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[2025 TRC] South Africa v Australia - 16/8/2025
- Thread starter OllyM97
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This is Aus best chance, 3 test series under their belt, key players come back from injury, and the momentum from test 3...
If they cant catch SA cold here, it'll be a long championship!
If they cant catch SA cold here, it'll be a long championship!
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Do sky not have this anymore?
Oh next weekend, lovely.
Oh next weekend, lovely.
The Rugby Championship and Currie Cup and NPC are on Sky in the UK.
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Amazing to think that a pack can absolutely make up for a poor half back pairing, and arguably average backline.
Is Aus get things right they stand a chance here
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That is by far our in-form and best scrumhalf while Libbok is also likely our most in form flyhalf from the recent set of games - I wouldn’t call it anything close to a poor half back pairing.
I’m not even sure who you see in the backline as average? The weakest player I see there is Esterhuizen and that isn’t a super weak link. Edwill has scored 5 tries in 3 games and has generally been a consistent standout for the Lions. Fassi is our form fullback, Kriel is our best outside centre, KLA is KLA.
If anything the weaker parts I think are in our forwards. Locks are all good, loose forwards is a bit iffy - PSDT I think is still getting back up to speed, Van Staden has been alright, but average for the Bulls and Kolisi has done well at 8 for the Sharks, but hasn’t done it for the Boks before. Starting front row is good, but Bongi hasn’t been particularly good through the season and the other two are relatively green (although everybody loves Ntlabakanye).
Apart from our injuries (number 8 in Hanekom and Wiese suspended, 14 with Kolbe injured, 12 with DDA injured) this is likely our strongest starting 15
Been a while since I've seen De Jager on a team sheet, has he been out injured, or just out of favour?
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I think aussie will be just trying to be competitive, even at their best....hell, any teams best...winning in RSA is a bit achievement
loss by less than 10 would be still upward trajectory
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Yeah he had a terrible time. He got diagnosed with inflammation of the lining of the heart the day before the ‘23 RWC team announcement and was out for about a year before returning.
Then he came back in ‘24, played games for his Japanese club and then in the final severely injured his shoulder and was out for about another year (or at least all springbok games).
‘It could have ended terribly’ – Lood de Jager opens up on ‘worrying’ condition after initial ‘misdiagnosis’
Springboks second-row Lood de Jager is relieved to still be playing after missing the Rugby World Cup due to a heart issue.
Go SA tight 5 is insanely deep
They could prob field 4 different International standard tight 5's
I feel if this was in Aus I could have seen Aus pulling an upset.
They could prob field 4 different International standard tight 5's
I feel if this was in Aus I could have seen Aus pulling an upset.
Poor bugger. Hope he comes out swinging, was always a great double act with EtzebethYeah he had a terrible time. He got diagnosed with inflammation of the lining of the heart the day before the '23 RWC team announcement and was out for about a year before returning.
Then he came back in '24, played games for his Japanese club and then in the final severely injured his shoulder and was out for about another year (or at least all springbok games).
‘It could have ended terribly’ – Lood de Jager opens up on ‘worrying’ condition after initial ‘misdiagnosis’
Springboks second-row Lood de Jager is relieved to still be playing after missing the Rugby World Cup due to a heart issue.www.planetrugby.com
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This has been doing the rounds lately. Team 5 is a bit greener and weaker, and some positions drop off in team 4… but I’d say the front row of team 4 is stronger than team 3.
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How do you rate Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu? Looks like a very exciting player.
I agree about this not being an average backline. If Esterhuizen is your weakest player in the backline then that is one hell of a strong team! I probably don't rack Libbok as highly but it sounds like he's in a good run of form.
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He is our flyhalf with the highest skill ceiling. Still relatively young at 23 with a lot of confidence, but decision making can be a bit hit and miss in some situations.
He is able to make things happen completely by himself, especially with open play kicking, but also with general running play (combines well at the Stormers with Willemse, Libbok and Gelant- who all excel in loose, open play rugby). With the Stormers this season he had games where everything he tried didn’t work out (especially now that people know who he is and are marking him more). He still needs to strike the right balance between deciding to distribute and trying his magic.
Has also had a few injury issues this season, which I think frustrated him. But generally, he is our future Bok flyhalf and if all goes according to plan, I expect him to be our main starting flyhalf during the next World Cup.
Scary amount of players. I know more names there than any team other than England.
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yeah, RSA clearing the "better" team....world champs and all...but the venue probably a deciding factor, kind of a pity "for the good of the game" it wasn;t in Aus so close after the lions, could have got some buzz going
100% agree, whoever scheduled this needs a talking to, Aus Union needs all the little boosts it can get
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We all know the story, SA will hammer Aus to bits and put the brakes on any momentum...
But part of me hopes. Against all odds, that tight 5, home stadium factor, record, etc... for a miracle.
Aus improved in all 3 lions games, key players are back, they beat a quality Lions team test 3 and even started to look a bit cohesive at times. I'd go to SA with genuine hope of catching SA cold, the amount of times we have seen scrappy and uncoordinated first games in every major tournament, is Aus can play smart and make SA make decisions under pressure, I genuinely dont think thay SA half back pairing have enough X factor to drag a pack back into a game.
The perfect examplenis likns 3, a pack who had beaten up Aus for 2 games put onto the back foot early and never regained any control.
Aus by 1-3 (looks away wincing in fear)
But part of me hopes. Against all odds, that tight 5, home stadium factor, record, etc... for a miracle.
Aus improved in all 3 lions games, key players are back, they beat a quality Lions team test 3 and even started to look a bit cohesive at times. I'd go to SA with genuine hope of catching SA cold, the amount of times we have seen scrappy and uncoordinated first games in every major tournament, is Aus can play smart and make SA make decisions under pressure, I genuinely dont think thay SA half back pairing have enough X factor to drag a pack back into a game.
The perfect examplenis likns 3, a pack who had beaten up Aus for 2 games put onto the back foot early and never regained any control.
Aus by 1-3 (looks away wincing in fear)
