[2015 RWC] Pool B: South Africa vs. Scotland (03/10/2015)

[SomeOke]

Honestly SA by 1 would be great, so we can at least see a quarter final. A convincing win would make a statement though.

 

[Sker]

Honestly SA by 1 would be great, so we can at least see a quarter final. A convincing win would make a statement though.

Hmm, with that team I would expect us to win convincingly seeing as it's probably very close to a team that'll play in the KOs. As long as we don't look lost and without a plan..

 

[Sotavalta]

It's actually funny how bad everyone is stressing for this match. Usually if SA goes against Scotland no one would even think of us losing. This was back when we were the second best team in the world so it probably makes sense that we are stressing a little.

 

[celticc]

Can't see us getting more than a losing bp, which won't be terrible as long as we take care of Samoa (not a given). Perfect scenario would be finishing runners up and meeting Wales in quarters who somehow manage to win their group despite picking up another couple of injuries along the way.

 

[YoungScud]

Can't see us getting more than a losing bp, which won't be terrible as long as we take care of Samoa (not a given). Perfect scenario would be finishing runners up and meeting Wales in quarters who somehow manage to win their group despite picking up another couple of injuries along the way.

Could you have seen Japan beating SA? Scotland scoring five tries in the second half of consecutive games? Believe it, because it happened. Faith, my friend.

 

[TRF_heineken]

It's actually funny how bad everyone is stressing for this match. Usually if SA goes against Scotland no one would even think of us losing. This was back when we were the second best team in the world so it probably makes sense that we are stressing a little.

Look, I think the only reason why some of us are stressing is because of what happened against Japan. Nothing to do with rankings or anything else. But I personally think we are going to - in plain weg afrikaans, "Ons gaan hulle opfok!"

The guys that are playing, wasn't the same team that lost against Japan, most of them didn't start, or even play at all. This is more like the team, that narrowly lost against the All Blacks.

This is also the first match on neutral ground between these teams, and I highly doubt that it's going to be like the muddy Murrayfield pitch we usually play on against them where the scores have been mostly close between the 2 teams. But if it's not raining, and it's good conditions, I just think our team has more firepower. And they are fielding an under strength team.

 

[Sotavalta]

Look, I think the only reason why some of us are stressing is because of what happened against Japan. Nothing to do with rankings or anything else. But I personally think we are going to - in plain weg afrikaans, "Ons gaan hulle opfok!"

The guys that are playing, wasn't the same team that lost against Japan, most of them didn't start, or even play at all. This is more like the team, that narrowly lost against the All Blacks.

This is also the first match on neutral ground between these teams, and I highly doubt that it's going to be like the muddy Murrayfield pitch we usually play on against them where the scores have been mostly close between the 2 teams. But if it's not raining, and it's good conditions, I just think our team has more firepower. And they are fielding an under strength team.

Hahaha I really hope you are right. "Ek hoop ons fok hulle op."

I don't really see this as a "Neutral" ground, because most of the spectators will be shouting for Scotland and it is not that far away for them.

 

[WaterboySA]

I will be disappointed if we don't win convincingly, and it's not being arrogant or thinking Scotland's bad. This is a SA team close to one I've been dreaming about for a while(barring the front row). If they are still not good enough, I will accept that even if we go out later on. Still some good rugby to be played!

 

[TRF_heineken]

Hahaha I really hope you are right. "Ek hoop ons fok hulle op."

I don't really see this as a "Neutral" ground, because most of the spectators will be shouting for Scotland and it is not that far away for them.

Yeah, but it's not like there will be very few SA fans in the stands either. Most of the Saffas that were at the first 2 games, will be there again, because of the package they bought.

 

[Sotavalta]

I will be disappointed if we don't win convincingly, and it's not being arrogant or thinking Scotland's bad. This is a SA team close to one I've been dreaming about for a while(barring the front row). If they are still not good enough, I will accept that even if we go out later on. Still some good rugby to be played!

100% agree with you. With this team I would think that we should beat Scotland convincingly. This is almost our best team so in theory this team should do well against even the top 2 teams. Unfortunately anything can happen after that Japan match.

 

[WaterboySA]

Any idea on the SA kickoff time? I'm into competitive angling, have a comp on Saturday, and will be in the JHB traffic between 5pm and 6pm.......

 

[TRF_heineken]

Any idea on the SA kickoff time? I'm into competitive angling, have a comp on Saturday, and will be in the JHB traffic between 5pm and 6pm.......

They run out is at 17:45 SA time. Then with the national anthems and so on... Kick-off will be around 17:50.

 

[WaterboySA]

Thanx..won't miss much then.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Thanx..won't miss much then.

Just the first SA try...

 

[WaterboySA]

8, 10 and 13 will have tries by the time I switch on. GO THOR!!!!

 

[bazz]

and people say the English are arrogant,mon Scotland get intae them

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Lads I know everyone is excited as we are approaching the team everyone wanted to see from the beginning but lets manage our expectations here. I remember (though not all the particulars) when we were in a situation a few years back near when Argentina joined the RC and Meyer was relatively new people were shouting down his conservative selections, he made wholesale changes the very next week to face Argentina over there and the selections were near enough in line with popular opinion and we got out with a win by the skin of our teeth while everyone was expecting an inflated score while many of the more settled parts are either a tad off form (Beast/BdP/JdP) or recently back from injury and getting back into things (Louw/Vermeulen/Alberts). First things first. And remember this Bok side hasn't had time together with either new combinations or combinations that have to get back together again after some time. Also, remember Japan. Sure the selections were rubbish but remember the blow-outs predicted there by most. We have weaknesses still and clever teams will exploit them.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Lads I know everyone is excited as we are approaching the team everyone wanted to see from the beginning but lets manage our expectations here. I remember (though not all the particulars) when we were in a situation a few years back near when Argentina joined the RC and Meyer was relatively new people were shouting down his conservative selections, he made wholesale changes the very next week to face Argentina over there and the selections were near enough in line with popular opinion and we got out with a win by the skin of our teeth while everyone was expecting an inflated score while many of the more settled parts are either a tad off form (Beast/BdP/JdP) or recently back from injury and getting back into things (Louw/Vermeulen/Alberts). First things first. And remember this Bok side hasn't had time together with either new combinations or combinations that have to get back together again after some time. Also, remember Japan. Sure the selections were rubbish but remember the blow-outs predicted there by most. We have weaknesses still and clever teams will exploit them.

There's just 3 changes to the starting line-up from last week. This team had more than enough time together, plus the win against Samoa is a massive confidence booster. We didn't give away any tries.

Plus, it's only Willem Alberts and Jan Serfontein that hasn't played any rugby for the Springboks in this WC yet, in the 23. I think the team is a lot more settled.

 

[Sker]

I've seen some articles saying that the Scotland team is mostly second-string players? How accurate is that?

 

[Jakedood]

I've seen some articles saying that the Scotland team is mostly second-string players? How accurate is that?

Not particularly accurate at all, they're missing Finn Russell & john hardie through injury, but Blair Cowan is a good fetcher, and workmanlike around the field so he's a good replacement. A couple of players are being given a rest after 3 games in 10 days, but in all honesty they're not the big stars of the team, and the replacements are strong and fresh. So i wouldn't call this a weakened team, they're probably the best team Cotter could put out given that if players are tired, their performance will drop, and that's why they've been replaced. Second-string is not accurate at all however, when the likes of the Gray brothers, Scott & vernon are a physical partnership (though Bennett has been rested), Visser has come onto the wing but again, he played much of the six nations if I'm not mistaken, and Hogg is also still involved