[2014 Mid-Year Test] South Africa vs Wales (2nd Test)

[Jaguares]

Stadium: Mbombela Stadium
Capacity: 43,589
City: Nelspruit - South Africa

15 Willie le Roux
14 Cornal Hendricks
13 JP Pietersen
12 Jan Serfontein
11 Bryan Habana
10 Morné Steyn
9 Fourie du Preez (vc)
8 Duane Vermeulen
7 Willem Alberts
6 Francois Louw
5 Victor Matfield (c)
4 Flip van der Merwe
3 Jannie du Plessis
2 Bismarck du Plessis (vc)
1 Tendai Mtawarira

15 Liam Williams
14 Alex Cuthbert
13 Jonathan Davies
12 Jamie Roberts
11 George North
10 Dan Biggar
9 Mike Phillips
8 Taulupe Faletau
7 Josh Turnbull
6 Dan Lydiate
5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)
4 Luke Charteris
3 Samson Lee
2 Ken Owens
1 Gethin Jenkins

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Seems like Bakkies Botha and Johan Goosen (what else is new?- poor guy... just, poor guy.. I really feel for him but he is young still) might be more players added to the injury ward. Lood de Jager did well but has competition for a starting spot with Flip van der Merwe coming back in possibly. As for back-up for Morne Steyn I suppose it's either binging in Marnitz Boshoff to the bench or have Ruan Pienaar cover 10 from the bench and bringing in Hougaard? We'll have to see.

Another possible exclusion might be Bryan Habana who is now a dad and might take some time off? Anyway, congrats, Bryan! Enjoy the little one!

But who knows!?

What I'd like to see improve from last week is some bigger contributions from the front row and Pietersen at 13 even if he is only playing there as a stop-gap (assuming we are not gonna see changes in personel).

 

[Jaguares]

Seems like Bakkies Botha and Johan Goosen (what else is new?- poor guy... just, poor guy.. I really feel for him but he is young still) might be more players added to the injury ward. Lood de Jager did well but has competition for a starting spot with Flip van der Merwe coming back in possibly. As for back-up for Morne Steyn I suppose it's either binging in Marnitz Boshoff to the bench or have Ruan Pienaar cover 10 from the bench and bringing in Hougaard? We'll have to see.

Another possible exclusion might be Bryan Habana who is now a dad and might take some time off? Anyway, congrats, Bryan! Enjoy the little one!

But who knows!?

What I'd like to see improve from last week is some bigger contributions from the front row and Pietersen at 13 even if he is only playing there as a stop-gap (assuming we are not gonna see changes in personel).

Why the game is going to play in Nelspruit? A city with no tradition in rugby. To increase the rugby's popularity in the black population?

 

[TRF_heineken]

Why the game is going to play in Nelspruit? A city with no tradition in rugby. To increase the rugby's popularity in the black population?

Nelspruit is the capital city of Mpumalanga and has a much bigger stadium than Witbank, who used to host a fixture allocated to the Pumas rugby union.

It has a lot of rugby tradition, so I don't know where you get your facts from.

Some of our top schools in rugby are based in that area, Nelspruit, Ermelo, Middelburg, to name a few.

It's the home town of Duane Vermeulen and we also hosted Scotland there last year.

It's also just under a 2 hour drive from Joburg and Pretoria, so I expect a packed stadium. It's also the closest City to the Mozambique Border and the Kruger National Park.

I like it that more cities gets the chance to host international matches, especially when their local team are in the Currie Cup.

 

[Jaguares]

Nelspruit is the capital city of Mpumalanga and has a much bigger stadium than Witbank, who used to host a fixture allocated to the Pumas rugby union.

It has a lot of rugby tradition, so I don't know where you get your facts from.

Some of our top schools in rugby are based in that area, Nelspruit, Ermelo, Middelburg, to name a few.

It's the home town of Duane Vermeulen and we also hosted Scotland there last year.

It's also just under a 2 hour drive from Joburg and Pretoria, so I expect a packed stadium. It's also the closest City to the Mozambique Border and the Kruger National Park.

I like it that more cities gets the chance to host international matches, especially when their local team are in the Currie Cup.

Well, the city doesn't have a Super Rugby franchise, then it isn't among the 5 cities with more rugby tradition. I don't watch the Currie Cup, but I watch Super Rugby and I follow the South African franchises. I remember the Pumas team when Pampas XV played the Vodacom Cup, they were a tough team but I don't have much information about the city. In addition, Boks usually don't play in the city, I found a little strange, nothing more than that.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

That last game would have really dented Wales confidence. SA weren't firing on all cylinders yet still practically walked that game. Wales only got a try because the SA defence was completely asleep with the nearest player just jogging to get Cuthbert. Wales really need to come out and stamp their authority early on if they want to win IMO otherwise I can see them getting another thrashing.

