The Rugby thread

BBSA said:
Baby boks lost again..

Why is their coaching team so bad?
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Baby Boks haven't finished higher than 3rd since 2014. Under various coaches. Either our schoolboy rugby isn't as strong as we think it is or selection criteria is handicapping performance.
 
I actually think our rugby isn't as strong as we think.

The national sides rankings quite accurately mirrors the U20s performances over the years.
 
Squad for the match against Portugal

SPRINGBOK SQUAD FOR THE MATCH AGAINST PORTUGAL:

Props: Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ox Nche (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan-Hendrik Wessels (both Vodacom Bulls), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch, Trevor Nyakane (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Bath).

Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers).

Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), RG Snyman (Leinster).

Loose forwards: Siya Kolisi (Racing 92), Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden (both Vodacom Bulls), Phepsi Buthelezi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos (both DHL Stormers), Ruan Venter (Emirates Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers).

Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions).

Flyhalves: Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Manie Libbok (both DHL Stormers).

Centres: Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).

Outside backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Emirates Lions).
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Cray said:
Top trolling.
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I must admit my trolling does get some attention here.

I love my sports and I love my England, just like you lot love anything anti English and any English loses / failures.

So when MyBB 'anybody but England' forumites post shite, I tend to reciprocate the favor.

I will try to add more constructive and neutral criticism going forward, yet I feel that might get me banned or put on ignored.
 
Whright said:
I must admit my trolling does get some attention here.

I love my sports and I love my England, just like you lot love anything anti English and any English loses / failures.

So when MyBB 'anybody but England' forumites post shite, I tend to reciprocate the favor.

I will try to add more constructive and neutral criticism going forward, yet I feel that might get me banned or put on ignored.
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Carry on doing what you do. No need for apologies. Our feelings shouldn't be your concern. Anyone on here who can't handle the comments should rather take time out from the internet/forum.

Anyway, trust you enjoyed the football last night?
 
Whright said:
I must admit my trolling does get some attention here.

I love my sports and I love my England, just like you lot love anything anti English and any English loses / failures.

So when MyBB 'anybody but England' forumites post shite, I tend to reciprocate the favor.

I will try to add more constructive and neutral criticism going forward, yet I feel that might get me banned or put on ignored.
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Congrats on the Euro... Oh wait
 
Whright said:
I must admit my trolling does get some attention here.

I love my sports and I love my England, just like you lot love anything anti English and any English loses / failures.

So when MyBB 'anybody but England' forumites post shite, I tend to reciprocate the favor.

I will try to add more constructive and neutral criticism going forward, yet I feel that might get me banned
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No worries, carry on mate, it was a good wind up. On that note, not sure if you are a football supporter but this one made me chuckle..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1812600354397470938
 
Sepeng said:
In Durbs already; looking like a balmy 29 today.
Will pretend to work till around 12, then basically start the rugby preparations.
SA is gonna lose - we always lose in Durban - but will still be a good day out.
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Ja well no fine.
But was a great day out; great weather, sitting on the beach front having cold beers on a warm day in the middle of winter, pity the game ended the way it did but still had a jol.
Got one more test left in me for the year, will be a family affair this time.
 
Agent_Smith said:
Squad for the match against Portugal
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I wonder how far Rassie will go with RG + Elisabet + Mostert in prep for 2027? I thought they would have bloodied some new skin during 2024+2025 tests to help deepen the locks? We have amazing depth in pretty much all other positions but locks, and maybe the hookers it seems.
 
Mista_Mobsta said:
I wonder how far Rassie will go with RG + Elisabet + Mostert in prep for 2027? I thought they would have bloodied some new skin during 2024+2025 tests to help deepen the locks? We have amazing depth in pretty much all other positions but locks, and maybe the hookers it seems.
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You realise its only the 3rd game of new cycle right?

You're speaking like its already halfway through 2026 or something now and Rassie missed the boat on scouting/blooding new talent and a new gameplan/evolution.

Folks need relax. This isn't 2019, with just 18months to prep with Boks in a hole after losing 50 - nil nor is it 2021, just two years prep after lost time to covid and being kicked out SR.

Its 3 games into an actual 4 year cycle.

No need to rush and throw the baby out with the bath water. There's already clear signs with Brown and these last two games that a transition is in progress, let's have the senior players pass on their experience/IP smoothly and give the newcomers fair chance to adjust to the camp.

The responses to these first 3 games of the cycle by so many is mindboggling.
 
MuterOfWorlds said:
You realise its only the 3rd game of new cycle right?

You're speaking like its already halfway through 2026 or something now and Rassie missed the boat on scouting/blooding new talent and a new gameplan/evolution.

