Official Rugby World Cup 2015 Thread

[Fulcrum29]

Chasing up for interception... at the bulls right... guess who was the backline coach... slap tjips. Coincidence? (just a joke, and not meant as an actual fact)

Problem is, Habana isn't as quick as he was... not for a long time. He's put on too much muscle which made he strong, but made him slower.

Makes me think of why JP Pietersen is in the Springbok selection, but instead of putting on muscle he opted for the tummy.

 

[Frankie_Yale]

Makes me think of why JP Pietersen is in the Springbok selection, but instead of putting on muscle he opted for the tummy.

because he is tall and HM prefers tall players.

And he is brown and brown players normally play in the wing positions.

 

[Ho3n3r]

Chasing up for interception... at the bulls right... guess who was the backline coach... slap tjips. Coincidence? (just a joke, and not meant as an actual fact)

Problem is, Habana isn't as quick as he was... not for a long time. He's put on too much muscle which made he strong, but made him slower.

Fun fact: Rossouw became our backline coach 4 years after Habana landed at the Bulls.

Another fun fact: Jake White kept playing Habana on the wing for the Boks.

And another: He equalled Lomu's try record of 8 in 1 world cup playing on the wing. He was also IRB player of the year in this year.

Yeah, I believe it was exactly the right thing to move him to the wing, where his pace was most effective.

And to get one thing straight, I agree that Rossouw is a **** backline coach. You can already see the difference at the Blue Bulls since he and Ludekak left.

Also agree that he's not the player he was, but still probably our best overall wing.

 

[sand_man]

Actually we may even see JP at outside centre. He's played a bit of rugby there and in a pinch, he might get used there again.

 

[sand_man]

You can already see the difference at the Blue Bulls since he and Ludekak left.

Agreed!

 

[Ho3n3r]

Actually we may even see JP at outside centre. He's played a bit of rugby there and in a pinch, he might get used there again.

Agreed. His versatility also counts for him to be on the bench. You can't pick someone who's exclusively a centre(De Allende) on the wing, because you need to cover 6 positions via 3 subs. Scrumhalf is already taking up one spot just for scrumhalf most of the time, except a player like Pienaar.

 

[Solitude]

Agreed. His versatility also counts for him to be on the bench. You can't pick someone who's exclusively a centre(De Allende) on the wing, because you need to cover 6 positions via 3 subs. Scrumhalf is already taking up one spot just for scrumhalf most of the time, except a player like Pienaar.

De Allende isn't exclusively a centre. He played on the wing for the Stormers when he started.

"Damian de Allende enjoyed a fruitful debut Super Rugby season in 2013, making 14 appearances varying between the wing and centre."

 

[bokka1]

This why JdV is there, he is a great spokesperson:

[video=youtube;X-KmNegfbhw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-KmNegfbhw[/video]

 

[OrbitalDawn]

De Villiers is very much the heart of the Bok squad. If you listen how the other players talk about him then he's something of a talisman.

Just hope it doesn't end up in a John Smit-like situation again. Not there yet, though.

 

[Stevi]

Habana will be our star at this RWC. He has lost some pace and changed his style since he moved to France, but his ability under the high ball will work well for us playing up north. (Especially with all the box kick Pienaar does from the rucks).
His experience will also play a big role.

My 3c

 

[faniebraai]

Fun fact: Rossouw became our backline coach 4 years after Habana landed at the Bulls.

Another fun fact: Jake White kept playing Habana on the wing for the Boks.

And another: He equalled Lomu's try record of 8 in 1 world cup playing on the wing. He was also IRB player of the year in this year.

Yeah, I believe it was exactly the right thing to move him to the wing, where his pace was most effective.

And to get one thing straight, I agree that Rossouw is a **** backline coach. You can already see the difference at the Blue Bulls since he and Ludekak left.

Also agree that he's not the player he was, but still probably our best overall wing.

I have to agree, impressive. Now, imagine if he wasn't played out of position from the start?

 

[Fulcrum29]

Japan have lined up their oldest and most experienced team to date to play an union rugby game,

Japan:

Full back: Ayumu Goromaru
Wings: Wings Akihito Yamada (Western Force), Kotaro Matsushima (Waratahs)
Centres: Male Sa’u (Melbourne Rebels), Craig Wing (Kobelco Steelers),
Fly-halves: Kosei Ono (Suntory Sungoliath)
Scrum-halves: Fumiaki Tanaka (Highlanders)
Back Rows: Hendrik Tui (Queensland Reds), Michael Broadhurst, Michael Leitch (Chiefs) – Captain
Locks: Hitoshi Ono (Toshiba Brave), Luke Thompson (Kintetsu Liners)
Props: Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory Sungoliath), Masataka Mikami (Toshiba Brave).
Hookers: Shota Horie

Reserves: Takeshi Kizu (Kobelco Steelers), Keita Inagaki (Melbourne Rebels), Hiroshi Yama****a (Kobelco Steelers), Shinya Makabe (Suntory Sungoliath), Amanaki Mafi (NTT Shining Arcs), Atsushi Hiwasa (Waratahs), Harumichi Tatekawa, Karne Hesketh.

Good team, and I've put clubs to their more accomplished players many which play domestic rugby with Fourie du Preez, Francois Steyn, Pierre Spies etc. This is the best team that Japan can muster in this World Cup so I hope that they will show pedigree against a tier 1 team. They had to drop their main #8 (Mafi) in the starting line-up due to a lingering concussion, but he will be on the bench... an amazing player. Their danger man is Tanaka.

Good luck Brave Blossoms.

I called the Springboks with 20 on SuperBru.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Looking forward to seeing what Michael Leitch can do on the world stage. Had a great year for the Chiefs.

 

[sand_man]

This time tomorrow night it will be game on!!! Boom!!!

 

[Solitude]

The day has finally arrived!

I don't even know why I'm so excited about this World Cup. It feels like we don't stand much of a chance and yet... I can't wait for tonight!

 

[Drifter]

The day has finally arrived!

I don't even know why I'm so excited about this World Cup. It feels like we don't stand much of a chance and yet... I can't wait for tonight!

My sentiments exactly. Hope the boks surprise all and sundry. Face it, we have a VERY experienced team.

 

[phoneJunky]

Game day,

Why is the games so late though? I see our games are played more around the time we normally play locally. The game is 20h00 at night there.

 

[Drifter]

Prime time television.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

The day has finally arrived!

I don't even know why I'm so excited about this World Cup. It feels like we don't stand much of a chance and yet... I can't wait for tonight!

It's about the spectacle.

Game day,

Why is the games so late though? I see our games are played more around the time we normally play locally. The game is 20h00 at night there.

Probably want more people to be able to come to the stadiums and watch on TV.

 

[Wall]

Can't wait for tonight

I'm feeling like a kid on Xmas morning