Rugby Championship Match Thread - Sat 2nd - SA v NZ / Arg v Aus

[OomStruisbaai]

He is not South Africa's preeminent rugby journalist. He's an absolute twat and he is on the receiving end of a big bashlash because of that comment. Nobody in SA takes him seriously, but he's a loudmouth that is good for clickbait. He is not representative of South African rugby fans in the slightest.

The Kiwis have Mark Reason we have Mark Keohane.

Mark Reason is a Pom who hates the All Blacks. He does negative click bait.

Although we have Chris Rattue who is probably more like your Keo. Insular, doesn’t really know about rugby.

Maybe this will give Sards a more balanced reading.

[Chilli]

So Barrett gets off scott free.

This is about as surprising as Zuma getting medical parole

[average joe]

He is not South Africa's preeminent rugby journalist. He's an absolute twat and he is on the receiving end of a big bashlash because of that comment. Nobody in SA takes him seriously, but he's a loudmouth that is good for clickbait. He is not representative of South African rugby fans in the slightest.

The Kiwis have Mark Reason we have Mark Keohane.

Mark Reason is a Pom who hates the All Blacks. He does negative click bait.

Although we have Chris Rattue who is probably more like your Keo. Insular, doesn’t really know about rugby.

If you can call Reason a pom then we can call Keo oirish.

[Blake]

When South Africa's preeminent rugby journalist reckons you lot just need to turn up, I simply have to revise my winning margin prediction: Boks by 40+

He is not South Africa's preeminent rugby journalist. He's an absolute twat and he is on the receiving end of a big bashlash because of that comment. Nobody in SA takes him seriously, but he's a loudmouth that is good for clickbait. He is not representative of South African rugby fans in the slightest.

It took him some time, but he's finally realised how to make bank by writing complete rubbish and maximising clicks...like some other rugby "journos" have been doing for yonks.

[OomStruisbaai]

Springbok team to face Australia in Gold Coast:

15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 66 caps, 60 pts (12t)
14 – Sbu Nkosi (Cell C Sharks) – 12 caps, 40 pts (8t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 19 caps, 20 pts (4t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 51 caps, 30 pts (6t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 18 caps, 80 pts (16t)
10 – Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 53 caps, 521 pts (6t, 82c, 105p, 4d)
9 – Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) – 32 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (Vodacom Bulls) – 53 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 44 caps, 5pts (1t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 56 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 50 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 90 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 43 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 41 caps, 40 pts (8t)
1 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 52 caps, 5pts (1t)

Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 39 caps, 35 pts (7t)
17 – Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks) – 4 caps, 0 pts
18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 24 caps, 0 pts
19 – Marco van Staden (Leicester Tigers) – 6 caps, 0 pts
20 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 12 caps, 5 pts (1t)
21 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 5 caps, 0 pts
22 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 14 caps, 25 pts (5t)
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 12 caps, 5pts (1t)

Springbok record against Australia:

Played 88; Won 48, Lost 37, Drawn 3; Points for 1733, Points against 1550; Tries scored 202, Tries conceded 159; Highest score 61 pts, Biggest win 45 pts; Win %: 54%.

Milestones:

Makazole Mapimpi has scored 16 tries in 18 Tests, which equates to a try-scoring record of 88.9%. The player with the best try-scoring ratio with more than 20 Test caps, is former Springbok centre Danie Gerber, who ended his career with 19 tries in 24 Tests (79.2%).
Duane Vermeulen will start his 53rd Test in the Springbok No 8 jersey, stretching his number of starts to six more than the second-placed Pierre Spies (47).
Miscellaneous:

The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is
There are 251 caps in the backline with 429 caps amongst the forwards. On the bench there are a further 116
The average caps per player in the backline are 36 the forwards 53 while the players on the bench average 14.

[OomStruisbaai]

SA Rugby

The experienced No 8 – who joined the Springbok squad at the start of the Castle Lager Lions Series in August but has yet to play a match – has recovered fully from the ankle surgery he had earlier this year and headlines the return of a handful of injured players for the important encounter.

Scrumhalves Faf de Klerk (leg strain) and Herschel Jantjies (hip pointer), and flank Marco van Staden (ankle) are also back from injury as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made 13 changes to his matchday squad for the match – seven in the starting lineup and six on the replacements bench.

