[2015 RWC] Pool B: South Africa vs. Samoa (26/09/2015)

[Kiwi_]

Oi I was at the one game . Won by 2 points :mellow: A win is a win ok. Thank god Lambie can kick.

See you soon

Good luck with Scotland

 

[Ospervat]

Credit to SA. Given all the negativity in the media, Self confidence destroyed etc .... This was a performance they can reflect positively on. Thought Matlock, du Preez and JdV led well. No obvious poor performance from any individual. Perhaps only concern would be Pollard kick conversion rate. Man of the match has to be Etsabeth, Burger a close second.

Samoa are no push over for any top side. They recently (July 2015) lost to AB's 25-16 with all but 5 points coming from the boot of Carter.

46-6 is a good score crossing the line 6 times.
Are SA back in the saddle - No I don't think so but they are well on the road to recovery if they can just stay focussed.

 

[Sker]

Good luck with Scotland

Who ****** in your cereal?

 

[Moose]

Good luck with Scotland

Thanks breh, good reminder to stay humble.

 

[ABs2011]

Congrats SA on a good bounce -back win. They looked very good. The only person I wasn't impressed with was Kriel. Any batter option as bench cover than him?

Gonna be a great match between SA & Scot to (probably) see who tops the group!

 

[Moose]

JDV potentially out with broken jaw.

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/WorldCup/Jean-de-Villiers-out-of-Rugby-World-Cup-20150926

 

[aucklander]

Congratulations to SA on a well deserved win. They played to their strengths and were a lot smarter. I think they will be too strong for Scotland. Look out for the boks

Samoa on the other hand were just poor in their set pieces. I'm hoping they drop the captain who is an overrated player and who just sucks, his post match interview was an embarrassment. Alesana Tuilagi is another one that needs to go he gives away to many penalties. Samoa will need to bring their A game against Japan and Scotland they seem to lack the fire power on offense.

 

[Durbanite]

Reports that Jean is out of the tournament with a fractured jaw. (on the other side?) Such bad luck when it comes to the world cup. http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/springboks&id=3209994

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Reports that Jean is out of the tournament with a fractured jaw. (on the other side?) Such bad luck when it comes to the world cup. http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/springboks&id=3209994

Desperately unlucky for such a top player and gentleman. Pretty much ends his international career.

 

[Tony Manx]

Desperately unlucky for such a top player and gentleman. Pretty much ends his international career.

I agree and the same, I believe, has happened to Andrea Masi who has given prolific service to Italy and suffered an Achilles tear. Terrible way to go out on.....

From a SA viewpoint it would appear that there have been many calls for JDV to be replaced after the first two games and now Meyer has to think without him being available? Is this good, I do not know!!

Good luck to these and all the other injured people for a quick and full recovery!

 

[nik]

The style of game that Samoa plays does not pose a great challenge to the Boks. It's all physical with little flair. Not many teams will succeed against the Boks in a physical matchup. As Japan showed there needs to be speed and good running rugby to wear down the Boks. That's what the ABs and Aussies employ as well.

If Scotland are any chance they need to bring speed and good running rugby.

A good win for the Boks. Apart from this game, in the last few games the Boks have fallen off the wheels in the last 20mins. Is there a fitness issue?

 

[Moose]

So main options would be Frans Steyn, Serfontein, de Jongh?? Personally I would feel more comfortable having Steyn there. Would provide another option at fullback and always handy to have the ability to slot 65m drop goals/place kicks at a world cup.


EDIT: Serfontein it is: "Jan Serfontein has been called up and will join the squad in Newcastle on Monday." http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/WorldCup/Jaw-blow-Bok-skipper-heads-home-20150927

 

[SomeOke]

Steyn has forever alienated me due to his toxic attitude even though he may be the best option. I'm happy with Serfontein as the call-up option, he is a little one dimensional but has achieved some success at inside and outside centre for the Bokke and is one of our best defensive options in that area. The only other player I would consider would be Mapoe, who probably deserved a call-up this year, but unfortunately we can't have our first choice centres all having 5 or less caps. Or rather we could but I don't think HM would stand for it. With 20 caps Serfontein is ironically our next most experienced option (considering he's 22 years old).

