to play for.
I think the squad is pretty much decided on already.
For me the question is around who the fifth prop will be and whether they will go with 5 loosies and two fullbacks or 6 loosies and only Le Roux (Kolbe and Kriel have both played there enough to get us through the pool games).
I willing bet the house on final squad being something very close to...
Le Roux (Gelant)
Kolbe, Mapimpi, Nkosi
Am, Kriel, De Allende, Steyn
Pollard, Jantjies
De Klerk, Jantjies, Reinach
Vermeulen, Du Toit, Kolisi, Louw, Smith (Coetzee)
Etsebeth, Mostert, Snyman, De Jager
Malherbe, Nyakane,
Marx, Mbonambi, Brits
Mtawarira, Kitshoff, Gqoboka -
Pretty much my thinking too.
Although not sure I agree with Gqoboka. I reckon they will take Koch. Call it a hunch.
I think Gelandt will make the trip but I would actually prefer we take another loosie or prop.
As you point out, there is fullback cover with Kolbe and Kriel and Frans Steyn even.Only other name missing is Aphiwe Dyantyi. If he is fit in time (and it looks like it is touch-and-go) then he will be included. Possibly at the expense of Cobus Reinach I'd wager. Kolbe did a good enough ambulance job at 9 to warrant taking only two 9's.
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Re Koch - I would prefer they go with an extra tight-head. 1) Nyakane can cover both sides so going in with 2 and half of each gives us more scope to manage the props' workload and 2) I really don't rate Malherbe and would like to have the option of dropping him from the strongest side.
But I think they will go with Gqoboka to help with the "numbers". Gqoboka is a great player who is unfortunate to be behind Kitshoff and Beast. It wouldn't be an undeserved selection, but probably not the best thing for the team.
If Dyanti can prove form and fitness he will probably take Nkosi's spot I think.
I see England have gone with only two scrumhalves and for a pool game Kolbe is fine as cover, but come the knock out rounds I would be super nervous about a scrummy going down in the week before the game. Also, like the with the props, the reserve scrumhalf with get plenty of minutes in pool rounds, so it would be nice to rotate Jantjes and De Klerk out of the 23.
You mention bringing in a another loosie, but it is case of who? It seems weird to say this, but where are the big blidside/8s at the moment? Smith, Louw, Kolisi and Coetzee are all primarily opensides. I am a little concerned about the minutes that Vermeulen and Du Toit will have to play. Whiteley is confirm as being out (I think) and the Du Preez brothers seem to be out of the mix. Rassie is having a look at Elstadt, but I just don't see it.
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What SA have is a game plan they understand and believe in.
That's not to be sniffed at. I wish we had that.
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@SidBarret said in Los Pumas vs Springboks:
Re Koch - I would prefer they go with an extra tight-head. 1) Nyakane can cover both sides so going in with 2 and half of each gives us more scope to manage the props' workload and 2) I really don't rate Malherbe and would like to have the option of dropping him from the strongest side.
But I think they will go with Gqoboka to help with the "numbers". Gqoboka is a great player who is unfortunate to be behind Kitshoff and Beast. It wouldn't be an undeserved selection, but probably not the best thing for the team.
If Dyanti can prove form and fitness he will probably take Nkosi's spot I think.
I see England have gone with only two scrumhalves and for a pool game Kolbe is fine as cover, but come the knock out rounds I would be super nervous about a scrummy going down in the week before the game. Also, like the with the props, the reserve scrumhalf with get plenty of minutes in pool rounds, so it would be nice to rotate Jantjes and De Klerk out of the 23.
You mention bringing in a another loosie, but it is case of who? It seems weird to say this, but where are the big blidside/8s at the moment? Smith, Louw, Kolisi and Coetzee are all primarily opensides. I am a little concerned about the minutes that Vermeulen and Du Toit will have to play. Whiteley is confirm as being out (I think) and the Du Preez brothers seem to be out of the mix. Rassie is having a look at Elstadt, but I just don't see it.
While we differ a bit on some calls - I can't fault your logic.
To add to your thoughts on loosies: Elstadt wouldn't be a good call for me either. And I am not a fan of the du Preez brothers. Even if Whiteley was fit in time - and this seems unlikely - he doesn't easily balance the loose trio although he at least gives the squad a second specialist no. 8. What has happened to our other blindside bruisers?!