Five of the changes to the starting team that defeated Argentina 29-10 in the second round of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in Nelson Mandela Bay were amongst the forwards. Vermeulen takes over from Jasper Wiese at the back of the scrum, and Eben Etzebeth comes in for Marvin Orie at lock, while a new front row of Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe (both props) and Bongi Mbonambi (hooker) will be in action.

The two changes in the backline are on the right wing, where Sbu Nkosi replaces Cheslin Kolbe who took a knock to the leg at training, and scrumhalf, where De Klerk returns for the first time since the second Test against the British & Irish Lions in place of Cobus Reinach.

Sbu Nkosi scores against Australia in 2019.
Sbu Nkosi scores against Australia in 2019.

Malcolm Marx (hooker), Ox Nché, Vincent Koch (both props), Van Staden, Wiese and Jantjies, meanwhile, will join Damian Willemse (utility back) and Kwagga Smith (loose forward) on a powerful replacements bench, which features a six-two split of forwards.

Nienaber was pleased to have a handful of players back from injury as the Springboks embark on a challenging four week stretch to defend their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title, with back-to-back Tests against Australia before successive encounters against New Zealand.

“We have been following the progress of the injured players on a daily basis, so we knew that we would be in a position to select most of them for this match,” said Nienaber.

“Duane has played an active role off the field in our team meetings and with the analysis of the opposition, and he has also provided guidance at training. He returned to full training when we arrived in Australia, so he has been in the thick of things for a while now.

“Duane, Faf and Herschel are Rugby World Cup winners, and so is Eben, who is back after we rotated him to manage his workload, while Marco has made a strong impact on the field this season as well, so we are pleased to have them back in the fold.

“Australia pose a strong threat with their running rugby and they like to keep the ball in play. They will also be playing in front of a charged-up home crowd, so it will be good to have these experienced players back as they know what it takes to perform in big matches.

Faf de Klerk is back in the No 9 jersey after missing the Boks' last three Tests.
Faf de Klerk is back in the No 9 jersey after missing the Boks' last three Tests.

“Unfortunately, we lost Cheslin to injury, but we are fortunate to have Sbu who steps in. He’s been working hard at training and he is eager to get back on the field.”

With the Springboks’ last Test being close to three weeks ago, Nienaber said it was important for the team to hit the ground running against Australia to maintain the momentum they’ve built up this season.

“We had sufficient time since our last Test to give the players a break after the physically taxing start to the season, and to work in a hard conditioning week before we tackle the remaining four Castle Lager Rugby Championship matches,” said Nienaber.

“We will be tested thoroughly in the next four weeks, so we have to be up for the challenge mentally and physically. There are also trophies such as the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate and the Freedom Cup up for grabs, so we will prepare well and give our best on the field.”

Luke Pearce (England) has been appointed the match referee, with Australia’s Damon Murphy and Jordan Way serving as assistant referees, and England’s Matthew Carley will be the TMO.

[Chilli]

Eish, no lock cover on the bench?

Australia by 20.

[Sards]

Eish, no lock cover on the bench?

Australia by 20.

Kwagga and Damien Willemse....

[Grandpa]

Apart from beating England in 2019 and NZ once in 2018... has SA done anything else of note in the past three years? (The Lions series is a pass, but not really "of note")

Surely this is the year for SA to cement their position as the best team on the planet? As up till now they haven't really been tested.

[FalseBayFC]

Eish, no lock cover on the bench?

Australia by 20.

We're starting 3 locks and Sous has an 80 minute engine. We do have a slowish loose trio and Duane will probably not last. So it will be good to have the three quicker loosies if we're battling against Hooper and co.

Very happy Van Staden and Sbu are in the mix. I reckon the Aus pack is ripe for the picking. As much as I wish we played more open rugby, I reckon the python approach will work against them.

I hope the squad is now fully match fit. They lacked a bit of conditioning against the Lions I thought. This is one area where Rassie has really made a difference. We lost many games against the AB's by just a few points and it was often their extra engine in the last 15 minutes that got them over the line.

[Ymx]

The Kiwis have Mark Reason we have Mark Keohane.

Mark Reason is a Pom who hates the All Blacks. He does negative click bait.

