Official Rugby World Cup 2015 Thread

[faniebraai]

Who said I don't agree with the Steyn pick? I don't agree or disagree with any picks - except quotas, but we definitely can't blame the coach for that -, as it's only my opinion, as yours is yours.

think i misread your comment about the "god knows why"

 

[Ho3n3r]

think i misread your comment about the "god knows why"

Think ya did.

 

[faniebraai]

Think ya did.

So not 1 pick you disagree with? Besides what you call quotas?

 

[Fulcrum29]

So he has. He picked 28 other players as well besides those 3.

Speaking of losing the plot, you're the only one who knows where you're going with this. And getting insulting is a clear sign of someone who doesn't have an argument. Thanks for playing.

You are right that I don’t have an argument. It is only that you had said that Lambie will be the 1st selection in the starting lineup. Then an opinion was given that Pollard is HM’s 1st selection and that Lambie will be a bench warmer in most games, probably pending on the opposition. Now… this is where you told everyone that you liked Pollard more, no problem with this, but every reasonable opinion which was then presented to you was marked as an anti-Heyneke sentiment or as provincialism – that is losing the plot.

Yes, the Springbok selectors picked the squad, the supporters can only warm the bench.

So… say you was a Springbok selector, would you had picked Francois Hougaard?

 

[Ho3n3r]

You are right that I don’t have an argument. It is only that you had said that Lambie will be the 1st selection in the starting lineup. Then an opinion was given that Pollard is HM’s 1st selection and that Lambie will be a bench warmer in most games, probably pending on the opposition. Now… this is where you told everyone that you liked Pollard more, no problem with this, but every reasonable opinion which was then presented to you was marked as an anti-Heyneke sentiment or as provincialism – that is losing the plot.

Yes, the Springbok selectors picked the squad, the supporters can only warm the bench.

So… say you was a Springbok selector, would you had picked Francois Hougaard?

It's not losing the plot, but rather calling a spade a spade. To be fair, I probably shouldn't have said it to you personally.

I am sure I would have picked him, yes, but as I said, the coach can't please everybody and I trust him with his decisions. I don't like Pienaar AT ALL, and don't think he's there on merit alone - if the world cup was played in Australia or over here, there's no way he would have played under Meyer in the last 4 years. But he knows the conditions over there better than any other scrumhalf we have, and that counts hugely in his favor. Nobody can say that this point of view is flawed, because it's a lot different playing over there vs. over here. He also knows their referees better, understands them better. Thus, Pienaar over Hougaard makes sense in a way. Hougaard always seems to perform a lot worse on year-end tours than in the rugby championship.

Same reason I can't fault Steyn as our 3rd flyhalf. Again, he would not have been near the squad if it were to be played over here.

Would you have picked Hougaard, based on the above?

 

[faniebraai]

I am sure I would have picked him, yes, but as I said, the coach can't please everybody and I trust him with his decisions. I don't like Pienaar AT ALL, and don't think he's there on merit alone - if the world cup was played in Australia or over here, there's no way he would have played under Meyer in the last 4 years. But he knows the conditions over there better than any other scrumhalf we have, and that counts hugely in his favor. Nobody can say that this point of view is flawed, because it's a lot different playing over there vs. over here. He also knows their referees better, understands them better. Thus, Pienaar over Hougaard makes sense in a way. Hougaard always seems to perform a lot worse on year-end tours than in the rugby championship.

 

[Fulcrum29]

It's not losing the plot, but rather calling a spade a spade. To be fair, I probably shouldn't have said it to you personally.

I am sure I would have picked him, yes, but as I said, the coach can't please everybody and I trust him with his decisions. I don't like Pienaar AT ALL, and don't think he's there on merit alone - if the world cup was played in Australia or over here, there's no way he would have played under Meyer in the last 4 years. But he knows the conditions over there better than any other scrumhalf we have, and that counts hugely in his favor. Nobody can say that this point of view is flawed, because it's a lot different playing over there vs. over here. He also knows their referees better, understands them better. Thus, Pienaar over Hougaard makes sense in a way. Hougaard always seems to perform a lot worse on year-end tours than in the rugby championship.

Same reason I can't fault Steyn as our 3rd flyhalf. Again, he would not have been near the squad if it were to be played over here.

Would you have picked Hougaard, based on the above?

No, but I did do a squad and 1st selection.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/755070-Your-2015-Rugby-World-Cup-dream-team

A guy like Pienaar I will open in the Scotland game.

 

[Ho3n3r]

You seem confused. Let me explain in a way that you understand - short of drawing pictures.

I think Hougaard is better than Pienaar, but the coach doesn't, for reasons he's already explained. I am saying who am I to argue/disagree with him, as his argument also has merit, and he's the one that matters.

 

[Ho3n3r]

No, but I did do a squad and 1st selection.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/755070-Your-2015-Rugby-World-Cup-dream-team

A guy like Pienaar I will open in the Scotland game.

Interesting. 13 out of 15 the same as mine, and your differences make sense too.

My differences:

6. Schalk Burger - purely because Coetzee isn't in the squad, although to be fair, you selected that team before it was announced.
5. Matfield - as captain. Making Vermeulen captain for the first time during the world cup after a long injury lay-off makes me nervous, and smells like the Skinstad saga in 1999, which is again something I understand why Mallet did it, but in hindsight even he admitted was too risky and didn't pay off. Not to mention Matfield is still the best line-out jumper we have, by miles, and his experience as captain will mean a lot during the world cup.

