The Rugby thread

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I really enjoyed this game. Our intensity and intent was clear from the start. We left a few points on the table but our defence was solid. A worry is losing a few line outs and our tendency to release the pressure on the opposition with silly penalties. Arendse's bone head attempt was terrible.
 
4 game suspension for Arendse.

Standard penalty for taking someone out in the air ?
...Barrett goes and has what 2021 called a deliberate knock-on. Willie Le Roux got carded for that last year, as did De Allende who nearly had control of the ball.
Used to be called an attempted intercept until someone decided it would become foul play.

Anyways, back to Barrett...he pulls the exact same thing Saturday night. Result? Knock-on and a scrum to the Boks. Refs can't actually ref the games consistently.

Arendse made a useless attempt to pull out. Concussion will keep him out of some of the games. Stupid move really, but I doubt it was deliberate.
 
The Boks need to be smart now. The AB's will come to JHB and start kicking behind the rush defence and we should expect and counter it or they might turn things around.
 
Squad for second test

South Africa

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Willie le Roux
 
I was in the Cape and went to Hennie's in Mossel Bay for the game.

I have never experienced such an atmosphere such as there, including at Loftus, Newlands, and Ellis Park.

It was phenomenal. That place ruined any other viewing venue for me.

That said, the crowd at the Mbombela was also phenomenal and I have never witnessed such a timid Haka.

It being the All Blacks a part of me will always feel they will turn it around on the weekend. Let's hope not yet.
 
I was in the Cape and went to Hennie's in Mossel Bay for the game.

I have never experienced such an atmosphere such as there, including at Loftus, Newlands, and Ellis Park.

It was phenomenal. That place ruined any other viewing venue for me.

That said, the crowd at the Mbombela was also phenomenal and I have never witnessed such a timid Haka.

It being the All Blacks a part of me will always feel they will turn it around on the weekend. Let's hope not yet.
It's because the director controlling the videos had these random close-ups of the NZ players doing the haka; or some daft shot between the players looking at nothing.
Clearly someone thought they'd give the artistic touch to the haka last Saturday.
 
It's because the director controlling the videos had these random close-ups of the NZ players doing the haka; or some daft shot between the players looking at nothing.
Clearly someone thought they'd give the artistic touch to the haka last Saturday.
I was at the stadium and the noise throughout the run-ons, anthems and haka was on another level. I honestly don't think the Springboks could hear a word of the haka. If it wasn't for the directional microphones placed right in front of the NZ players the TV audience certainly wouldn't have heard anything either.
 
I was at the stadium and the noise throughout the run-ons, anthems and haka was on another level. I honestly don't think the Springboks could hear a word of the haka. If it wasn't for the directional microphones placed right in front of the NZ players the TV audience certainly wouldn't have heard anything either.
Couldn't hear Judith Sepuma sing the national anthem either. Must've been an amazing atmosphere. We realised that watching the game on TV.
Hopefully Ellis Park can pull something similar and the Boks make it 2-0.

I'd love Ben Smith to then have to shut his mouth.
 
Squad for second test

South Africa

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Willie le Roux
I like this team - glad that Duane is back. Only problem I have is that I would have liked Reinach in Herschel's place. I feel Cobus is the better player.
 
I like this team - glad that Duane is back. Only problem I have is that I would have liked Reinach in Herschel's place. I feel Cobus is the better player.
Reinach is a good player (socks down at his ankles aside!). I'd have had him in there, unless he's coming back from injury?
 
Wednesday, 10 August 2022

Dweba to start against NZ as Mbonambi withdrawn as precaution

Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba will start Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park following the withdrawal of Bongi Mbonambi as a precautionary measure after taking a knock his knee at training on Tuesday afternoon.

Dweba, who started both Tests he has played to date – against Wales in Bloemfontein in July and Argentina in Nelson Mandela Bay last year – will pack down alongside his former Toyota Cheetahs team-mate Ox Nche, with whom he progressed through SA Rugby’s national development pathway, which included featuring together for the Junior Springboks and SA Schools team.