Although we have Chris Rattue who is probably more like your Keo. Insular, doesn’t really know about rugby.

If you can call Reason a pom then we can call Keo oirish.

Was Keo born and educated in Ireland and spend his first 30 plus years of his life in Ireland??

[assfly]

That is a very strong team.

My only concern are the backs on the bench.

[FalseBayFC]

He is not South Africa's preeminent rugby journalist. He's an absolute twat and he is on the receiving end of a big bashlash because of that comment. Nobody in SA takes him seriously, but he's a loudmouth that is good for clickbait. He is not representative of South African rugby fans in the slightest.

The Kiwis have Mark Reason we have Mark Keohane.

Mark Reason is a Pom who hates the All Blacks. He does negative click bait.

Although we have Chris Rattue who is probably more like your Keo. Insular, doesn’t really know about rugby.

By this reasoning several All Blacks are not Kiwis and Beast is not a South African. We've got to own our immigrants even if they've turned out to be annoying pricks. Keo is a vieslike kont but he's our prick. Good with the bad and all that

[FalseBayFC]

Apart from beating England in 2019 and NZ once in 2018... has SA done anything else of note in the past three years? (The Lions series is a pass, but not really "of note")

Surely this is the year for SA to cement their position as the best team on the planet? As up till now they haven't really been tested.

Top of the test rankings, holders of the Webb Ellis trophy and RC Champions and Rassie trolling the shit out of the NH blazers is enough for me. I have enough salt to last me another few years.

[OomStruisbaai]

Heard through the tides Hooper is out.

JOC also.

[assfly]

Hooper will be a huge loss. That man is an absolute machine.

[OomStruisbaai]

Apart from beating England in 2019 and NZ once in 2018... has SA done anything else of note in the past three years? (The Lions series is a pass, but not really "of note")

Surely this is the year for SA to cement their position as the best team on the planet? As up till now they haven't really been tested.

Top of the test rankings, holders of the Webb Ellis trophy and RC Champions and Rassie trolling the shit out of the NH blazers is enough for me. I have enough salt to last me another few years.

Grandpa on the typical Kiwi fishing trip. IF we win they go for the boring rugby line.

[OomStruisbaai]

Hooper will be a huge loss. That man is an absolute machine.

Yep he is outstanding. It has not been official but you never know with Rennie and the Aussies. Thats why van Staden is on our bench. Lets wait for their team announcement.

[OomStruisbaai]

Eish, no lock cover on the bench?

Australia by 20.

With Vermeulen back we have a lot of lineout options. Obvious we need to dominate 1st phase and breakdowns backup with strong defense.

[FalseBayFC]

Hooper will be a huge loss. That man is an absolute machine.

There are not many out and out fetcher type flanks left. Most of them are hybrid 6/7 types now. A lot of the jackalling is done by hooker or centre. Lukhanyo Am and Malcolm Marx and Vermeulen play that role for the Boks now. Brussouw was the last guy that was a specialist fetcher for us.

[Grandpa]

Apart from beating England in 2019 and NZ once in 2018... has SA done anything else of note in the past three years? (The Lions series is a pass, but not really "of note")

Surely this is the year for SA to cement their position as the best team on the planet? As up till now they haven't really been tested.

Top of the test rankings, holders of the Webb Ellis trophy and RC Champions and Rassie trolling the shit out of the NH blazers is enough for me. I have enough salt to last me another few years.

Grandpa on the typical Kiwi fishing trip. IF we win they go for the boring rugby line.

If you win every match in the RC and end of year tour I'll doff my cap... even better if it's good to watch for the neutral. I'm just as hard on NZ... they have been mostly rubbish since 2015... and so far this year have beaten a few second tier sides, so nothing to get excited about yet...

[OomStruisbaai]

Top of the test rankings, holders of the Webb Ellis trophy and RC Champions and Rassie trolling the shit out of the NH blazers is enough for me. I have enough salt to last me another few years.

Grandpa on the typical Kiwi fishing trip. IF we win they go for the boring rugby line.

If you win every match in the RC and end of year tour I'll doff my cap... even better if it's good to watch for the neutral. I'm just as hard on NZ... they have been mostly rubbish since 2015... and so far this year have beaten a few second tier sides, so nothing to get excited about yet...

