Autumn Series Week 3: SCO vs RSA, ITA vs ARG, IRE vs NZ, ENG vs AUS, FRA vs GEO, WAL vs FIJI

[Blake]

Scotland vs Boks ... Murrayfield, Edinburgh. 13 Nov 2021. RSA 15:00
Italy vs Pumas ... Stadio di Monigo, Treviso. 13 Nov 2021. RSA 15:00
Ireland vs All Blacks ... Aviva Stadium, Dublin. 13 Nov 2021. RSA 17:15
England vs Wallabies (TBA) ... Twickenham Stadium, London. 13 Nov 2021. RSA 19:30
France vs Georgia (TBA) ... Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux. 14 Nov 2021. RSA 15:00
Wales (TBA) vs Fiji (TBA) ... Principality Stadium, Cardiff. 14 Nov 2021. RSA 17:15


Bok Team vs Scotland
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 70 caps, 60 pts (12t)
14 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 49 caps, 60 pts (12t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 24 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 56 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 23 caps, 85 pts (17t)
10 – Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes) – 42 caps, 312 pts (2t, 64c, 57p, 1d)
9 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 19 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 59 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 17 caps, 5 pts (1t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 61 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 49 caps, 5pts (1t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 95 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 52 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 46 caps, 45 pts (9t)
1 – Ox Nché (Cell C Sharks) – 7 caps, 0pts

Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 44 caps, 50 pts (10t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 57 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 29 caps, 0 pts
19 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 54 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 9 caps, 0 pts
21 – Cobus Reinach (Montpellier) – 19 caps, 40pts (8t)
22 – Handré Pollard (Montpellier) – 58 caps, 580 pts (6t, 83c, 124p, 4d)
23 – Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 72 caps, 144pts (11t, 7c, 22p, 3d)

[assfly]

I am both looking forward to and dreading this match. Could be a real cracker.

I'm glad we've got Willie there, I think we need a maverick to counter whatever tricks Finn Russel has up his sleeves. But I just hope he brings his a-game.

[sturginho]

good work

[Blake]

Glad Pollard was dropped to the bench, but disappointed Reinach didn't get a starting spot.

Also a little worried about starting Le Roux and Jantjies. As mentioned in a previous post; 2 left footed kickers, with medium clearance range and both prone to brilliance and brain farts.
Not sure if the are going to get is unto the Scottish half where we actually want to play.

[Tichtheid]

South Africa don't hang around with their team announcements.

That's a very strong line up.

[Blake]

South Africa don't hang around with their team announcements.

That's a very strong line up.

It's a pretty settled squad; so that is an advantage. I think Nienaber is under a bit of pressure to get his win-ratio up after the 3 losses in TRC, so he isn't feeling too keen on experimenting on this tour.

Very disappointed he is persisting with Kriel on the wing. Wish he would have given Fassi a shot. Such a great opportunity with Kolbe and Nkosi not available.
He could have blooded a youngster without causing too much waves in the squad.

[assfly]

Saturday afternoon is going to be mental. Three seriously good test matches, one after the other.

Wonder if I can send the wife and kids away for the day!

[Slick]

Elton at 10, excellent

[Chilli]

No Fassi?

14 pages of moaning by Sards.

[OomStruisbaai]

At first it look like a screwed Bok team but then the bench look like a real bom squad to do damage.

[boere wors]

Kriel on the wing again is the real shocker here. He was abysmal, Raymond Rhule would do better...

Herschel didnt deserve to start again, not fair on Cobus, who is in outstanding form and who is familiar with the conditions.

Willie is Willie.

However, Elton for Pollard is a good call from the coaches.


The Scots are pumped after their win against Australia, and Finn Russel will trouble us like he did in the 3rd Lions test. Weather forecast says 12 degrees and Rain all day with gusty winds, Boks are in for a tough day.

[Ymx]

Thanks Blake. I didn’t have the energy this week

[Blake]

Thanks Blake. I didn’t have the energy this week

All good. Hopefully some other posters will post the other squads and I'll just link them like you did.

[Blake]

Kriel on the wing again is the real shocker here. He was abysmal, Raymond Rhule would do better...

Herschel didnt deserve to start again, not fair on Cobus, who is in outstanding form and who is familiar with the conditions.

Willie is Willie.

However, Elton for Pollard is a good call from the coaches.


The Scots are pumped after their win against Australia, and Finn Russel will trouble us like he did in the 3rd Lions test. Weather forecast says 12 degrees and Rain all day with gusty winds, Boks are in for a tough day.