 

[Draggs]

15 Hook
14 Cuthbert
13 Allen
12 Roberts
11 North
10 Biggar
09 Davies
01 Jenkins
02 Owens
03 Lee
04 Jones
05 Ball
06 Lydiate
07 Turnbull
08 Faletau

16 Rees
17 James
18 Jones
19 Evans
20 Baker
21 Williams
22 Shingler
23 Williams

I would rather Allen at 12, but I think the staff sees him as 13. Davies and Roberts were both poor, Davies deserved to be dropped for those chop kicks that he was doing five years ago (remember Argentina 2009?). I think Morgan will be on the bench, but between Shingler and Jordan Williams, we can cover 10/11/12/14/15, with Hook and North as 13 if needed. North and Cuthbert were poor, once Amos and Halfpenny return, they could see some pressure. With any luck, Eli will come back fit and firing.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, the city doesn't have a Super Rugby franchise, then it isn't among the 5 cities with more rugby tradition. I don't watch the Currie Cup, but I watch Super Rugby and I follow the South African franchises. I remember the Pumas team when Pampas XV played the Vodacom Cup, they were a tough team but I don't have much information about the city. In addition, Boks usually don't play in the city, I found a little strange, nothing more than that.

So because Nelspruit doesn't have a Super Rugby franchise it has no rugby tradition? The All Blacks have played tests in New Plymouth, North Harbour and Napier. Those cities don't have a franchise.

Playing games in non-franchise cities shows rugby is a national sport and the Boks are a team of the whole country. As long as the stadiums fill up, there's no reason to move games to different stadiums.

 

[psychic duck]

15 Hook
14 Cuthbert
13 Allen
12 Roberts
11 North
10 Biggar
09 Davies
01 Jenkins
02 Owens
03 Lee
04 Jones
05 Ball
06 Lydiate
07 Turnbull
08 Faletau

16 Rees
17 James
18 Jones
19 Evans
20 Baker
21 Williams
22 Shingler
23 Williams

I would rather Allen at 12, but I think the staff sees him as 13. Davies and Roberts were both poor, Davies deserved to be dropped for those chop kicks that he was doing five years ago (remember Argentina 2009?). I think Morgan will be on the bench, but between Shingler and Jordan Williams, we can cover 10/11/12/14/15, with Hook and North as 13 if needed. North and Cuthbert were poor, once Amos and Halfpenny return, they could see some pressure. With any luck, Eli will come back fit and firing.

Paul James ahead of Gethin. We simply cannot keep persisting with a loosehead that is being singled out by referees.

 

[Draggs]

Paul James ahead of Gethin. We simply cannot keep persisting with a loosehead that is being singled out by referees.

Agree. I have felt for a while now James is the better candidate, as I have posted on here many times. (Meant to have him down on the XV)
Jenkins looked busted, like Jones and Phillips.

Do you think this Rhodri Jones tighthead thing is done? Perhaps we can undo the damage and have a decent young loosehead soon enough. Bevington is done, he has never shown any signs of stepping up. Losing Paul James has had a greater impact on the Ospreys side than any other player leaving in recent years (Hook, Williams, Bowe, Byrne).

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well, the city doesn't have a Super Rugby franchise, then it isn't among the 5 cities with more rugby tradition. I don't watch the Currie Cup, but I watch Super Rugby and I follow the South African franchises. I remember the Pumas team when Pampas XV played the Vodacom Cup, they were a tough team but I don't have much information about the city. In addition, Boks usually don't play in the city, I found a little strange, nothing more than that.

So, in the past we hosted games in Witbank, Kimberley, Soweto and even George. Now Nelspruit is also in the mix.

None of those cities have Super Rugby Franchises. But what does that matter? If it wasn't for last year, Port Elizabeth would also be on the list.

The point I'm trying to make is that your first post was non-factual and you made remarks which could be seen as a bit on the derogatory side.

Like Eze said, Rugby is a national sport and we have more than 5 cities with the infrastructure to host tests, why not give them a shot? We host more than 5 tests a year, so everyone wins.

Try to post after you have done some research.

 

[Jaguares]

So because Nelspruit doesn't have a Super Rugby franchise it has no rugby tradition? The All Blacks have played tests in New Plymouth, North Harbour and Napier. Those cities don't have a franchise.

