2017 International Tests

Lel, well done to the Blues. They showed some exciting set pieces. SB had some good line breaks at his age. B&I Lions are in trouble. Yah, Gatland lost his touch, seen it with Wales.
 
Pretty tough battle. The Lions really just needed to stop kicking aimlessly. When they started putting phases together they actually got points for it. They persisted with those stupid box kicks even though Duffie and Collins were way superior to them in the air.
 
Japan has been added with one more schedule this year, they play the World XV coached by Robbie Deans on Oct 28 in Japan.
 
All Blacks squad:

Backs: Ben Smith, Jordie Barrett, Israel Dagg, Waisake Naholo, Julian Savea, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Ngani Laumape, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow.

Forwards: Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Jerome Kaino, Liam Squire, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Joe Moody, Wyatt Crockett, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Dane Coles, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris.

On standby: Jack Goodhue, Akira Ioane, Matt Todd, Vaea Fifita, Liam Coltman.
Click to expand...

Laumape edged out Fekitoa in the midfield. Together with Jordie Barrett the only uncapped players in the squad.
 
According to SA Rugby Rag

Probable Boks – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Dillyn Leyds.

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/coetzee-to-bank-on-lions

Allister Coetzee looks set to name a locally-based starting XV stacked with Lions players for the first Test against France. JON CARDINELLI in Pretoria reports.

The Boks have talked a big game in Pretoria this week. Coetzee and his coaching lieutenants have waxed lyrical about a burgeoning team culture as well as a tactical shift.

Can the Boks complete such a drastic turnaround in the space of a few months? The South African rugby brand sustained significant damage in 2016. The Boks lost eight of their 12 Tests, and dropped to seventh in the World Rugby rankings as a result.

Coetzee is under pressure to produce results in the next three Tests against France. A series defeat could well end his tenure as head coach.

Publicly, Coetzee has sought to assure the media, fans and stakeholders that he is not feeling the pressure. Privately, he must know that it will be do or die for him and his management team over the next three weeks.

That he survived the 2016 season – the Boks’ worst in the professional era – is a miracle in itself.
Click to expand...
 
If that's the Sprinbok team then I see the French beating us.

Also I put down a big bet on the Crusaders to beat the Lions! *holding thumbs*
 
Solitude said:
If that's the Sprinbok team then I see the French beating us.

Also I put down a big bet on the Crusaders to beat the Lions! *holding thumbs*
Click to expand...

Well I haven't seen the Le Bleus squad, but I believe it is significantly weaker that their usual one. We really should have enough to overcome them.

Good luck with that bet! Think it should be a sure thing.
 
Agent_Smith said:
Well I haven't seen the Le Bleus squad, but I believe it is significantly weaker that their usual one. We really should have enough to overcome them.

Good luck with that bet! Think it should be a sure thing.
Click to expand...

Only if the Crusaders beat a different New Zealand team is the semi-final. Holding thumbs Crusaders lose the semi-final and Lions play final at Ellis Park.
 
DanDango said:
Only if the Crusaders beat a different New Zealand team is the semi-final. Holding thumbs Crusaders lose the semi-final and Lions play final at Ellis Park.
Click to expand...

We are talking about the British and Irish Lions. I put my money on that game. :)
 
Japan team to play Romania on Saturday,

Starting line-up:

01. Koki Yamamoto (Yamaha Júbilo/Sunwolves)
02. Shota Horie (Panasonic Wild Knights/Sunwolves)
03. Takuma Asahara (Toshiba Brave Lupus/Sunwolves)
04. Kotaro Yatabe (Panasonic Wild Knights/Sunwolves)
05. Uwe Helu (Yamaha Júbilo/Sunwolves)
06. Michael Leitch (Toshiba Brave Lupus/Chiefs)
07. Yo****aka Tokunaga (Toshiba Brave Lupus/Sunwolves)
08. Amanaki Lelei Mafi (NTT Shining Arcs/Rebels)
09. Fumiaki Tanaka (Panasonic Wild Knights/Sunwolves)
10. Jumpei Ogura (NTT Shining Arcs/Rebels)
11. Kenki Fukuoka (Panasonic Wild Knights/Sunwolves)
12. Derek Carpenter (Suntory Sungoliath/Sunwolves)
13. Timothy Lafaele (Coca-Cola Red Sparks/Sunwolves)
14. Akihito Yamada (Panasonic Wild Knights/Sunwolves)
15. Ryuji Noguchi (Tokai University)

Bench:

16. Yusuke Niwai (Canon Eagles/Sunwolves)
17. Keita Inagaki (Panasonic Wild Knights/Sunwolves)
18. Heiichiro Ito (Yamaha Júbilo/Sunwolves)
19. Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba Brave Lupus/Sunwolves)
20. Hendrik Tui (Suntory Sungoliath/Reds)
21. Keisuke Uchida (Panasonic Wild Knights/Sunwolves)
22. Yu Tamura (Canon Eagles/Sunwolves)
23. Kotaro Matsushima (Suntory Sungoliath/Sunwolves)

Jamie Joseph is experimental with the backline, with much experience on the bench. Only one non-Super Rugby player in the team, Ryuji Noguchi, Joseph’s young rugby prodigy. I guess that they are resting some backline players to be game ready against the Irish, and testing some combos prior to the big games.

