Official 2015 Rugby Championship Thread

[Sl8er]

Still trying to figure out why the Boks though putting up and unders on israel Folau was a good idea..

 

[Werner Harding]

The Boks at least participated in mandela day they only played for 67min

 

[faniebraai]

The Boks at least participated in mandela day they only played for 67min

Hahaha

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Kaplan: Sorry Boks, the TMO was right

 

[Darook]

EVERY single time we get into the lead we become like scared rabbits in the headlights.... why we don't turn a good lead into a great one (like the AB's) is beyond me. They suddenly freeze up, go defensive, panicky and start kicking everything away. I don't know if its a confidence issue or orders from Peinecke but something is seriously wrong if they can't see that kicking the ball all the time is a losing strategy.

Why does Hammerkop change the entire front row when we have a 5m scrum on our own line????.... can someone enlighten me on why this can possibly be a good idea?

 

[Agent_Smith]

Schalk to assume captaincy on Saturday... (from Supersport.com)

Experienced loose forward Schalk Burger will become the 55th Springbok captain on Saturday when he leads South Africa out against New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg.

The 32-year-old Burger has been named interim captain, in the absence of the injured Jean de Villiers and Victor Matfield. He assumes the captaincy from Matfield, who was ruled out of action in the short term after suffering a hamstring strain against Australia on Saturday.

“Schalk has been a magnificent servant of Springbok rugby and he fully deserves this responsibility,” said Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer on Tuesday.

“The resilience he’s shown in coming back from serious injury and illness is the kind of qualities I look for in players as well as teams I coach.

“In my eyes, the captaincy is very important and something I never take lightly or want to cheapen. Schalk’s character and the fact that he has been a role model for so many through the years made this an easy decision.

“He’s always led through example and has distinguished himself as one of the best leaders in South African rugby in the last decade. I’m very excited to see what he can bring in the absence of Jean and Victor.”

Burger has captained the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province with distinction and will become the tenth most-capped Springbok on Saturday, winning his 77th cap, moving level with lock forward Mark Andrews.

He overcame serious injury and illness in 2014 to fight his way back into Springbok contention, recapturing the form that made him one of the most highly regarded loose forwards in world rugby.

He was named World Rugby Player of the Year (2004) and has twice been named the SA Rugby Player of the Year, in 2004 and 2011. He was a member of Rugby World Cup winning Springbok side in 2007 and played in the South African team that won the Under-21 World Cup in 2002.

His father, Schalk (Snr), played six tests for South Africa between 1984 and 1986.

Burger, who made his test debut at the Rugby World Cup in 2003, said he was humbled by the decision to name him captain.

“I’m a very proud man today, but at the same time I’m humbled by the faith the coach has shown in me,” said Burger, who also has 108 Vodacom Super Rugby caps for the DHL Stormers to his name.

“Ever since I first put on the Springbok jersey, my dream has been to represent my country with distinction and to make South Africans proud. It’s still sinking in that I will actually captain the Boks.

“This is an honour that is bestowed upon only a select few people and I will do whatever is needed for the team. With this position comes massive responsibility and I’m very excited for Saturday.”

FACT FILE

Full name: Schalk Willem Petrus Burger
Date and place of birth: 13 April 1983, Port Elizabeth
Height and weight: 1.93m and 110kg
Springbok number: 754
Test debut: 24 September, 2003 vs Georgia in Sydney
Total tests: 76
Test tries: 12 (the most by a Springbok flanker)

 

[APoc184]

My friend Brenden Nel predicts that Brussow is going to get picked for Saturday in the place of an injured Coetzee.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

My friend Brenden Nel predicts that Brussow is going to get picked for Saturday in the place of an injured Coetzee.

Could make sense, I guess. He'd want to know where Brussow is at before the RWC. He knows what Whiteley offers.

 

[Pitbull]

Boks to pull a Brussow

Johannesburg - Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer is set to pull a rabbit out of the hat and hand forgotten flank Heinrich Brussow his first Test start since 2011.

According to the supersport.com website, Brussow is likely to get the nod ahead of Warren Whiteley to replace Marcel Coetzee in the Springbok line-up for their Rugby Championship match against world champions New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

But Brussow is not the only surprise likely when Meyer reads out the team on Wednesday, uncapped Vincent Koch is set to be rewarded for some exceptional form in the Super Rugby tournament and is likely to make his debut for the Springboks on Saturday

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/RugbyChampionship/Boks-set-to-pull-Brussow-surprise-20150721

As much as I love him coming back. I don't think this is the right game. He just came back from breaking his arm and he'll probably break a leg too against NZ if needed.

 

[faniebraai]

Kriel!!!

 

[APoc184]

The Springbok team to face New Zealand in Johannesburg is:

15 Willie le Roux
14 JP Pietersen
13 Jesse Kriel
12 Damian de Allende
11 Bryan Habana
10 Handré Pollard
9 Ruan Pienaar (vice-captain)
8 Schalk Burger (captain)
7 Francois Louw
6 Heinrich Brüssow
5 Lood de Jager
4 Eben Etzebeth
3 Jannie du Plessis
2 Bismarck du Plessis
1 Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements:
16 Adriaan Strauss
17 Trevor Nyakane
18 Vincent Koch
19 Flip van der Merwe
20 Warren Whiteley
21 Cobus Reinach
22 Pat Lambie
23 Cornal Hendricks

The Springbok team to face New Zealand for the 90th time shows eight changes to the match-23 to that which did duty against Australia for the second match in the condensed Castle Lager Rugby Championship at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Heinrich Brüssow will make his first start for the Springboks since the 2011 Rugby World Cup, while Vincent Koch has been included on the bench for what could be his Test debut for South Africa.