Playing games in non-franchise cities shows rugby is a national sport and the Boks are a team of the whole country. As long as the stadiums fill up, there's no reason to move games to different stadiums.

No but isn't famous in the rugby world. Pumas is not a famous team abroad

 

[Gena_ZA]

We don't do things to impress you or other nations that just follow the major competitions and just know what they are fed in the media, so make peace with it and learn what this little city has to offer so next time you sound a bit educated.
I went to school there, great place with the best weather in the country, almost sub tropical, lush green and clean.
Mbombela is one of the best stadiums in the world and hosted the Football World Cup in 2010

"Mbombela Stadium is a newly built, all-seater, 40,929-seat stadium and was one of the ten venues for the FIFA World Cup 2010. It is located on open land six kilometres west of Nelspruit, South Africa, the capital of the Mpumalanga province"

http://www.mbombelastadium.com/en/

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

No but isn't famous in the rugby world. Pumas is not a famous team abroad

Well, none of the stadiums in Argentina is famous in the rugby world. Still, they host Test games every year.

 

[Jaguares]

We don't do things to impress you or other nations that just follow the major competitions and just know what they are fed in the media, so make peace with it and learn what this little city has to offer so next time you sound a bit educated.
I went to school there, great place with the best weather in the country, almost sub tropical, lush green and clean.
Mbombela is one of the best stadiums in the world and hosted the Football World Cup in 2010

"Mbombela Stadium is a newly built, all-seater, 40,929-seat stadium and was one of the ten venues for the FIFA World Cup 2010. It is located on open land six kilometres west of Nelspruit, South Africa, the capital of the Mpumalanga province"

http://www.mbombelastadium.com/en/

I can't follow the Currie Cup because the time zone is too bad for me. Now I'm watching too many games Super Rugby and Test Matches with impossible times for people from South America (03:00 am or 05:00 am).

I have not disrespected anyone. I only wondered which is the reason why SARU chose that city.

Well, none of the stadiums in Argentina is famous in the rugby world. Still, they host Test games every year.

I think we have some famous stadiums in rugby world. For example: Ferro Stadium. I'm sure many French rugby supporters remember that stadium by the epic battles in the decades of 80s when we couldn't play against England for the war we had against them, then almost all our test matches were against Les Bleus. I have not disrespected anyone.

 

[Big Ewis]

Bakkies "Boo watta".

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Guys, Conrad Smith made it clear enough he knows nithing about Nelspruit by asking questions. How would he! This is a forum after all where questions should be welcome. So he didn't put a question mark at the end of his 2nd sentence and for a foreigner we can't expect him to know anything about what is a pretty obscure city everything considered so just give the guy the benefit of the doubt that he did not mean to offend. As the saying goes; offense is only ever taken, never given..i suppose we will have to wait till tomorrow for the line up. Good thing yesterdays holiday made the wait that littke bit shorter.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I can't follow the Currie Cup because the time zone is too bad for me. Now I'm watching too many games Super Rugby and Test Matches with impossible times for people from South America (03:00 am or 05:00 am).

I have not disrespected anyone. I only wondered which is the reason why SARU chose that city.


I think we have some famous stadiums in rugby world. For example: Ferro Stadium. I'm sure many French rugby supporters remember that stadium by the epic battles in the decades of 80s when we couldn't play against England for the war we had against them, then almost all our test matches were against Les Bleus. I have not disrespected anyone.

You were being disrespectful without even realising it.

You said that you don't understand why a test will be played at a city with no rugby tradition.

To which all us educated people, that knows the city, it's people and it's rugby culture, responded to your post. How about you just make an apology for being ignorant, and not doing proper research before posting. I'm getting sick and tired of this crap on this forum. This is not the first time you have made such baseless remarks. I'm not going to let this go anymore, be a man, and take responsibility.

That is all.

As for the upcoming game, Willie Le Roux sat out of training yesterday, But the Doc said it was just precautionary, and he will be fine for the test match.

It seems that Bakkies and Goosen are the only casualties after the game, which is good news. Marnitz Boshoff will most likely take his place on the bench. And how nice would it be if he gets a run on in his hometown...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Good news that Goosen and Bakkies are injured or good news that they are the only injured?

 

[TRF_heineken]

Good news that Goosen and Bakkies are injured or good news that they are the only injured?

good news that they are the only ones. I will never say it's good news that they are injured, because our injury list is already too damn high!