[2014 Mid-Year Tests] Springboks vs. World XV

[Big Ewis]

Every team today has been really neat with the handling. Except one, guess which one.

 

[kesh]

It's third or fourth time they've passed it to the opposition.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Some questions answered here. FdP > Pienaar, Goosen > Steyn. Mvovo > Hendricks. JPP a legit option at 13 but should be De Allende when fit. Brits, Burden and Kockott options for us though Kockott not overly impressive. Le Roux at 15 adds a lot for us. Pack pretty much picks itself though the scrum was terrible today; not oo sure what to make of that but JdP should be out when Malherbe is fit. Bakkies and Matfield legit options with Etzebeth and PSdT injured. Back three sstill a good combination but who is the back up? Burger going well but it should probably be Arno Botha when fit again. Man, at hooker, Bismarck, Strauss, Brits and Burden... why can't we have that depth in quality everywhere!

 

[Draggs]

Beast and Jan looked tired. Bismarck performs far better when not captain. Will add more thoughts later, need a nap after being up for the Aussie match.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well I'm a happy chappy!

HM has showed that he picks a team that works well together. Great start for us, especially with all the overseas guys only arriving on Tuesday.

Bakkies is back. Love him or hate him, he's just awesome in the Bok jersey. Also, Stormer, I have to say this, Hendricks = Mvovo. For a guy to show his skills on debut, he was great!

Jannie kan nou maar fokof...

 

[Gena_ZA]

Hendricks did nothing wrong in his first test with very little time with the Boks, we can become a big player for SA.
Rest I agree on.

Very happy with Boks first game but next week the real games start

 

[ratsapprentice]

Is it just me that thinks Hendricks looks like an old man?

 

[Big Ewis]

I know it's very early, but heading into the next RWC, I've got 3 teams (in no particular order):

- NZ: still riding an undefeated streak right now into 2014. Although, again, their last 4 confrontations have been much closer than they'd like. It's the All-Blacks, still.
- South Africa: too simple, too powerful. There can be almost no inconsistency about them, and they're just solid throughout. Of course they could lose, but again, that solidity in how simple their gameplan is centered around power. A sure bet.
- England: they're only getting better with each match virtually, and even the backs play and handling are improving heaps. They couldn't string more than 4 passes not so long ago. They're becoming more complete, more wholesome, and reminding us all of the 2003 side in nature although not as good obviously. They too play a simple enough gameplan to never get lost within a match, and always have a clear target. And they've got the power and personnel to get there without too big of a headache. *AND* - and and and...of course, they're home sweet home.

I don't see another team on the same level of likelihood as these 3. I'm not saying England are better than, say, Australia. I'm just rating in likelihood of winning that specific next 2015 RWC.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Is it just me that thinks Hendricks looks like an old man?

He did not have it easy earlier in his life, read this - http://www.supersport.com/rugby/insider/news/140606/Insider_Cornal_Hendricks

 

[TRF_heineken]

I am also impressed with how we played the ball wide, even in our own 22. There wasn't a lot of aimless kicking.

 

[Big Ewis]

I am also impressed with how we played the ball wide, even in our own 22. There wasn't a lot of aimless kicking.

Indeed. Refreshing from the Boks, but they were sort of playing along. Although they did show they could do it, I think it was for the occasion a lot. I don't think they changed culture so fast in just a few months...we'll just see against Wales next week. Quite eager for that one.

 

[Jaguares]

Bakkies Botha is the man

 

[Jaguares]

I know it's very early, but heading into the next RWC, I've got 3 teams (in no particular order):

- NZ: still riding an undefeated streak right now into 2014. Although, again, their last 4 confrontations have been much closer than they'd like. It's the All-Blacks, still.
- South Africa: too simple, too powerful. There can be almost no inconsistency about them, and they're just solid throughout. Of course they could lose, but again, that solidity in how simple their gameplan is centered around power. A sure bet.
- England: they're only getting better with each match virtually, and even the backs play and handling are improving heaps. They couldn't string more than 4 passes not so long ago. They're becoming more complete, more wholesome, and reminding us all of the 2003 side in nature although not as good obviously. They too play a simple enough gameplan to never get lost within a match, and always have a clear target. And they've got the power and personnel to get there without too big of a headache. *AND* - and and and...of course, they're home sweet home.

I don't see another team on the same level of likelihood as these 3. I'm not saying England are better than, say, Australia. I'm just rating in likelihood of winning that specific next 2015 RWC.

Wallabies could win TRC this year, watch out !!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Wallabies could win TRC this year, watch out !!!

I hope they do. And I hope to see ARG win it soon enough.

 

[Jaguares]

I hope they do. And I hope to see ARG win it soon enough.

No this year, mate. Remember France waited about ten years for their first victory in 5 Nations.

 

[barkinghooker]

Hey. I didn't watch the game. Can anyone tell me how Armitage played? I'm not one of the peeps claiming he should be in an England shirt but it would be nice to know how he competed today?

 

[RoosTah]

World XV actually looked really good in the first half. In fact they probably dominated it... Boks just too good in the second though.

 

[SomeOke]

Please with the result in the end, it's certainly a good start and it seems my misgivings about Morne Steyn at least were unfounded, he does always bring it in a Bok Jersey. We do lack game-breakers in our back-line a little but we looked very slick and practiced when we did go wide which is good to see.

All in all it was a good first test. I still think some different options will be explored, as I'm not sure the current side can be THE BEST but everything considered I can't complain to much.

Hey. I didn't watch the game. Can anyone tell me how Armitage played? I'm not one of the peeps claiming he should be in an England shirt but it would be nice to know how he competed today?

In my opinion the pick of the World XV forwards (at least in the loose), strong on defense and in his carries and affected some good steals.

 

[Big Ewis]

No this year, mate. Remember France waited about ten years for their first victory in 5 Nations.

10 years ? :lol: OK, let's remember it this way...

In my opinion the pick of the World XV forwards (at least in the loose), strong on defense and in his carries and affected some good steals.

I dunno man. Hayman was HUGE as usual. What a fkng beast in the scrum. Immovable.

 

[SomeOke]

I dunno man. Hayman was HUGE as usual. What a fkng beast in the scrum. Immovable.

Haha yeah that's why I added the "at least in the loose" part .