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

[ZeroTwo]

Willie-tripple side step and confuse myself-le Roux made it......NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!:wall:

Wait what?! Wasn't Willie le Roux being hailed as one of the most potent Springboks threats? Best full back since Montgomery?

 

[WaterboySA]

Wait what?! Wasn't Willie le Roux being hailed as one of the most potent Springboks threats? Best full back since Montgomery?

Not by ME........

 

[ZeroTwo]

Why not? What will NZ be looking to exploit from him?

 

[nickdnz]

Wait what?! Wasn't Willie le Roux being hailed as one of the most potent Springboks threats? Best full back since Montgomery?

I'm not sure who South Africa has that would possibly be deemed better. He is their best creator by far. Who would be the other options anyway? Kreil is playing at centre, Mvovo isn't exactly safe himself at fullback. Kirchner? If they played Zane Kirchner at fullback I'd be freaking delighted.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Wait what?! Wasn't Willie le Roux being hailed as one of the most potent Springboks threats? Best full back since Montgomery?

In 2013, yes. Since the start of 2014 he's inclusion has been merely because of a lack of alternative options.

Soft spots in red below.

South Africa: 15. Willie Le Roux, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian De Allende, 11. Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9. Fourie Du Preez, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Schalk Burger, 6. Francois Louw, 5. Lood De Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Bismarck Du Plessis, 1. Beast Mtawarira.

Substitutes: 16. Adriaan Strauss, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Jannie Du Plessis, 19. Victor Matfield, 20. Willem Alberts, 21. Ruan Pienaar, 22. Pat Lambie, 23. Jan Serfontein

 

[TRF_heineken]

Wait what?! Wasn't Willie le Roux being hailed as one of the most potent Springboks threats? Best full back since Montgomery?

He has his moments yes. But he's been terrible of late. His defence is the most shaky I have seen from any fullback. And his kick return has been rather poor too, He missed the tackle that directly resulted into tries against all 3 RC teams during the RC. His could retrieve the kick Biggar made which resulted in a try for Wales, and he could'nt tackle North in the corner...

Plus he was an injury doubt for this match due to an ankle injury.

 

[KeyboardWorrier]

Guys, NZ is going to blow past South Africa like a ZR1 blows past a 1980's Ford Laser. The two teams aren't even close.

 

[WaterboySA]

I think the best SA fullback is currently playing provincial rugby for the blue bulls....check this spot in a year or two.

 

[ENZED-88]

Good point. Accuracy with ball in hand counts for even more now. Rain usually levels the playing field.

I disagree on this point. Rain suits the team with a bigger skillset.

 

[nik]

In the Ellis Park tests in the last few years the springboks have scored a lot of long range tries from wingers and midfield against the ABs.

They seem to find another gear and turn it on. Maybe because they are playing at home. In the NH tours they stop playing that way and revert to traditional style. So far in the World Cup they have played the traditional style. Do they only like to use the width against their sanzar bros?

 

[WaterboySA]

Guys, NZ is going to blow past South Africa like a ZR1 blows past a 1980's Ford Laser. The two teams aren't even close.

In SA it's a Ford Escourt, and give us 5 minutes near that bike and some sugar in the tank.....anything can happen.

We will make you work for that win. If you win I guarantee you NZ won't play the same 15 guys in the final, and no dirty play.

 

[KeyboardWorrier]

In the Ellis Park tests in the last few years the springboks have scored a lot of long range tries from wingers and midfield against the ABs.

They seem to find another gear and turn it on. Maybe because they are playing at home. In the NH tours they stop playing that way and revert to traditional style. So far in the World Cup they have played the traditional style. Do they only like to use the width against their sanzar bros?

Because, this is what I said a few days ago on these forums; it's all about sea level. RSA cannot be competitive outside of high sea level environments.

- - - Updated - - -

In SA it's a Ford Escourt, and give us 5 minutes near that bike and some sugar in the tank.....anything can happen.

We will make you work for that win. If you win I guarantee you NZ won't play the same 15 guys in the final, and no dirty play.

I doubt there will be no dirty play with an RSA team :lol:

ps; food poisoning counts as 'dirty play' too.

 

[WaterboySA]

ps; food poisoning counts as 'dirty play' too.

The girl wasn't a waitress, she was a prostitute....
PS:Wasn't foodpoisoning, was the Clap.

 

[ZeroTwo]

He has his moments yes. But he's been terrible of late. His defence is the most shaky I have seen from any fullback. And his kick return has been rather poor too, He missed the tackle that directly resulted into tries against all 3 RC teams during the RC. His could retrieve the kick Biggar made which resulted in a try for Wales, and he could'nt tackle North in the corner...

Plus he was an injury doubt for this match due to an ankle injury.

Interesting. So counting that he'll have to face Savea at least once during the game, what do you think S.A.s defensive plan will be? Also I seem to remember D. de Allende having some suspect moments in the RC as well.

 

[WaterboySA]

Interesting. So counting that he'll have to face Savea at least once during the game, what do you think S.A.s defensive plan will be? Also I seem to remember D. de Allende having some suspect moments in the RC as well.

We will handle Savea the same way we handled Lomu in '95.DON'T give him space to run.

 

[TRF_heineken]

In the Ellis Park tests in the last few years the springboks have scored a lot of long range tries from wingers and midfield against the ABs.

They seem to find another gear and turn it on. Maybe because they are playing at home. In the NH tours they stop playing that way and revert to traditional style. So far in the World Cup they have played the traditional style. Do they only like to use the width against their sanzar bros?

That's because in the last few years we've been trying to expand our game. We've scored those tries because we found a way to create space and had the speed to do that.

In the NH we revert back to the traditional style of play, due to the conditions. And that is the way we know how to win. It has absolutely nothing to do with altitude, because unlike KeybaordWorrier's petty attempts, we actually have stadiums in South Africa at Sea Level!! (Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth), where we have beaten plenty of teams...

In this world Cup we used a more conservative approach because we found that there were too many gaps being created in our defensive lines during the Rugby Championship, and because of it now being knockout rugby, we rather focus on winning the game than getting bonus points...

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I've got a ticket for this match - wahoo!!! My mate got this through the ballot and as soon as he told me, I knew it was most likely to be SA V NZ after looking at the draw last year; swapped this ticket for Australia v Wales ticket I also got through the ballot. So glad it materialised. Can't wait.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Gone four New Zealand by 8, their advanced skill set will show the South Africans up, and their willingness to get the ball out wide and use their danger men, Savea and NMS. If South Africa can get the ball out wide, through Kriel's hands and then further, then South Africa will stand a chance. Vermeulen needs to come up big they need to nail their basics in attack and defence. It all sounds rather simple, but nothing is simple against the All Blacks.

http://fourballsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/south-africa-vs-new-zealand-rwc-2015.html

 

[TheOvalBall]

Wait what?! Wasn't Willie le Roux being hailed as one of the most potent Springboks threats? Best full back since Montgomery?

Maybe at one time. But he's too error prone to be considered some sort of great threat.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yeah, Le Roux had (has?) bags of potential but always needed to shore up some of his (critical) basics at 51 and get more consistant in those aspects. That he hasn't done. One of the gambles that hasn't really paid off but quitee a few of Meyer's gambles have and will stand us well in the future (this RWC is too early for SA) so I'm not too miffed.