 

[Moose]

I agree with all your points. I just can't help but feel that if we end up in a knock-out match with 75min on the clock and 2 points down, I'd be wishing Steyn was there (especially if its Nonu/SBW/Smith attacking the midfield.

Anyway, Serfontein has been selected - will be backing him all the way.

 

[User1245]

Man, would of really liked Steyn to be called up. Meyer's always gone on about experience winning world cups, we really need that in the centres. Oh well.

 

[SomeOke]

For what it's worth I don't think HM has the option to call up Steyn.
Firstly whatever the media says there is clearly some tension between the two as he's been the only Springbok since Luke Watson to actively reject the Jersey.
Secondly he was released from the squad on compassionate grounds because of his brothers death, even if Steyn has come to terms with this HM might feel uncomfortable for selecting him.

On a personal note though he is one of the last people I would personally bring, I'd honestly prefer a debutante like Odendaal, Voster or Esterhuizen because:
- He hasn't really been on form since he's come back to SA.
- He strikes me as a drama queen and a negative influence.
- He has a tendency to give away yellows.
- The one thing he does better than anybody else (long range boot) would signify a marked step backwards in terms of strategy. I feel continuing to play 10 man, territorial rugby will not win us world cups. That strategy peaked in 2009 and since then every team in the world has started requiring an aerial specialist on the wings with a dangerous counterattacking fullback, you don't beat NZ or Aus by kicking to Folau and Smith all game.

 

[kesh]

For what it's worth I don't think HM has the option to call up Steyn.

isn't that Steyn on the right?

 

[Moose]

isn't that Steyn on the right?

 

[ABs2011]

Sad way to end a fantastic career.

NZ and SA have always had such a fierce rivalry so as an avid ABs supporter its hard to like any rival players but I have nothing but the upmost respect for both JDVs talents on the field and also the was he has conducted himself on and off it.

 

[Scrum Bum]

Man...

Samoa's performance was very sad. I think the South Africans played very well, their forward pack especially clicked well and they dominated the break down far too easy. Either they played well out of their skins and were angry after last game and associated media reaction OR their opposition just made them look good. I think Samoa's pack plays according to who the coach is. Betham has a mediocre at best record; 2011 we had Aussie McLean and Tom Coventry. I don't think the tight five played very well, nor did Michael Stanley, the backline never got firing.

Funnily enough a lot of Samoa fans think that Samoa will get into the QFs by beating Japan and Scotland. Scotland isn't the same Scotland that they beat last time, they have Vern Cotter and Japan won't roll over. Gonna have to play much better if they want to be a QF side.

Shades of 2007 when Michael Jones was the coach. Reckon we need to ditch the corrupties and the PM as chairman of SRU and join the rest of the world in the professional era. Stop using faasamoa as an excuse for ineptitude. Hire palagi coaches like Jake White/Nick Mallet/Eddie Jones etc. Build a much better system.

As for JDV retiring, that's really sad that his career had to end like that. He's been a class act and it will take a while for South Africa to fill his boots. I regard(ed) him as one of the old guard, a class of elite centres head and shoulders above all - Mortlock, JDV, BOD, and Umaga.

- - - Updated - - -

Congratulations to SA on a well deserved win. They played to their strengths and were a lot smarter. I think they will be too strong for Scotland. Look out for the boks

Samoa on the other hand were just poor in their set pieces. I'm hoping they drop the captain who is an overrated player and who just sucks, his post match interview was an embarrassment. Alesana Tuilagi is another one that needs to go he gives away to many penalties. Samoa will need to bring their A game against Japan and Scotland they seem to lack the fire power on offense.

I don't see anything special about Treviranus either. Usually island loosies are all tough and abrasive and huge. He doesn't have much of that, and doesn't have any specialist qualities. I like Alesana but for such a blockbustering 11 he doesn't score much. He was well contained too. Doesn't go looking for work either, if he was able to do that/have a higher workrate then maybe that'd make up for his lack of line breaks/try scoring.