You have very high standards.

[Grandpa]

Grandpa on the typical Kiwi fishing trip. IF we win they go for the boring rugby line.

If you win every match in the RC and end of year tour I'll doff my cap... even better if it's good to watch for the neutral. I'm just as hard on NZ... they have been mostly rubbish since 2015... and so far this year have beaten a few second tier sides, so nothing to get excited about yet...

You have very high standards.

As you get older it takes more and more to impress... don't you think?

[OomStruisbaai]

If you win every match in the RC and end of year tour I'll doff my cap... even better if it's good to watch for the neutral. I'm just as hard on NZ... they have been mostly rubbish since 2015... and so far this year have beaten a few second tier sides, so nothing to get excited about yet...

You have very high standards.

As you get older it takes more and more to impress... don't you think?

Beating the All Blacks in NZ is the top accolade in my books. Bigger then winning the WC. Rassie have never lost against the All Blacks in NZ.

[Grandpa]

You have very high standards.

As you get older it takes more and more to impress... don't you think?

Beating the All Blacks in NZ is the top accolade in my books. Bigger then winning the WC. Rassie have never lost against the All Blacks in NZ.

My favourite games are always the Boks v NZ on the High Veldt. But yes beating NZ in NZ is pretty rare... though be good for SA to make it a regular occurrence

[Ymx]

Added SA team post link to OP

Aussie team or others been published yet?

[OomStruisbaai]

As you get older it takes more and more to impress... don't you think?

Beating the All Blacks in NZ is the top accolade in my books. Bigger then winning the WC. Rassie have never lost against the All Blacks in NZ.

My favourite games are always the Boks v NZ on the High Veldt. But yes beating NZ in NZ is pretty rare... though be good for SA to make it a regular occurrence

Sadly we don't play that 100th test in NZ. If we win that one I,ll be off the crutches and will dance on the table again. Won't jump off trying to do a Mexican wave.

[handyman]

Apart from beating England in 2019 and NZ once in 2018... has SA done anything else of note in the past three years? (The Lions series is a pass, but not really "of note")

Surely this is the year for SA to cement their position as the best team on the planet? As up till now they haven't really been tested.

We would have loved to play you in the final boet, but you did not make it...

[OomStruisbaai]

The All Blacks have written off the Pumas.

[Sards]

Beating the All Blacks in NZ is the top accolade in my books. Bigger then winning the WC. Rassie have never lost against the All Blacks in NZ.

My favourite games are always the Boks v NZ on the High Veldt. But yes beating NZ in NZ is pretty rare... though be good for SA to make it a regular occurrence

Sadly we don't play that 100th test in NZ. If we win that one I,ll be off the crutches and will dance on the table again. Won't jump off trying to do a Mexican wave.

Have we beaten the ABs after a RWC in the next RC

[OomStruisbaai]

My favourite games are always the Boks v NZ on the High Veldt. But yes beating NZ in NZ is pretty rare... though be good for SA to make it a regular occurrence

Sadly we don't play that 100th test in NZ. If we win that one I,ll be off the crutches and will dance on the table again. Won't jump off trying to do a Mexican wave.

Have we beaten the ABs after a RWC in the next RC

Yep Piet Snor in 2008, Jake White 2004, Nick Mallet 2000. Markgraaf 1996

[Grandpa]

Sadly we don't play that 100th test in NZ. If we win that one I,ll be off the crutches and will dance on the table again. Won't jump off trying to do a Mexican wave.

Have we beaten the ABs after a RWC in the next RC

Yep Piet Snor in 2008, Jake White 2004, Nick Mallet 2000. Markgraaf 1996

But you shouldn't see the odd win against NZ as an achievement... The Boks are the Boks... they shouldn't be happy with scraps... I'd like to see results between SA and NZ to be pretty even... a true rivalry....

[sorCrer]

Have we beaten the ABs after a RWC in the next RC

Yep Piet Snor in 2008, Jake White 2004, Nick Mallet 2000. Markgraaf 1996

But you shouldn't see the odd win against NZ as an achievement... The Boks are the Boks... they shouldn't be happy with scraps... I'd like to see results between SA and NZ to be pretty even... a true rivalry....