Folks need relax. This isn't 2019, with just 18months to prep with Boks in a hole after losing 50 - nil nor is it 2021, just two years prep after lost time to covid and being kicked out SR.

Its 3 games into an actual 4 year cycle.

No need to rush and throw the baby out with the bath water. There's already clear signs with Brown and these last two games that a transition is in progress, let's have the senior players pass on their experience/IP smoothly and give the newcomers fair chance to adjust to camp.

The responses to these first 3 games of the cycle by so many is mindboggling.
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Ease up there sunshine - I am not jumping up and down with my hair in a twist shouting "BLOOD THOSE LOCKS! BLOOD THOSE LOCKS!" :)

Was merely wondering how long Rassie and the team will rely on Etz +RG + Mostert to fulfill the lock role. Not sure about you but Moerat doesn't seem to have that large physical impact that the other 3 towers have in the game as of yet.

As for Brown's influence, I am extremely excited to see how we can take advantage of our excellent attack! Looking at how well Ireland defended the high-ball on Saturday, basically cocooning the catcher, I am sure other teams will adapt to use the same tactic. Thus we may have to rely more on the running rugby or, at the very least, kick away from the line of forwards that can retreat and protect like they did on Sat.
 
Mista_Mobsta said:
Ease up there sunshine - I am not jumping up and down with my hair in a twist shouting "BLOOD THOSE LOCKS! BLOOD THOSE LOCKS!" :)

Was merely wondering how long Rassie and the team will rely on Etz +RG + Mostert to fulfill the lock role. Not sure about you but Moerat doesn't seem to have that large physical impact that the other 3 towers have in the game as of yet.

As for Brown's influence, I am extremely excited to see how we can take advantage of our excellent attack! Looking at how well Ireland defended the high-ball on Saturday, basically cocooning the catcher, I am sure other teams will adapt to use the same tactic. Thus we may have to rely more on the running rugby or, at the very least, kick away from the line of forwards that can retreat and protect like they did on Sat.
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Ah, the trap of text communication, never quite sure of tone etc. Glad see you more tempered than many others.

Probably be 12-18 months, there already plenty rookies/newcomers in the fold considering the training/alignment camps etc, exposure, learning, transfer of the IP/experience. It could certainly happen quicker depending how well/quickly the newcomers settle, but having time, no need to rush, it going to make things certainly very different to the past two cycles.

So many complaining Rassie didn't throw all the rookies into the deep end against Ireland... yet... they all were moaning about exactly this with the 2021-2023 cycle, when Rassie had no choice, needed to blood newcomers urgently, ala 2nd test against Wales etc. Ah, the fickleness of sports fans right?

As for players not as physical etc. Considering the way game potentially evolving, what seeing with Brown, and last two tests, this be part of the evolution, not farfetched imho. Going to certainly be an interesting 1st year of the cycle, first actual one we've gotten to experience of Rassie reign, even though 3rd world cup he'll be incharge. Very weird situation.
 
MuterOfWorlds said:
Ah, the trap of text communication, never quite sure of tone etc. Glad see you more tempered than many others.

Probably be 12-18 months, there already plenty rookies/newcomers in the fold considering the training/alignment camps etc, exposure, learning, transfer of the IP/experience. It could certainly happen quicker depending how well/quickly the newcomers settle, but having time, no need to rush, it going to make things certainly very different to the past two cycles.

So many complaining Rassie didn't throw all the rookies into the deep end against Ireland... yet... they all were moaning about exactly this with the 2021-2023 cycle, when Rassie had no choice, needed to blood newcomers urgently, ala 2nd test against Wales etc. Ah, the fickleness of sports fans right?

As for players not as physical etc. Considering the way game potentially evolving, what seeing with Brown, and last two tests, this be part of the evolution, not farfetched imho. Going to certainly be an interesting 1st year of the cycle, first actual one we've gotten to experience of Rassie reign, even though 3rd world cup he'll be incharge. Very weird situation.
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People tend to take themselves WAY too seriously on forums...

I agree 100% that we have plenty of time to sort out the next generation of players going into 2027 but that also may lead to the Boks experimenting with many different styles of rugby before they get to 1 or 2 that they excel at. We definitely need an enforcer type in the squad - I am sure if Etzebeth wasn't so 'kopdoekd', he would have shoved Doris' face through the Durban pitch after his foul play on Marx! Seems more like De Allende has taken over the role of being in players' faces when they cause kak.

I am 100% sure Rassie will come up with some very interesting plays and ways to frustrate the other teams...was interesting to note how Ireland slowed down the play at almost every single stage where SA had front foot ball - Doris (I think?) waiting until the last second before that one lineout in Ireland 25 to tie his boot laces pops to mind for one!
 
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