RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks
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@Chris-B said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
@Machpants said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
So do those is say pretty much everyone backing black?
Listen to Matfield in Tim's video. Those Boks won't be turning up flat or tired. In 1995, we turned up half-dead and still took them to extra time.
We've got a small preparatory advantage, that's turned into a "we're gonna win" vibe. Everyone I've talked to is feeling it and I can see it in this thread.
Don't believe it. This will be at least as intense as the Ireland game and anything can happen. Just look at England last time - looked a sure bet and fell heavily on their arse!
And this is a "must win" game. Arguably the most important game in 20 years.
Just which 20 years is the question.
Not as important as the 2011 final - because in that game the monkey on our back had turned into a gigantic Gorilla that needed to be shot off the Empire State Building!
But, more important than 2015, when the relief of winning in 2011 would have sustained us - and when we had the confidence to smack the shit out of that monkey and bury him so deep that he couldn't dig his way out in the following eight years.
But, what have we seen in the past eight years? Aura left Twickenham dressed in designer robes, having put the fear of God (and Danny Boy) into all opposition.
We had a free swing in 2019 and missed it - and charitably left making noises of how it's nice for someone else to win for a change, blah, blah...
But now we're in 2023 and I can hear the sound of the fucking monkey's shovel. Jonny Sexton hasn't given Aura a thought - and the rest of us have seen glimpses of her buying clothes at the Warehouse.
If we win, we can collect the gold and bury that monkey under a massive pile of tailings. We will rock up to the 2027 tournament with the "won three of the last four" narrative. Aura will be the belle of the ball!
If we lose, it will be 12 long years since we won the Big Cup. Aura will be an Insta Ho and we'll have a fucking zombie monkey in tow. The narrative will be all about the Boks going for a three-peat - and a 5-3 advantage over us in Cups won.
We cannot have that!!!
Stop it. You're making me nervous.
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I'm expecting us to kick a lot. We do anyway, and England (and RC test) showed that the boks are weak under the high ball on defence. I'm hoping we don't do that too much with the ball landing in our half. I also hope that when that pressure tells on SA we can do something with it, unlike England
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@Chris-B said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
@booboo said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
Stop it. You're making me nervous.
The rugby gods feast on the nerves of the supporters and punish the smug!
No NZer should be watching this game except from behind their couch!
can i suggest also a pub...so we're close to alcohol and sympathetic shoulders?
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@Duluth said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
Who cares about backs. I wonder who has the second most minutes is in the forwards? Probably S Barrett?
Do they take ten minutes off for cards?
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@Machpants said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
Most minutes at the Cup for the All Blacks
Will Jordan 390Looking forward to him scoring his 9th RWC try 8 mins into the 2nd half.
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@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
@Chris-B said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
@booboo said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
Stop it. You're making me nervous.
The rugby gods feast on the nerves of the supporters and punish the smug!
No NZer should be watching this game except from behind their couch!
can i suggest also a pub...so we're close to alcohol and sympathetic shoulders?
The pub???
Hell's bells, man.
There may be people there likely to say such things as, "Oh well, it's only a game".
Or, even fair-weather Springbok supporters.
No. Behind the couch is the only place. I've already put my third case of beer in there. The first two have been drunk already, because I'm spending most of my week in there!
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i think i'll just make sure i am hellishly hungover again so i remain numb throughout
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Nepo to replace fletcher, apart from that same 23as semi .
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I am hoping for focus, ball retention and straight up the guts.
Currently grinding out another 72 hrs of work pretending it's a normal week. -
Hoping to see Sami Roigard and Laulala on the bench as horses for courses. I think we need to plan a rumble through the ruck fringes to get on top and keep it energised all game, and can't afford scrum penalties in last 20. Start xv stays same although I would prefer Dmac to Beauden to tire the Boks quicker in defence.
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The leaked team also has Brodie staying on the bench
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Have a bit of concern with Nepo finishing the game more so from his around the ground work. Have visions of him being stepped around and the Boks scoring match winning points.
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@kiwiinmelb said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
The leaked team also has Brodie staying on the bench
Linky?
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@kiwiinmelb said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
The leaked team also has Brodie staying on the bench
can you post the full list?.....@george33 got the news?
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@ACT-Crusader said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
Have a bit of concern with Nepo finishing the game more so from his around the ground work. Have visions of him being stepped around and the Boks scoring match winning points.
Newell got a bit owned off of the bench vs Boks in London and to a lesser degree France opening game.
Given scrum strength for Boks off of the bench Laulala makes sense to me.
Agreed though there are risks both ways - Laulala can be a worry during phase play - though from memory was excellent vs Boks at Mt Smart.
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@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:
I'm at a family weekend in Kent for the Final. I have a choice of watching it with Mrs M's children and young grandchildren (neither are really all that into rugby) or slinking back to the hotel and watching it on my own.
I'm taking a half-bottle of Single Malt and opting for the hotel room.
Been invited to a kiwi mates bar in Ottawa. I know there'll be some dumb shit Canadians with no skin in the game other than for a wind up. I think I'll stay home and sink the remaining out of date Speights I have. I can't contain the rage but at least I can mitigate who sees it.