[2015 RWC] Semi Final 1: South Africa vs. New Zealand (24/10/2015)

[cardassian]

Easy game for us this. All Blacks won't be able to cheat this time around so we'll be fine.

What are you talking about? We can ALWAYS cheat! Always I tell you.

Just sometimes takes longer for us to work out what cheating we can get away with

 

[Larksea]

arrogance is the first step to total failure but the closer we get to this game the more I feel like the AB's should take it. I really dont feel like the boks are on the same level as the AB's right now. Last in the rugby championship, dropped a pool game to Japan, only just scraped past an injury ravaged and worn out welsh side in the quarter final. Any idea that the boks could win this game seems unfathomable. All that aside the one thing that makes me feel even more positive was seeing eben etzebeth go down with cramp in the last 20min against Whales, heck if your 23 year old star lock is cramping up like that how is he or the others going to fear against the All Blacks? Going to have to have a lot more in the tank. Think you'll see Whitelock & Retalick on the ground with their legs in the air?

Even just focusing on the AB's it seems like they are coming into form at just the right time. A few players like Ben Smith, Skudder, McCaw and Sam Whitelock have been good all along but to see Carter, Kaino, Retalick, Moody, Coles, Owen Franks, Nonu & Savea all starting to lift their game and find form, hold onto passes make offloads and find gaps at the right time in the competition it all seems to be coming together just right, despite the french thrashing I think the AB's still have another gear and they have a recent history of lifting even more when they are under pressure. I know Hansen has a smirk on his face like he's planned for this to happen for four years but there has been an element of luck involved... Even the Woodcock injury has probably helped the one area of weakness the AB's may have had. Moody is just much better than woody right now. Add in that this is by a country mile the most experienced AB side ever, its been there done that for the majority of this team they will hold formation.

Most basic prediction, if the AB's forwards gain relative parity for the first 50min then ABs by 10+
IF the AB's hold their passes to the point we only have 1-2 scrums in the first half then it will be a fast game and it could be 15+

Of course nothing is a forgone conclusion we still have 80min of what will be ridiculously brutal rugby between the perennial #1 & #2 ranked teams in the world. And the Boks do have a chance and will give it everything.

But the Boks are 1 from 7 games against the AB's over the last 4 years 1 win from a controversial final play penalty for a long range goal with home ground advantage. And its fair to say this year hasn't been their best year in the last 4 years... I give them about that much chance in this game. 15% a lot depends on he ref, if it was wayne barnes I would give them a 25% chance.

now ive got that out, what the hell am I going to do for the next two days before the game starts. Bring it on already!

 

[TheOvalBall]

arrogance is the first step to total failure but the closer we get to this game the more I feel like the AB's should take it. I really dont feel like the boks are on the same level as the AB's right now. Last in the rugby championship, dropped a pool game to Japan, only just scraped past an injury ravaged and worn out welsh side in the quarter final. Any idea that the boks could win this game seems unfathomable. All that aside the one thing that makes me feel even more positive was seeing eben etzebeth go down with cramp in the last 20min against Whales, heck if your 23 year old star lock is cramping up like that how is he or the others going to fear against the All Blacks? Going to have to have a lot more in the tank. Think you'll see Whitelock & Retalick on the ground with their legs in the air?

Even just focusing on the AB's it seems like they are coming into form at just the right time. A few players like Ben Smith, Skudder, McCaw and Sam Whitelock have been good all along but to see Carter, Kaino, Retalick, Moody, Coles, Owen Franks, Nonu & Savea all starting to lift their game and find form, hold onto passes make offloads and find gaps at the right time in the competition it all seems to be coming together just right, despite the french thrashing I think the AB's still have another gear and they have a recent history of lifting even more when they are under pressure. I know Hansen has a smirk on his face like he's planned for this to happen for four years but there has been an element of luck involved... Even the Woodcock injury has probably helped the one area of weakness the AB's may have had. Moody is just much better than woody right now. Add in that this is by a country mile the most experienced AB side ever, its been there done that for the majority of this team they will hold formation.

Most basic prediction, if the AB's forwards gain relative parity for the first 50min then ABs by 10+
IF the AB's hold their passes to the point we only have 1-2 scrums in the first half then it will be a fast game and it could be 15+

Of course nothing is a forgone conclusion we still have 80min of what will be ridiculously brutal rugby between the perennial #1 & #2 ranked teams in the world. And the Boks do have a chance and will give it everything.

But the Boks are 1 from 7 games against the AB's over the last 4 years 1 win from a controversial final play penalty for a long range goal with home ground advantage. And its fair to say this year hasn't been their best year in the last 4 years... I give them about that much chance in this game. 15% a lot depends on he ref, if it was wayne barnes I would give them a 25% chance.

now ive got that out, what the hell am I going to do for the next two days before the game starts. Bring it on already!

From my perspective.
The All Blacks and the Boks have not faced each other in the World Cup yet, let alone knock out phase. Coupled with that, i still say the only real test the AB's had was the 60 minutes against Argentina.

The Boks have been playing knock out rugby since Japan, and they haven't looked their best, especially against Wales. However rain is expected Saturday. And anything can happen, since both teams don't need anymore motivation than to face each other.

 

[BakkiesBokke]

My brother will have the game on in the operating theatre - he is also working, sadly.

