-
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
[2025 TRC] New Zealand v South Africa (EDEN PARK)
- Thread starter OllyM97
- Start date
I'm genuinely surprised that the All Blacks have put the record on the line against the Boks. They always big up SA as their biggest rivals yet they haven't played them at Eden Park for 12 years, and there's been 6 ABs-Boks tests in NZ in that time. Let's be honest, they've deliberately scheduled games at Eden Park to protect their streak. They've barely played a top 3 ranked team there in the last decade yet they've played mostly awful Wallabies sides 6 times there since 2018. Just a coincidence?, absolutely no chance. Objectively as a neutral, the funniest scenario would be the ABs winning this game after all the hype, only for the Wallabies to break the streak and win the Bledisloe in September. That would be iconic and genuinely hilarious.
I'm not sure the Wallabies will get a chance to end the streak though because my gut feeling is that the Boks are going to sneak this one. Yes there will be a reaction from the All Blacks after the Pumas game, but I think the Springboks are strong in the areas where the ABs got badly exposed by Argentina. The Boks aren't perfect either, but if this becomes a tight slog, I'd favour SA getting the job done. This ABs team under pressure don't convince me.
23-21 Springbok win is my pick.
I'm not sure the Wallabies will get a chance to end the streak though because my gut feeling is that the Boks are going to sneak this one. Yes there will be a reaction from the All Blacks after the Pumas game, but I think the Springboks are strong in the areas where the ABs got badly exposed by Argentina. The Boks aren't perfect either, but if this becomes a tight slog, I'd favour SA getting the job done. This ABs team under pressure don't convince me.
23-21 Springbok win is my pick.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2010
- Messages
- 22,572
- Reaction score
- 10,901
Back NZ for it to be honest. Razor is still in his relatively early days and will still be picking his battles as such. NZ have always performed in their biggest tests under him to be fair (didn't get the job done in SA last year but they were incredibly close games, he then came to Europe and dismantled Ireland which I reckon he saw as their biggest test even though France proved to be).
It'll take awhile for realistic standards to return to NZ yet after going from the GOAT team to their worst in the pro era amd some fans and media will still expect them to revert to what they were before Foster. But saying that, they're back to a constant top 3 side imo and I didn't believe it'd happen so quick.
Maybe Faz or Borthwick can prove me wrong and launch Ireland or England back up there but I reckon for the next 4 or so years we'll have a top 3 with these two and France, a next 3/4 with Ireland, England and Argentina, maybe Oz but they are in the early stages yet, Scotland vibing as they do and then the rest.
Looking forward to these tests though, love an early morning Saturday game.
It'll take awhile for realistic standards to return to NZ yet after going from the GOAT team to their worst in the pro era amd some fans and media will still expect them to revert to what they were before Foster. But saying that, they're back to a constant top 3 side imo and I didn't believe it'd happen so quick.
Maybe Faz or Borthwick can prove me wrong and launch Ireland or England back up there but I reckon for the next 4 or so years we'll have a top 3 with these two and France, a next 3/4 with Ireland, England and Argentina, maybe Oz but they are in the early stages yet, Scotland vibing as they do and then the rest.
Looking forward to these tests though, love an early morning Saturday game.
I have a very hard time seeing any team besides England, France, Boks or ABs in the RWC27 final.
The extra knockout game, plus the reduced calendar from 8 weeks to 7 makes squad depth even more important.
Plenty of teams have a very good first 15. Very few have reasonable depth beyond that.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2010
- Messages
- 22,572
- Reaction score
- 10,901
Pretty much where I'm at but I think England lack depth in some key areas so find it hard to include them now, they desperately need front rows and centres to step up when you look at what they currently have, probably a 9 too. They have the right age profiles to bring players up to the level but that's never really been their strong suit in terms of player management.
If that second bracket I mentioned above got a run to the semis against Georgia and Scotland or similar, or met one of the big 3 in a QF, an upset is possible, Ireland beating SA, England beating France and Argentina beating NZ would be upsets but not the biggest surprises you'd ever see in a WC.
Don't really see Ireland being a factor as things stand now but do trust the process and we've plucked players out of obscurity and had them be solid to good internationals at this stage of a cycle before so who knows (don't think it's realistic for us to work in anything but 8 year cycles either given the current make up of the provinces). But in all liklihood I'll be going full baguette after our QF ritual.
I'll be very curious how Big Faz approaches the Autumn internationals. New Zealand, Springboks, and Australia in 4 weeks is a crazy stretch.
Part of me thinks he will stick with the proven players for one last big summit up the mountain. On the other hand, does he test the mentality of some younger, less proven players to set his course for the next two years.
Either way, fascinating November for Ireland.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2010
- Messages
- 22,572
- Reaction score
- 10,901
I'd be amazed if it wasn't the former. Don't exactly have lads queuing up. Tommy O'Brien is one guy we could use (pace and aggression) but fat chance of him knocking off Lowe or Hansen.
He's going to gamble on old heads in two years, has never worked before.
Do think we'll go 3/4 in autumn though, there'll be a weird new coach bounce after having Easterbuy and POC for 6 months.
Can’t see past France winning it myself. They are the right age profile and they’ve got the talent pool to field 3 very competitive teams. It’s a big call but I think one of NZ or SA will get knocked out in the Quarters. I wonder whether a lot of the Boks’ big names will be exhausted by 2027 because of the fact that they play rugby virtually 11 months of the year. I think that wear and tear could take its toll. I also don’t think this is a brilliant ABs side and they could lose to an Australia/Argentina/England in a QF. Wallabies, France, England and the ABs to make the semis - that’s my educated hunch. I better get off this forum before the avalanche of SA abuse comes in!!.
So hard to predict exact results two years out. Also one must know who is and isn’t form.
Rassie has never been avoid of sacrificing sacred cows.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2010
- Messages
- 5,771
- Reaction score
- 2,165
kind of a weird rant about not playing SA in Auckland when their doing that this year
dont get me wrong im sure it crossed peoples minds but they also want to make money more than anything so if they could have every game in Edenpark and sell it out they would, there are several contracts in place with different stadiums and how many top tier games they get each year, part of the funding for the Dunedin stadium included guarantees about playing, same for the temp stadium in chch after the earth quake
there are lots of factors at play
Alex Anghel
Academy Player
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2013
- Messages
- 203
- Reaction score
- 114
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2013
- Messages
- 16,966
- Reaction score
- 4,333
- Location
- Propping up the bar in the Clubhouse
Not seen this Parker fella is he any good?
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2012
- Messages
- 2,069
- Reaction score
- 939
5:3? Is Rassie OK?
Kriel as captain as well, with Etzebeth and Kolisi on the pitch, seems mad
Kriel as captain as well, with Etzebeth and Kolisi on the pitch, seems mad
miccloarch
Academy Player
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2018
- Messages
- 328
- Reaction score
- 175
He's a big unit who works hard but it's a surprise to see him start against the Boks after only making his debut in the last game.
Looks like the plan is to shift Vaa'i to 6 when Holland comes off the bench.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2010
- Messages
- 22,572
- Reaction score
- 10,901
Reiko not bound with his teammates for the anthem. God I hate him. Last guy I want in Leinster.
Do Leinster fans think they are getting a Jordie-like players?
Not the diehards but the casuals?
That was good!
Gosh. We need a big game from Willie.
Anyone got any links to the match? My sky ain't working
Similar threads