The 8-pack is a phenomenal selection, also considering that it is backed by a strong bench. Hitoshi Ono is, again, a late call up as Shinya Makabe had to be withdrawn, so the man may make his 99th cap on Saturday.

Romania may be Romania, but they had a strong 2017 season, also beating Georgia with ease. It will be a paced game, both side’s benches will be crucial in the outcome.
 
"Cape Town - Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has included the uncapped quartet of Andries Coetzee, Raymond Rhule, Courtnall Skosan and Ross Cronje in his starting team for Saturday’s first Test in the incoming series against France at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, while a fifth uncapped player, Dillyn Leyds, is on the bench.

No 8 Warren Whiteley will become the 58th Springbok captain when he leads the Boks onto the field on Saturday and Cronje will become South Africa’s 50th Test scrumhalf on Saturday.

South Africa

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Raymond Rhule, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Dillyn Leyds"

SOURCE: News24
 
Interesting facts and milestones:

•The first Test match between South Africa and France took place in Bordeaux on 11 January, 1913. South Africa, captained by Billy Millar, won the match 38-5, scoring nine tries in the process, which, to date, is still a Springbok match record for tries against France.

•This Test match will be the third match at Loftus Versfeld between the two countries. The previous two, in 1975 and 1980, were comfortably won by South Africa with a combined score of 70-33.

•South Africa’s record against France at home: P: 21; W: 10; L: 6; D: 5; PF: 438; PA: 322; Win%: 48%.

•This encounter will be the Boks’ 40th Test match against France.

•South Africa’s overall record against France: P: 39; W: 22; L: 11; D: 6; PF: 783; PA: 578; Win%: 56%.

•The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 265. There are 54 caps in the backline with 211 caps amongst the forwards. On the bench there are a further 151 caps.

•The average caps per player in the backline are eight, the forwards 26 while the players on the bench average 19.

•The average age of the starting 15 is 26.

•The tallest player in the squad is Eben Etzebeth (2.04m) and the shortest Elton Jantjies and Bongi Mbonambi (1.76m). The heaviest players are Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff (125kg) and the lightest players are Andries Coetzee, Ross Cronjé and Dillyn Leyds (85kg).

•In the starting 15, only Kolisi, Etzebeth and Mtawarira have previously played against France.

•Frans Steyn last played a Test for the Springboks in September, 2012. That match was against New Zealand in Dunedin.

•Warren Whiteley is South Africa’s 58th Springbok captain. The 14th Springbok captain from the Golden Lions.

•The following Test debutants will receive Springbok numbers as follows: Ross Cronjé #882; Courtnall Skosan #883 and Andries Coetzee #884. Should Dillyn Leyds be used as a substitute his Springbok number will be #885. Raymond Rhule has not played in a Test match before, but he earned his Springbok number (#845) in 2012 while touring with the Springboks to Ireland, Scotland and England.

•Elton Jantjies needs 22 points to reach 100 points in Test rugby.

•Frans Steyn needs 18 points to reach 150 points in Test rugby.

From supersport.com
 
Will watch but there's no excitement about a crushing win over France yet ......
 
No wonder the Romanians has improved so much, look at their regulars in the backline,

Luke Samoa (New Zealander) - 2 caps / flyhalf
Sione Fakaosilea (Tongan) - 3 caps / centre
Paula Kinikinilau (Tongan) - 11 caps / centre
Jack Umaga (New Zealander) - 1 cap / centre-winger
Fonovai Tangimana (Tongan) - 3 caps / winger

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/...g-japans-speed-game-stops-romanias-power.html

But they are up against a formidable pack that beat Georgia earlier this year in the Rugby Europe Championship. And while the Oaks will be looking to their traditional strength in the set piece, the addition of some Pacific islanders means Romania now have some flair and power in the backs as well.

"They make a big difference," head coach Lynn Howells said of centers Sione Fakaosilea and Paula Kinikinilau and wing Fonovai Tangimana.

"Not just because of their rugby ability but because they influence the Romanian players who learn a style of rugby that is not normal for them."

The overseas contingent line up alongside a number of Romanian-born players plying their trade in France and captain Mihai Macovei, who plays for Colomiers, said the team needed to take a professional approach when it came to dealing with the Kyushu heat and humidity.
Click to expand...
 
Solitude said:
Yeah I must say, that's one of the worst jerseys we had in quite a while.
Click to expand...
1d2d7c0003049abf23d656884b41e1ca.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X