 

[Larksea]

just to throw it out there. but Wyatt Crockett is NZ lucky charm. his test record is crazy hes played like 50 tests with just 1 loss and 1 draw or something stupid like that as far as I know no other player in the world has a winning record like him.

just for those of you who are superstitious, maybe I'm just tempting fate with my posts today

i'm sure him being out of the 23 is nothing

 

[ABs2011]

I'm not sure this has been mentioned yet:
The ABs have received special exemption from World Rugby to send Puliasi Manu over for emergency injury cover (due to Crocketts dodgy groin). He is allowed to be in the hotel but not train with the ABs until they make a decision on Crockett.
In other news Moody is the strongest AB - bench presses 175kgs I am told!

 

[KeyboardWorrier]

From my perspective.
The All Blacks and the Boks have not faced each other in the World Cup yet, let alone knock out phase.

No ****. :lol:

 

[james5000]

I'm not sure this has been mentioned yet:
The ABs have received special exemption from World Rugby to send Puliasi Manu over for emergency injury cover (due to Crocketts dodgy groin). He is allowed to be in the hotel but not train with the ABs until they make a decision on Crockett.
In other news Moody is the strongest AB - bench presses 175kgs I am told!

I've seen an AB's training video circa 2011 world cup of Woodcock and Owen Franks easily benching 5x140 (Franks really made it look effortless) so those boys would be pulling similar numbers probably. I'd say at minimum Woody would do 155kg and Franks could be close to that 175 as well.

My mate used to train at the same gym as Messam and he swears Messam was doing 200kg (he also said that de Malmanche was doing 250kg lol, so he's probably a bull ****ter)

 

[ABs2011]

I've seen an AB's training video circa 2011 world cup of Woodcock and Owen Franks easily benching 5x140 (Franks really made it look effortless) so those boys would be pulling similar numbers probably. I'd say at minimum Woody would do 155kg and Franks could be close to that 175 as well.

My mate used to train at the same gym as Messam and he swears Messam was doing 200kg (he also said that de Malmanche was doing 250kg lol, so he's probably a bull ****ter)

Haha. Yeah Moody was pretty humble talking about it. Definately said he benched the most in the team though. I dont know if those wieghts mean 1 bench or if its full on sets though. Anyway, just a fun fact - The strongest in the team is now Moody.

He also talked about his first test (against SA maybe??) said he pretty much came off after 40minutes and had nothing left in the tank. Hansen told him if he wanted to be an AB that would need to be his main work on, so he cut down on the weights and got stuck into fitness. I suspect he probably used to be able to lift more then. Anyway he aws pretty chuffed he managed to get through 60 odd minutes comfortable against France.

He's the story of the team really. From missing the squad altogether - to starting in a semi final (and hopefully a final!!). He seems like a super nice guy too. Happy for him!

 

[KeyboardWorrier]

If it rains, why is this seen as an advantage to SA?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I've seen an AB's training video circa 2011 world cup of Woodcock and Owen Franks easily benching 5x140 (Franks really made it look effortless) so those boys would be pulling similar numbers probably. I'd say at minimum Woody would do 155kg and Franks could be close to that 175 as well.

My mate used to train at the same gym as Messam and he swears Messam was doing 200kg (he also said that de Malmanche was doing 250kg lol, so he's probably a bull ****ter)

I've heard similar stuff about de Malmanche. Not specifically how much he can bench, but that he's the strongest All Black we've had.

 

[ABs2011]

If it rains, why is this seen as an advantage to SA?

The general rule is that rain evens up a game. So, SA as the outside would be advantaged. I'm not sure who it advantages in reality though. NZers are used to playing in rain and have the skills to execute in wet conditions, but on the other hand rain does slow a game up, often means a bit more luck comes into it, and certainly strategy needs to change a bit to deal with the conditions usually meaning the game becomes a bit more forward dominated. With all that said, as an AB supporter I would prefer it not to rain, so I would say it advantages SA touch.

 

[KeyboardWorrier]

Except that South Africans are afraid of rain and probably won't go on the field until it stops.

 

[ENZED-88]

I'm not sure this has been mentioned yet:
The ABs have received special exemption from World Rugby to send Puliasi Manu over for emergency injury cover (due to Crocketts dodgy groin). He is allowed to be in the hotel but not train with the ABs until they make a decision on Crockett.
In other news Moody is the strongest AB - bench presses 175kgs I am told!

Since when has bench press been the standard for strength? Owen Franks has a power clean of 160kg (not sure if he has improved since) his brother has a deadlift of 280kg I believe he has the biggest squat on the team. Moody is sure to have set this record in the off season not the week of a RWC semi.

 

[The Jones Boy]

It's gonna be a nail biter where the Boks will play out of their skins and the AB's will need to man up for a massive challenge.
I hope they can get up for it.

 

[KeyboardWorrier]

As long as there's Tries and not 60m penalty kicks. No team should be able to walk off the field and called Winners if they've 'won' without at least one Try.

 

[The Jones Boy]

One point will do me mate and I don't care how they get it.

 

[User1245]

Strong AB team. How has Conrad Smith's form been of late? He was off the boil in the RC.

 

[Corum]

Bench-press testing.
http://www.mens-fitness-and-health.com/Bench-Press-Test.html

Moody weighs 118kgs and benches 175kgs, giving a ratio of 1.4831, which is above the 90th percentile. He's a strong lad, but no freak.

 

[ENZED-88]

One point will do me mate and I don't care how they get it.

This!!

- - - Updated - - -

Bench-press testing.
http://www.mens-fitness-and-health.com/Bench-Press-Test.html

Moody weighs 118kgs and benches 175kgs, giving a ratio of 1.4831, which is above the 90th percentile. He's a strong lad, but no freak.

Of course. I would have thought a few back would've put up more impressive numbers than that. But at the end if the day they're footballers not power lifters.