NPR

Blake wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 9:50 am The rain worries me.

The Aussies are wounded and want to correct last week’s performance while our team is inexperienced and lacking the grunt that was the foundation of our gameplay last week.

Must admit wasn't expecting the rain, but not entirely sure its going to help the Wobs running game. We need to match the Bokke upfront, and have my doubts, Fingers crossed for a great game, we really need one in Oz currently.

Blake wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 9:50 am The rain worries me.

The Aussies are wounded and want to correct last week’s performance while our team is inexperienced and lacking the grunt that was the foundation of our gameplay last week.

If the Kiwi ref lets you boys scrum, you should be fine.

Two bad misses from Kellaway on that wing now.

Mapimpi carrying the ball in the wrong arm, loses it in contact.

Kiwias wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:10 am Mapimpi carrying the ball in the wrong arm, loses it in contact.

Yep, schoolboy error.

Mapimpi and Fassi.... = fire

South Africa B still too good for the wobblies

Bulls players don’t know you can’t carry into contact in the rain like you do in the sunshine.

VD Berg proving he’s Currie Cup quality.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:28 am VD Berg proving he’s Currie Cup quality.

Apologies to the Currie Cup. He’s worse than that.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:32 am

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:28 am VD Berg proving he’s Currie Cup quality.

Apologies to the Currie Cup. He’s worse than that.

Absolute garbage, he knows he is playing garbage so is panicking and over compensating

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:27 am Bulls players don’t know you can’t carry into contact in the rain like you do in the sunshine.

Another dig at other unions......

Fassi so safe under the high ball


Very underwhelming 1st half.
Kiwis would kill this side

Where's the captain

Sards wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:36 am

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 10:27 am Bulls players don’t know you can’t carry into contact in the rain like you do in the sunshine.

Another dig at other unions......

You always miss the message and play the man.

I’m a big vd Berg fan, but he is out of his depth today. Very bad showing.

We are also struggling without our scrum as a base. The Wessels-Grobbelaar-Du Toit front row is struggling. Some strange calls by the ref, but still, not as dominant as we have gotten used to.

Grobbelaar and Nortje also not linking up well in the line outs, conditions notwithstanding.

So ja, lots of players not covering themselves in glory.

Kolbe, Fassi and Mapimpi have all been good. Sacha has had some good touches, but also so stinkers.

Great half by Fassi.

Wallabies much better.

Cameron Wright in these conditions at 9 with that Bok pack (Tank, Eben, that backrow) in front of him and that Bok backline behind him, would be bossing this with his boot. Would be hitting them back on defence too.

Instead we have some chump.

This is going to come down to kicks. Cmaan Manie. Let's see what you got

Dumb Bok forwards are keeping the Aussies in this one.

Why is Nortje slapping the lineout back instead of catching on our throw??

Sacha’s tactical kicks are not very accurate. Maybe time to get Pollard on. It’s kind of what he does.

Uncontested scrums. Now we know why Rassie picked a 5-3 bench.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:09 am Uncontested scrums. Now we know why Rassie picked a 5-3 bench.

Ja, between the weather and the now uncontested scrums, I’m not feeling comfortable at all.

Lots of time wasting by the Wallabies. Just pointing that out.

Another dumb penalty by one of the starters. Not really pushing for a permanent place is Nortje

Libbok and Pollard are not in sync

Lots of maul practice today. Much needed IMO.

Dumbo Jorgensen has some pace!! Good debut.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:34 am Libbok and Pollard are not in sync

Not at all. They better figure it out though because it might be their future if they want to keep wearing a Bok jersey.

PSdT is a true legend

OomStruisbaai wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:39 am PSdT is a true legend

Such a warrior. Love the guy.

Australia are just fucking terrible, no getting away from it, there is nothing there, not even green shoots of hope.

Bok defence still outstanding.

30-12 Boks

Kolbe probably MOTM?

He had a good outing.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:43 am Bok defence still outstanding.

30-12 Boks

4 tries to nil. Good shift by the guys, but the Aussies were also pretty toothless out there.

NZ is going to be a massive step up given their performance this morning.

Put that down to the weather and uncontested scrums.

PSDT
Fassi

Only 2 standouts

ASMO wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:42 am Australia are just fucking terrible, no getting away from it, there is nothing there, not even green shoots of hope.

Ja they've got near fokkol, one moment summed it all up on the 68th minute. Scrum penalty on the Bok line, uncontested so the Wallabies have clean ball 5 metres out, playing in Australia, against a Bok side that wasn't the absolute best selection (still much better than some were saying imo), Wallabies still in the fight on the scoreboard. They fucked it and lost the ball. Random select any other era Wallaby team from the last 30 years and they're pulling out a set move and scoring under the posts.

A lot of problems are coming at them all at once. They have a grand slam EOYT this year, I've been watching their analysis shows this week, their former players are talking about snatching one win against Wales or Scotland. Then a Lions series. Then hosting a RWC.

Maybe people are jumping the gun saying Kiwi sides have lost something not playing SA teams below test level (former All Blacks have said it, so maybe not), but it's definitely true with the Wallabies. They just look so much weaker now. Still not competitive enough against Kiwi Super sides, still no valid domestic comp, ultra competitive sports market (league, Aussie rules, soccer, cricket all competing for interest). Could easily be down and out 5 years from now. It is frustrating and sad to see, SA and NZ invested 30 years into the Aussie market, could end up all being wasted. Pointless SA giving them any advice as they always ignore us and say we're shit.

Blake wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:44 am Kolbe probably MOTM?

He had a good outing.

Definitely, he went up another level at the RWC and has stayed there. Ridiculously good.

Sandstorm wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2024 11:28 am Another dumb penalty by one of the starters. Not really pushing for a permanent place is Nortje

Good information to get though. If players don't put their hand up, doing the opposite and removing themselves from contention also helps.

I watched as much URC as I could this season and the European matches. Nortje looked like a poor man's Mostert to me, had the work rate of a Mostert but not the skills. Just looked like a provincial level player, the sort of guy you would be happy to see in the squad for your province but not so much for the Boks. Players should be expected to have some x factor to make the Boks. Could still step up, but nowhere near at the moment.

Nortje was at least on my radar and did something for the Bulls. No clue what Rassie and the coaches see in Morne van den Berg, wasn't on my radar at all. Got to wonder if they have written Wright off as being windgat, but he is just a Durbs soutie.