Agree on all of that.
Kriel should have been dropped and Fassi should have started. The only reason I can think for Nienaber persisting with Kriel, is that he is not comfortable that Fassi has adapted to the defensive system yet.
H Jantjies should have been benched. No reason to start with him given his form this year. Maybe coach doesn't trust him to close out a tight game?
Willie is Willie, but his defensive reads are good and he can cover more ground than Steyn if Russel's kicking is accurate.
E Jantjies starting is good, but it's going to be a real test given the expected conditions. Not really suited to his style of play; so hope he has a good showing as the Pollard-stans will be brutal him.

Worried about our ability to clear the lines in the expected conditions. We are going to miss Frans' big boot until he gets subbed on...if he gets subbed on.

[Torquemada 1420]

South Africa don't hang around with their team announcements.

That's a very strong line up.

I like this. None of this playing psychological warfare bollox of delaying until the last moment. I waste too much time on Friday nights scouring the interwebby for team sheets.

[Sandstorm]

Kriel on the wing again is the real shocker here. He was abysmal, Raymond Rhule would do better...

Herschel didnt deserve to start again, not fair on Cobus, who is in outstanding form and who is familiar with the conditions.

Willie is Willie.

However, Elton for Pollard is a good call from the coaches.


The Scots are pumped after their win against Australia, and Finn Russel will trouble us like he did in the 3rd Lions test. Weather forecast says 12 degrees and Rain all day with gusty winds, Boks are in for a tough day.

Agree on all of that.
Kriel should have been dropped and Fassi should have started. The only reason I can think for Nienaber persisting with Kriel, is that he is not comfortable that Fassi has adapted to the defensive system yet.
H Jantjies should have been benched. No reason to start with him given his form this year. Maybe coach doesn't trust him to close out a tight game?
Willie is Willie, but his defensive reads are good and he can cover more ground than Steyn if Russel's kicking is accurate.
E Jantjies starting is good, but it's going to be a real test given the expected conditions. Not really suited to his style of play; so hope he has a good showing as the Pollard-stans will be brutal him.

Worried about our ability to clear the lines in the expected conditions. We are going to miss Frans' big boot until he gets subbed on...if he gets subbed on.

Kriel hasn’t adapted to the defensive system against Japan in Brighton yet. Ridiculous to start him again.

[ScarfaceClaw]

I’m going to come out and say it. I fear for the All Blacks this weekend. We’ve been shite of late and were extra shite in the weekend.

[Uncle fester]

I’m going to come out and say it. I fear for the All Blacks this weekend. We’ve been shite of late and were extra shite in the weekend.

You'll win. Think it'll be close enough though as our pack are decent. Backs though...

[Ymx]

We are playing the Irish. So not an Amazon game.

Which game is that overlapping with?

[Sandstorm]

We are playing the Irish. So not an Amazon game.

Which game is that overlapping with?

Arsenal v Spurs Women’s league

[Paddington Bear]

Actually think Italy Argentina will be an interesting match

[Ymx]

Actually, it looks like

Sat
1pm - Italy v Argentina / Scotland v South Africa
3.15pm - Ireland v NZ
5.30pm - England v Australia

Sun
1pm - France v Georgia
3.15pm - Wales v Fiji

So its 2 amazon games which are conflicting. not the channel 4 game.

[sockwithaticket]

We are playing the Irish. So not an Amazon game.

Which game is that overlapping with?

Nothing as far as I can see, it's sandwiched between other game at 13:00 and 17:30.

[boere wors]

Kriel hasn’t adapted to the defensive system against Japan in Brighton yet. Ridiculous to start him again.

True

[sturginho]

Actually, it looks like

Sat
1pm - Italy v Argentina / Scotland v South Africa
3.15pm - Ireland v NZ
5.30pm - England v Australia

Sun
1pm - France v Georgia
3.15pm - Wales v Fiji

So its 2 amazon games which are conflicting. not the channel 4 game.

lets face it, nobody wants to watch Italy vs Argentina

[Tichtheid]

Actually, it looks like

Sat
1pm - Italy v Argentina / Scotland v South Africa
3.15pm - Ireland v NZ
5.30pm - England v Australia

Sun
1pm - France v Georgia
3.15pm - Wales v Fiji

So its 2 amazon games which are conflicting. not the channel 4 game.

lets face it, nobody wants to watch Italy vs Argentina

We have the Argentinian fullback coming to Edinburgh after this, so I've been keeping an eye open, he played on the wing in RC.

I like the look of him (Boffelli)

[convoluted]

A stupendous line-up, topped off at the very end with Wales-Fiji.

But is there a rock-solid guarantee that Ireland aren't going to try and run out in the purple jersey and black shorts stunt they pulled last week?

[Uncle fester]

A stupendous line-up, topped off at the very end with Wales-Fiji.

