Springboks vs All Blacks I
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@Chester-Draws said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
@MiketheSnow said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
Based on actual recent performances then SA should go 2-0
I must be imagining that they lost to Ireland then. At home.
They will be a challenge, for sure, but their current record isn't actually that much better than ours.
No no no, you’ve got it completely wrong. They are the Boks. They have 150kg front rowers that are immovable but fleet footed. Their locks are 7 foot tall, have 40 inch verticals meaning they never lose a lineout. And check out their loose forwards, there’s only 3 of them but you’d swear they had about 12 hard shoulders between them.
Flyhalf and fullback that kick 60 metres on the fly, wingers that just toy with their opposition with their pace. A midfield that are the size of loose forwards but run sub 11 second hundreds.
What hope do the little ol ABs have? Even the loyals have given up with comments after every test match this year like - “nothing that would trouble the Boks”, “they wouldn’t be scared”, “where’s aura?”, “they will trounce us”.
Just hand them the silverware now and we can all have a good nights rest on Sunday morning week.
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@Chris-B said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
@pakman TBH I'd have thought Scott would be our best tighthead lock now and I'm pairing Darry with him for his lineout work.
However, I'm not too bothered if they go Vaa'i/Barrett.
Main purpose of my post is to show we can field something not too far short of what we fielded in October. (Razor might e.g. prefer Paps over Cane).
I prefer Ofa to face Frans (if EDG, who handles Frans well, not available).
When things free up in second I like the greater mobility of Paps and Williams.
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@Chris-B said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
@pakman Size-wise - but, I think they'll pick Blackadder and I agree with that.
I think EB is currently a better player.
EB is busier, but against Boks big bodies are required, so for me EB plays 7 or not at all.
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@pakman said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
@Chris-B said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
@pakman Size-wise - but, I think they'll pick Blackadder and I agree with that.
I think EB is currently a better player.
EB is busier, but against Boks big bodies are required, so for me EB plays 7 or not at all.
I'm less in the EB plays 7 camp.
I think he's a better 6 and I'd pick Sam and Dalton at 7 ahead of him.
For now, I'd pick him at 6 - but, I'd like to pick a taller 6 - either a grown Finau or Frizell.
I think Ethan is a superb bench loosie - but, his motor also lends itself to playing 80 minutes at 6 although he's a bit small.
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@Chris-B said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
@pakman said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
@Chris-B said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
@pakman Size-wise - but, I think they'll pick Blackadder and I agree with that.
I think EB is currently a better player.
EB is busier, but against Boks big bodies are required, so for me EB plays 7 or not at all.
I'm less in the EB plays 7 camp.
I think Ethan is a superb bench loosie - but, his motor also lends itself to playing 80 minutes at 6 although he's a bit small.
I see him as an excellent bench prospect. But his engine is his greatest strength and, as you note, lends itself to entire 80.
With RD playing 80 that doesn’t really work.
If Hoskins was playing 60, EB playing 80 would open up scope for a big impact loosie on bench.
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@DaGrubster said in Springboks vs All Blacks I:
It wouldn’t surprise me if they went with Finau on a horses for courses basis
That was clearly Plan A - vs England.
It didn't work that well, so I'd be surprised if they go back to it for SA 1 - but, I think it's eventually the way of the future - though, maybe Frizell comes back first.
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The first two years of Razor's tenure will be hard. Fortunately, young guns are lurking : Holland, Haig, Stodart, Delany, Lakai. I see them as potential All Blacks as they are playing in positions where the cupboard is currently rather bare. I have great expectations for Johnny Lee for the 7 jersey but not before 2026, IMO.
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It’s surprising how quickly they discarded plan A, unless Blackadder was the original plan A but was injured during England series.
Plan B didn’t go very well in Wellington.
I suspect you could be right about Frizzell though.
Finau hasn’t had support in the ABs so far - played well on debut then dropped for the RWC squad - which want unexpected tbh
2 tests against a strong England side, played ok in a tough series. Not seen since.