[2014 EOYT] England vs South Africa

[TRF_heineken]

Happy with the changes. Lambie has BMT, and I guess HM thinks that this game will in all likelihood come down to kicks at goal, and Handre has been a bit inconsistent with kicks at goal.

 

[sharkfan]

Lambie is a bit inconsistent kicking to poles, that's my big worry about him, hopefully he will have a good day kicking to poles. As for Cobus, I didn't see much of him this year, so I have to judge for myself after the game. Let's hope he will make his late father(the quickest man to ever wear a Bok jersey) proud.

 

[SomeOke]

Lambie is a bit inconsistent kicking to poles, that's my big worry about him, hopefully he will have a good day kicking to poles. As for Cobus, I didn't see much of him this year, so I have to judge for myself after the game. Let's hope he will make his late father(the quickest man to ever wear a Bok jersey) proud.

Well Reinach was the form scrumhalf of Super Rugby for the SA franchises, in terms of potential he may be our best option going forward, that said; is he up for the task of starting international rugby, away from home against a very good side. We'll see.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Lambie is a bit inconsistent kicking to poles, that's my big worry about him, hopefully he will have a good day kicking to poles. As for Cobus, I didn't see much of him this year, so I have to judge for myself after the game. Let's hope he will make his late father(the quickest man to ever wear a Bok jersey) proud.

Pollard is more inconsistent than Lambie. But then again those 2 aren't picked for just kicking at goal like we did with Morne Steyn. This competition between the fly halves is a good thing. It shows that if you're not performing, there is a suitable replacement.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Pollard is more inconsistent than Lambie. But then again those 2 aren't picked for just kicking at goal like we did with Morne Steyn. This competition between the fly halves is a good thing. It shows that if you're not performing, there is a suitable replacement.

I think that's the problem with Farrell IMO. If he has a poor 6 nations he knows that if he is fit then he will still be starting the summer tours.

 

[goodNumber10]

Torygraph reads vote England XV for the Saffers:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...ou-Telegraph-Sport-readers.html?frame=3103445

 

[TheSaffycen]

I think that's very similar to what we will see, apart from Morgan starting at 8.

 

[Peat]

Well that Torygraph team is ever so surprising...

... I'm happy with the South African team. It's beatable. As Stormer noted, the main ultra-physicality merchants are either there or not firing. I'm even thinking England should win.

 

[j'nuh]

I think that's very similar to what we will see, apart from Morgan starting at 8.

When Lancaster is quiet, you know that he won't be tinkering much with a squad. When Lancaster comes out to specifically say that he won't be tinkering with the squad, he's probably only going to make enforced changes.

So I suspect Wood and Farrell will keep their places too.

 

[Patchey]

I'm still holding hope for Wood to be dropped for Haskell. A slim hope, but hey ho.

As long as Youngs doesn't start I'll be fairly content. Is also really prefer not to see Lawes play from a welfare POV, but I'm not a doctor in the England camp so what do I know?

 

[Peat]

I can almost see a case for Youngs for this game actually. He's a better kicker than Care... but possibly more brainless, so maybe not.

 

[Patchey]

I can almost see a case for Youngs for this game actually. He's a better kicker than Care... but possibly more brainless, so maybe not.

You see, I really don't see why Youngs' kicking game is rated. I mean Care kicked terribly at the weekend but he's normally much better.

I'd go with the 9 with more brains and who can actually throw a pass.

 

[j'nuh]

I can almost see a case for Youngs for this game actually. He's a better kicker than Care... but possibly more brainless, so maybe not.

He's not a better kicker though, he just does it more? It's mostly aimless and he often kicks when there are no chasers available.

Robson is already better than the pair of them in the kicking game imo.

 

[Peat]

That's because he has no brain. He is technically a better kicker than Care, who often kicks too deep, and who also has no brain. I wouldn't quibble with the idea that Robson's a better kicker than either, the moment you're playing a kicking game with either Youngs or Care it's all starting to go wrong.

But he's not there. It's Care or Youngs. Fine if we've got plenty of nice quick ball to go around, problematic if we don't.

 

[Every Time Ref]

I'd take Care over Youngs. Care played pretty poorly on Saturday but he's not usually that bad and Youngs wasn't any better when he came on. I'm holding out hope for Ford and Haskell to come in for Farrell and Wood, but not much of it. I guess Farrell has now played twice as much professional rugby this season as he had before KO against the All Blacks, so hopefully he's played himself back into form, right ... ?

 

[TommiG88]

Finally, a forum which isn't full of xenophobia.

Really looking forward to the game this weekend after our disappointing second half last week. I'm a bit of a pessimist so I can see it being another close defeat.

Would love to see Farrell on the bench, but even then he'll probably be brought on at half time. Shame Cipriani isn't in the set up; I feel he's the kind of player at 10 we need but I will stop harking on as I doubt he will ever be called up unless our fly halfs all suffered with injuries. Would be nice to see a more attacking 13 as I feel with Farrell @ 10 and Barritt @ 13, Eastmond is going to have to perform some magic on his own.

Even as a Saints fan, I don't think Wood and Robshaw playing together helps England. I think they're too similar and you have either have one or the other. Haskell please?

 

[nzlizard]

Game of the weekend for me.

Both teams have something to prove and a lot to lose.

England with home ground advantage and if they can just finish some of their set piece off when close to the SA line they may just squeak over.

 

[unrated]

England and The Springboks are both very good teams. Both are riding on the back of a year which they have shown their quality. Both are coming of a loss. i just hope whoever loses this game on Saturday be it South Africa or England that the media and the fans doesn't turn on their players.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Unchanged other than Watson in for Roko.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I hope Jan Serfontein plays like he did against Ireland, because Barritt's tackling has been rather poor...

Both coaches showing faith in their teams after losses. Can it be Saturday already...