But is there a rock-solid guarantee that Ireland aren't going to try and run out in the purple jersey and black shorts stunt they pulled last week?

I can smell your fear.

[Chilli]

Ex team mates up against each other.

[convoluted]

I’m going to come out and say it. I fear for the All Blacks this weekend. We’ve been shite of late and were extra shite in the weekend.

You're our good luck charm when you do this.

One of the great AB performances coming up.

[OomStruisbaai]

Ex team mates up against each other.

Pieter de Villiers is the big worry.

[sturginho]

Guido Petti is out for the Italy match because of a knee injury

[convoluted]

Reiko at centre please Mr Foster.
We need some Neesham-level Oomph and Kapow there.

[Enzedder]

Looks like Planet Rugby have the inside word

Two centurions come up against each other at fly-half in Dublin on Saturday, with a fresh-looking Johnny Sexton facing off with newly-minted All Black centurion Beauden Barrett.

Sexton on Tuesday reminded the Irish public not to expect the same champagne Ireland opened against Japan and Barrett echoed his sentiments, explaining that New Zealand were expecting a physical and tactically-nuanced game.

The Irish have pulled two wins against New Zealand out of the last four match-ups, both times outplaying their opponents, but New Zealand delivered when it mattered in the quarter-finals at the last Rugby World Cup.

Keeping it alive
Since then, Barrett has noticed how much more Ireland have been using ball-in-play time and has warned his side to prepare for a non-stop onslaught.


“It’s certainly going to be tight, physical, with a lot of tactics being played,” he said.

“It’s test footy – you can’t get too cute with it. You’ve got to win the battle up front and earn the right to do all those things. It will be the same thing we’ve seen in recent years, I’m picking.”

And as much as the team challenge will be the key, Barrett is looking forward to his own match-up against his opposite number.

“I admire his play, his longevity and how influential he is for his team,” said Barrett of Sexton.

https://www.planetrugby.com/beauden-bar ... eXPLmjJdP8

[Ymx]

Really? Barrett leaked the team to PR? Well leaked himself.

[Torquemada 1420]

Actually think Italy Argentina will be an interesting match

Agree. Think it will be tighter than many expect.

[Grandpa]

Reiko at centre please Mr Foster.
We need some Neesham-level Oomph and Kapow there.

I wonder if they have thought about playing Rieko at 12... if they want a 12 to get over the advantage line...

[Tichtheid]

This is a good read, Kyle Steyn might well face the country of his birth on Saturday, we’ll find out later today. His father was head of Nelson Mandela’s security and he was also doing security for the All Blacks when Suzie did her thing at the world cup, it’s all in here

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59233294

[Grandpa]

Havili dropped to the bench.... but no QT...

he All Blacks team has been named to play Ireland at Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday 13 November. (Kick-off: 3.15PM / 4.15AM Sunday NZT).
The matchday 23 is:

1. Joe Moody (55)
2. Codie Taylor (65)
3. Nepo Laulala (38)
4. Brodie Retallick (90)
5. Samuel Whitelock – captain (130)
6. Ethan Blackadder (8)
7. Dalton Papalii (11)
8. Ardie Savea (57)
9. TJ Perenara (77)
10. Beauden Barrett (100)
11. Sevu Reece (16)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (55)
13. Rieko Ioane (45)
14. Will Jordan (11)
15. Jordie Barrett (34)

16. Dane Coles (78)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (24)
18. Tyrel Lomax (13)
19. Tupou Vaa’i (10)
20. Akira Ioane (11)
21. Finlay Christie (5)
22. Richie Mo’unga (30)
23. David Havili (13)

The forward pack which ran out against Wales two weeks ago has been retained, with the front row of Joe Moody, Codie Taylor and Nepo Laulala. The second row is the experienced Samuel Whitelock, who will captain the side, and Brodie Retallick, while in the loose forwards, Ethan Blackadder is at blindside flanker, Dalton Papalii is at openside, while Ardie Savea is number eight. Dane Coles comes in as reserve hooker, alongside fellow reserves: props Karl Tu’inukuafe and Tyrel Lomax, lock Tupou Vaa’i and loose forward Akira Ioane.

In the backs, TJ Perenara is at halfback, with Beauden Barrett at 10, while Anton Lienert-Brown moves to second five-eighth and Rieko Ioane is at centre. Sevu Reece is on the left wing, Will Jordan on the right and Jordie Barrett is at fullback. Halfback Finlay Christie, first five-eighth Richie Mo’unga and David Havili are the back reserves.

[Kiwias]

Great to see Blackadder starting, he has definitely earned his spot. Sam Cane has gone from (C) to out of the squad. Is he injured? My main question is what time will RMo move into 15?