But if it's the team you picked, I won't have any problems with that.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Interesting. 13 out of 15 the same as mine, and your differences make sense too.

My differences:

6. Schalk Burger - purely because Coetzee isn't in the squad, although to be fair, you selected that team before it was announced.
5. Matfield - as captain. Making Vermeulen captain for the first time during the world cup after a long injury lay-off makes me nervous, and smells like the Skinstad saga in 1999, which is again something I understand why Mallet did it, but in hindsight even he admitted was too risky and didn't pay off. Not to mention Matfield is still the best line-out jumper we have, by miles, and his experience as captain will mean a lot during the world cup.

But if it's the team you picked, I won't have any problems with that.

I had my reasons.

On topic, to be honest I'm concerned in which games Vic will be present in the 23, because I doubt they will play him throughout the pool games.

JdV as the selected captain will mean that he will play the greater number so I can't really see HM utilising the Kriel/de Allende key combination, and this will mean more Steyn and Kircher in the team.

They will also need to give Paige game time (80 minutes) in the pool, especially against the USA and Japan, where Kolisi needs to open or be on the bench.

The Springboks need the momentum going without compromising the 31-man squad down the line.

 

[faniebraai]

You seem confused. Let me explain in a way that you understand - short of drawing pictures.

I think Hougaard is better than Pienaar, but the coach doesn't, for reasons he's already explained. I am saying who am I to argue/disagree with him, as his argument also has merit, and he's the one that matters.

That is exactly what you did not say... You said you will pick Hougaard... but then you listed the reason why Pienaar is the better choice.... so you will still pick Hougaard?

 

[faniebraai]

I had my reasons.

On topic, to be honest I'm concerned in which games Vic will be present in the 23, because I doubt they will play him throughout the pool games.

JdV as the selected captain will mean that he will play the greater number so I can't really see HM utilising the Kriel/de Allende key combination, and this will mean more Steyn and Kircher in the team.

They will also need to give Paige game time (80 minutes) in the pool, especially against the USA and Japan, where Kolisi needs to open or be on the bench.

The Springboks need the momentum going without compromising the 31-man squad down the line.

And don't see Paige getting any game time at all... unless Fourie is not ready.

When do you see Morne will play? As number 2? Where does that leave lambie?

 

[Cray]

If Morne Steyn is picked before Lambie I am supporting the All blacks...

 

[Creag]

If Morne Steyn is picked before Lambie I am supporting the All blacks...

Given the archaic tendencies displayed by the coach and his willingness to sacrifice existing talent under his nose, you may as well start your supporters thread for the All Black now.

 

[Fulcrum29]

And don't see Paige getting any game time at all... unless Fourie is not ready.

When do you see Morne will play? As number 2? Where does that leave lambie?

What are they going to do when they must utilise the 31-man squad due to health? Say Pienaar is out, they can't simply get a standby player, and they need to use what is available until that is also exhausted. Do you want to see Paige being capped in a semi?

Steyn will be selected to play in one combination or the other, HM will play a game where he will use players that won him games in the past. Training and practice is one thing, he needs to throw them back into the deep end, when is the question? In my opinion it will be likely to see all our Northern based players in the Scotland game.

All I’m saying is that we will need viable players when we hit that uphill (knockouts), and Samoa and Scotland is going to push us to our limit, whether it is 1) Fitness or 2) Health.

 

[faniebraai]

What are they going to do when they must utilise the 31-man squad due to health? Say Pienaar is out, they can't simply get a standby player, and they need to use what is available until that is also exhausted. Do you want to see Paige being capped in a semi?

Steyn will be selected to play in one combination or the other, HM will play a game where he will use players that won him games in the past. Training and practice is one thing, he needs to throw them back into the deep end, when is the question? In my opinion it will be likely to see all our Northern based players in the Scotland game.

All I’m saying is that we will need viable players when we hit that uphill (knockouts), and Samoa and Scotland is going to push us to our limit, whether it is 1) Fitness or 2) Health.

When last did Fourie have proper game time? He needs game time more so than Piage

 

[Cray]

When last did Fourie have proper game time? He needs game time more so than Piage

News24 says he hasn't played since Feb..

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/Good-luck-Springboks-Youll-need-it-20150830

 

[Fulcrum29]

When last did Fourie have proper game time? He needs game time more so than Piage

Fourie and Pienaar will be our primary scrummies, both with Springbok experience. Fourie may be rusty, which is yet to be shown, but he will be our main scrummie. Paige is uncapped, not to mention that should he not be given gametime against the lower tiered teams that he may due to conditions be capped against a 1st tier team. The World Cup isn't about 31 individuals winning the cup.

 

[sand_man]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/Unwanted-Bok-XV-v-Unwanted-All-Blacks-XV-20150831

So what would an "Unwanted Springbok XV v Unwanted All Blacks XV" line-up look like?

Pretty darn impressive!

The million dollar never-to-be-known answer is obviously, who would win such a match... ?

Unwanted Springbok XV

15 Frans Steyn, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Unwanted All Blacks XV

15 Israel Dagg, 14 Charles Piutau, 13 Charlie Ngatai, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Cory Jane, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Joe Moody

 

[Fulcrum29]

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/Unwanted-Bok-XV-v-Unwanted-All-Blacks-XV-20150831

14 Cornal Hendricks

How did he make the unwanted team?

Ek kan nie so praat nie, die man kom WP/Stormers toe.