posted Nov 19, 2008

They wont win!!!!
SA always raise the level of play when they play against a good team - go back and look on avr how well weve played against avr teams we always think we will win with ease and end up falling on our head!!!!!
Please believe me come sat the Bokke will have a different mind set and they will go out with a different attitude and show Eng what they made of!!!!!

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posted Nov 19, 2008

[Spring]bokke - Afrikaans plural of Springbok.
[Spring]Bok - singular, one springbok
Boks - English (sort of) plural of springbok.
(If being pedantic, english version should be springbucks I guess)

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posted Nov 19, 2008

If England win that will be seen as a bonus to MJ as the real issue is to create a winning squad. What England need is a referee who is capable of actually reacting to what he is looking at rather than deciding England are doing something wrong. We will also never win substantively if Noon is in and Flood or Tait or Hipkiss or anybody is not playing! All winning teams are dynamic in contact and when passing. Simple really.

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posted Nov 19, 2008

goya - I think its a bit off base to be suggesting that Wales are NOT a good team.
South Africa have just played them and spent the entire second half on the back foot.
But for that lucky interception try they were a well beaten side, by a good side!
England are not an equal to Wales currently in my view.
They haven't beaten Wales in Cardiff since 2003, and the English side currently is not looking like they are going to, especially when you consider Wales are now competing with the top sides, still short of four or five first choice players!

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posted Nov 19, 2008

no one said Wales are not a good side i was talking in general and going way back, but besides that we did score an intecept try but then again Pienaar dropped the ball in the in goal so it evens it out i guess.....and our defence must of been fairly good not to let Wales score a try

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posted Nov 20, 2008

The problem with the scrum is that the hight difference between sheridan and mears is too great. when they bind sheridan is bent over and this causes a problem at the engagement. His head is bowed at the engagement and his drive is therefore down. They need a taller hooker at scrum time full stop.these tow props where at their best when thompson was in between them. As for the other problem, the line out, how do we concure the best line out in the world? I know lets leave one of our best line out jumperson the bench, and well send the best in the country back to London Irish...........after all they need the possession............or has the owner phoned Johnno and had a go over stealing Smith!!!!!!!

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posted Nov 20, 2008

utang - interesting point you're raising there about Sheridan.
He is a converted lock and therefore not the most technical prop around - just a lot of power.
It has implications for the Lions next summer also if he is in the running for loosehead.
At the moment I would say Gethin Jenkins and Euan Murray are the props in the pole position so no worries.
But should Sheridan start shredding a few Test front rows on a regular basis this season then the Lions will have to think about a hooker to put with him.
The Welsh ones will be no good for a start with the height differential.
Not sure about Ross Ford, Best or Flannery, but unless Hartley comes through Sheridan is as much of a problem at scrum time as a threat.
The Springboks at home are a different proposition.

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posted Nov 20, 2008

Bok Team for Sat...
1. Beast Mtawarira (9)
2. John Smit (capt) (80)
3. Jannie du Plessis (6)
4. Bakkies Botha (54)
5. Victor Matfield (79)
6. Schalk Burger (48)
7. Danie Rossouw (35)
8. Pierre Spies (18)
9. Ricky Januaries (33)
10. Ruan Pienaar (26)
11. Bryan Habana (45)
12. Jean de Villiers (45)
13. Adi Jacobs (20)
14. JP Pietersen (23)
15. Conrad Jantjes (23)

Reserves:

16. Chiliboy Ralepelle (2)
17. Brian Mujati (11)
18. Andries Bekker (12)
19. Ryan Kankowski (6)
20. Heinrich Brussow (-)
21. Frans Steyn (26)
22. Jaque Fourie (35)

Interesting after the discussion I had with MikeyPhil & TheFundi about Mujati/Beast combo being better that England’s front row.

As you can see above, Mujati stays on the bench and Jannie (Bismark’s brother) is flown out and put straight into the starting line-up. Does this mean Mujati is not ready and is there to fill a quota (I say quota because if Jannie is better then why was he left in SA???) or is he injured but still playing. Either or does that not mean PDV thinks Sheridan would over power him?

As per my argument before two, now three props with 26 caps between them, the captain who was injured/out of position most of the season. This is a slight opening for England.

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posted Nov 20, 2008

Warlord - just wondering whether this is the South Africans thinking ahead to the Lions tour.
They said in Wales that they were using this tour to prepare for the Lions next year.
Perhaps they don't want to show their hand too much at forward, particularly as they expect many of the English tight forwards to travel.
A key factor for the Boks over the Lions series will be dismantling the Lions scrum, so not giving too much away.
Smit has been playing prop, CJ is not even available for selection, no Steenkamp, Botha has been kept back in two games now.
Looks like they want to turn on the power again next summer!

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posted Nov 20, 2008

Just read Sheridan's out through a neck injury. That would explain his non presence last week.

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