We live in a very different reality in South Africa these days.

[Ymx]

Whitelock on target for final match against the Boks

Samuel Whitelock will be the first of the players on paternity leave to return to camp in Australia and is prepared for a challenge during quarantine to prepare himself for a shot at playing the second Fortinet Rugby Championship Test against South Africa.
He expects to complete his quarantine on the day of the first Test against the Springboks and is undertaking intensive personal training to make himself available for selection.

Whitelock said the Level 4 lockdown meant he was with his wife Hannah during the whole birthing process. They had been able to have more time together after the birth of Penelope on August 29 than his playing requirements allowed during the birth of their first two children Fred, (four and a half years) and Iris (two and a half years).

The couple had received help from neighbours around the birth and will have ongoing support from their parents and in-laws in Whitelock's absence with the All Blacks.

He flies to Brisbane on Friday to go into two weeks quarantine. He will complete that on the day of the first Test against South Africa.

It would be a challenge to train in a hotel room, but he said All Blacks trainer Nick Gill had been 'flogging him' in preparation for his departure and had organised a programme when in MIQ.

[Ymx]

Referees for the matches

Luke Pearce (Eng) for the Aus v SA match

And we have … Nic Berry

[Chilli]

Referees for the matches

Luke Pearce (Eng) for the Aus v SA match

And we have … Nic Berry

Referee Berry will be just fine after Rassie sorted out his shit.

You can thank him after the match.

[handyman]

Referees for the matches

Luke Pearce (Eng) for the Aus v SA match

And we have … Nic Berry

Cannot complain about Rassie and Berry. We've been assured many times by many posters that in fact it was Rassie that was wrong.

[FalseBayFC]

Have we beaten the ABs after a RWC in the next RC

Yep Piet Snor in 2008, Jake White 2004, Nick Mallet 2000. Markgraaf 1996

But you shouldn't see the odd win against NZ as an achievement... The Boks are the Boks... they shouldn't be happy with scraps... I'd like to see results between SA and NZ to be pretty even... a true rivalry....

Looking at our youth teams and school players, we certainly have the cattle coming through to be very competitive. We do however have a great need to improve the depth and quality of our coaching. The administration of the game is what holds us back the most. Our domestic unions are struggling with poor management and in some cases clear corruption. Its a poison in the SA rugby world.

[Grandpa]

Yep Piet Snor in 2008, Jake White 2004, Nick Mallet 2000. Markgraaf 1996

But you shouldn't see the odd win against NZ as an achievement... The Boks are the Boks... they shouldn't be happy with scraps... I'd like to see results between SA and NZ to be pretty even... a true rivalry....

Looking at our youth teams and school players, we certainly have the cattle coming through to be very competitive. We do however have a great need to improve the depth and quality of our coaching. The administration of the game is what holds us back the most. Our domestic unions are struggling with poor management and in some cases clear corruption. Its a poison in the SA rugby world.

It's a shame as raw potential wise, SA have at least as much talent available as any other country on Earth... but you have so many complications... we tend to forget that when viewing from afar...

[Grandpa]

Whitelock on target for final match against the Boks

Samuel Whitelock will be the first of the players on paternity leave to return to camp in Australia and is prepared for a challenge during quarantine to prepare himself for a shot at playing the second Fortinet Rugby Championship Test against South Africa.
He expects to complete his quarantine on the day of the first Test against the Springboks and is undertaking intensive personal training to make himself available for selection.

Whitelock said the Level 4 lockdown meant he was with his wife Hannah during the whole birthing process. They had been able to have more time together after the birth of Penelope on August 29 than his playing requirements allowed during the birth of their first two children Fred, (four and a half years) and Iris (two and a half years).

The couple had received help from neighbours around the birth and will have ongoing support from their parents and in-laws in Whitelock's absence with the All Blacks.

He flies to Brisbane on Friday to go into two weeks quarantine. He will complete that on the day of the first Test against South Africa.

It would be a challenge to train in a hotel room, but he said All Blacks trainer Nick Gill had been 'flogging him' in preparation for his departure and had organised a programme when in MIQ.

Would you start Whitelock in those circumstances? Two weeks in a hotel room with limited facilities.. he'll be undercooked surely. Maybe a bench option at best?