The experienced Frans Malherbe, who earns his 50th Test cap this weekend, will pack down on the other side of the front row.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said Mbonambi would go for scans to his knee, but with limited training time left before Saturday’s Test with one field session scheduled for Wednesday and the captains run on Friday, and an important three-match tour to Australia and Argentina ahead, as well as the year-end tour, the coaches opted to withdraw Mbonambi for this clash.

“We have an important Castle Lager Rugby Championship tour coming up and a year-end tour later this year, so we don’t want to take any risks with Bongi,” said Nienaber.

“Joseph has been working hard at training and he’s been waiting patiently for his chance, and we feel that it doesn’t get better than facing the All Blacks, who are one of the best teams in the world.

“We have big squad and a large part of the logic around that decision was to ensure that all the players are familiar with our structures and systems, and to expose them to Test rugby to build our squad depth with an eye on next year’s Rugby World Cup. So, this will be a fantastic opportunity for Joseph.”

Nienaber said Dweba’s strong combination with Nche also played a role in his leap straight into the starting lineup: “Joseph and Ox come a long way together. They’ve played close to 100 first-class games together, and they know each other well on and off the field having played together since school level at HTS Louis Botha.

“They progressed through the SA Rugby junior rugby ranks together before forming a strong combination at the Toyota Cheetahs in the Carling Currie Cup and Guinness Pro14 competitions, and we believe their familiarity will give us the best chance in this match,” added Nienaber.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications
 
Wednesday, 10 August 2022

Dweba to start against NZ as Mbonambi withdrawn as precaution

Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba will start Saturday’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park following the withdrawal of Bongi Mbonambi as a precautionary measure after taking a knock his knee at training on Tuesday afternoon.

Dweba, who started both Tests he has played to date – against Wales in Bloemfontein in July and Argentina in Nelson Mandela Bay last year – will pack down alongside his former Toyota Cheetahs team-mate Ox Nche, with whom he progressed through SA Rugby’s national development pathway, which included featuring together for the Junior Springboks and SA Schools team.

The experienced Frans Malherbe, who earns his 50th Test cap this weekend, will pack down on the other side of the front row.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said Mbonambi would go for scans to his knee, but with limited training time left before Saturday’s Test with one field session scheduled for Wednesday and the captains run on Friday, and an important three-match tour to Australia and Argentina ahead, as well as the year-end tour, the coaches opted to withdraw Mbonambi for this clash.

“We have an important Castle Lager Rugby Championship tour coming up and a year-end tour later this year, so we don’t want to take any risks with Bongi,” said Nienaber.

“Joseph has been working hard at training and he’s been waiting patiently for his chance, and we feel that it doesn’t get better than facing the All Blacks, who are one of the best teams in the world.

“We have big squad and a large part of the logic around that decision was to ensure that all the players are familiar with our structures and systems, and to expose them to Test rugby to build our squad depth with an eye on next year’s Rugby World Cup. So, this will be a fantastic opportunity for Joseph.”

Nienaber said Dweba’s strong combination with Nche also played a role in his leap straight into the starting lineup: “Joseph and Ox come a long way together. They’ve played close to 100 first-class games together, and they know each other well on and off the field having played together since school level at HTS Louis Botha.

“They progressed through the SA Rugby junior rugby ranks together before forming a strong combination at the Toyota Cheetahs in the Carling Currie Cup and Guinness Pro14 competitions, and we believe their familiarity will give us the best chance in this match,” added Nienaber.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications
I'd still have started Marx. They all raved about his playing from the get-go on Saturday. Now he's a sub again.
 
I'd still have started Marx. They all raved about his playing from the get-go on Saturday. Now he's a sub again.
I think we might very well see a first half substitution. My feeling is Nienaber wants Marx around for the end of the game, especially if it opens up. Playing a full 80 minutes isn't a realistic option anymore.
 
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