Of the eight changes, three are to the pack and five are on the bench. The backline is unchanged. Schalk Burger will captain the team from No 8.

Francois Louw will start in the number seven jersey for the injured Marcell Coetzee in a positional change, with Brüssow assuming the openside role. The only other change to the starting line-up is at lock, where Lood de Jager takes over from Victor Matfield.

On the bench, Koch will be joined by Cornal Hendricks, Trevor Nyakane, Flip van der Merwe and Warren Whiteley, who could make his first Test appearance in South Africa, in front of his home crowd in Johannesburg.

“Injuries have forced our hand a bit, but we’ve stuck with our planned rotational policy on the bench and it will be great to see what Heinrich, Vincent and Flip can do,” said Meyer.

“The breakdown battle will again be huge and it will be good to see Heinrich and Francois play together. They are versatile players and I am convinced they will combine perfectly.

“Heinrich has been great this season before he got injured and played his way into contention. As with other players returning from injury in Vodacom Super Rugby, he deserves an opportunity. We decided it was better to start with him and use Warren as an impact player later in the match.

“It’s also great to see Flip back in the fold. We had a look at Pieter-Steph du Toit but he is not yet 100% match-ready, and Franco Mostert was also discussed but in the end we decided to go with Flip as he will add valuable experience to our bench.

“We planned to bring Trevor, Warren and Cornal back for this match. Trevor and Warren have been playing great rugby this season and Cornal is a superb finisher, as he’s shown so often last year.”

Meyer said that the Springboks faced a huge challenge on Saturday as they continue to build towards the Rugby World Cup against a fired-up Kiwi side.

“This will be a massive Test – every match against the All Blacks is,” said Meyer.

“We played some great rugby last weekend, but this week we have to put in an 80-minute effort. We have to be especially focused in the last 10 minutes, because New Zealand always finish strongly. They travelled here with us so that negates any advantage we could’ve had at the end of the match.

“The challenge will also be to make a step up in vital areas of the game and get back on the winning track. By not making too many changes this week, we’re giving some combinations the opportunity to settle a bit more. Our youngsters will have to put up their hands on Saturday – I would not have selected them if I didn’t believe they can do the job.”

http://www.sarugby.co.za/news/23376?view=news

 

[Pitbull]

The Springbok team to face New Zealand in Johannesburg is:

15 Willie le Roux
14 JP Pietersen
13 Jesse Kriel
12 Damian de Allende
11 Bryan Habana
10 Handré Pollard
9 Ruan Pienaar (vice-captain)
8 Schalk Burger (captain)
7 Francois Louw
6 Heinrich Brüssow
5 Lood de Jager
4 Eben Etzebeth
3 Jannie du Plessis
2 Bismarck du Plessis
1 Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements:
16 Adriaan Strauss
17 Trevor Nyakane
18 Vincent Koch
19 Flip van der Merwe
20 Warren Whiteley
21 Cobus Reinach
22 Pat Lambie
23 Cornal Hendricks



http://www.sarugby.co.za/news/23376?view=news

Clear indication that we'll never be rid of this moron while HM is coach... I actually hope he gets the boot after the RWC (HM)

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Bench looks a tad more solid from a front-row perspective. Dunno why Heinke van der Merwe was even in the team.

Would have preferred Mvovo over Hendricks, though.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

How bumhead starts at 10 again is beyond me ..... and ropping Mvovo for Hendricks - no sense made.

Also, I'll put money on Brussouw either getting injured or having a really off game.

 

[Pitbull]

How bumhead starts at 10 again is beyond me ..... and ropping Mvovo for Hendricks - no sense made.

Also, I'll put money on Brussouw either getting injured or having a really off game.

I won't risk Lambie or Frans Steyn just as yet. They will be crucial for the RWC.

Who else would you play Morne Steyn?

 

[Fulcrum29]

I won't risk Lambie or Frans Steyn just as yet. They will be crucial for the RWC.

Who else would you play Morne Steyn?

The All Blacks are risking their RWC players...

On a side note. I see that Savea is having asthma attacks in Johannesburg, another wing. I hope that Savea is okay as had serious lung problems in England last year.

 

[Mephisto_Helix]

Exactly as Fulcrum says, we can't risk having key play makers severely undercooked come WC time because we're 'scared', rugby has to be played, they know the risk. Pity it's not that that the coach is worried about but rather playing his faves/idiots come what may.

 

[Werner Harding]

Think it is a solid team will just replace Ruan Pienaar with Cobus Reinach and put Faf de Klerk on the bench. would also love to see Jaco Kriel get some game time in this tournament before RWC, he could maybe just bring that something special that we are lacking

 

[Agent_Smith]

Exactly as Fulcrum says, we can't risk having key play makers severely undercooked come WC time because we're 'scared', rugby has to be played, they know the risk. Pity it's not that that the coach is worried about but rather playing his faves/idiots come what may.

Do you think it's fair to say that the top teams (NZ, SA, Aus, Eng etc) are planning on using the pool games to make sure the key decision makers as you put it are on form come the knockouts and are thus playing them sparingly now? I realise it's a massive risk to do that as on the day, you could be upset by a 'lesser' team but it's a strategy that could pay off. On the other hand, are there enough pool games to get players back into form if they've been used sparingly in the run up to the World Cup?

 

[APoc184]

JP Pietersen injured. Cornal Hendricks replaces him in the starting 15.

Lionel Mapoe onto the bench.