[2015 TRC] South Africa v New Zealand in Johannesburg (25/07/2015)

[Bada-Bing!]

Interesting that Meyer has turned back to Brussow at open-side for the first time since he's taken over as Springbok coach. Did he say he would not pick him because he thought NH referees would penalise him at the breakdown? What has changed in 4 years?

Has the referee been picked yet for this match?

 

[SomeOke]

Interesting that Meyer has turned back to Brussow at open-side for the first time since he's taken over as Springbok coach. Did he say he would not pick him because he thought NH referees would penalise him at the breakdown? What has changed in 4 years?

Has the referee been picked yet for this match?

Brussow isn't first choice, HM is clearly giving him an opportunity to prove he can still be great. It's also a little bit of a mind game I think, since Brussow as been successful in the past.
Interesting that we are playing two fetchers, but I'd guess having an extra ball carrier at lock gives us the opportunity for more versatility in the back row.
I like the decision but it doesn't mean he's first choice.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Brussow isn't first choice, HM is clearly giving him an opportunity to prove he can still be great. It's also a little bit of a mind game I think, since Brussow as been successful in the past.
Interesting that we are playing two fetchers, but I'd guess having an extra ball carrier at lock gives us the opportunity for more versatility in the back row.
I like the decision but it doesn't mean he's first choice.

I never said he was first choice, just saying that it appears a bit of a u-turn by Meyer to now choose Brüssow after what he said before. Has Brüssow adapted his breakdown technique significantly to change Meyer's mind?

Do we know if it is a NH referee on Saturday?

To answer my question:

Referee: Jérôme Garcès
Assistant Referees: Romain Poite, Leighton Hodges.

 

[Shaggy]

I still don't know why you wouldn't have Jan Serfontain at 12 push kriel to 15 and le roux to JP's spot.. Jans young strong and a decent future with the boks..

Also think the back row should be either louw, jaco kriel, burger or louw, burger, Whitley the boks just need some dynamism in attack, this brussow talk won't give you that, it'll give you a decent breakdown specialist, but that's all..

I think we'll see nonu and smith in centres, hopefully with fekitoa coming off the bench.. Vito could start at 8, would be good..

Also my dark horse pick is playing Slade at 10 (was watching highlights of the best try's of the season and I didn't realise but he pretty much made all the crusader ones, fell under the radar a bit I feel)

I'm not so sure about your dark horse pick ... HM thinks Hansen will pick Sopoaga

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...lima-sopoaga-to-start-at-no-10-for-all-blacks

Some interesting comments on Skysports NZ, "The Breakdown", last night; there was a suggestion that Barrett, Sopoaga, and Slade could all feature in the match day squad ... Also some interesting footage of James Broadhurst getting some one on one training with Hansen, suggesting that he might get a start at lock

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I'm expecting Barrett to start with Slade providing cover on the bench (alongside Fekitoa and Perenara).

Sopoaga may get some game time against Oz, but I think that will be small amount from the bench.

 

[Shaggy]

I'm expecting Barrett to start with Slade providing cover on the bench (alongside Fekitoa and Perenara).

Sopoaga may get some game time against Oz, but I think that will be small amount from the bench.

I guess; it all depends on what they're trying to accomplish ... Barrett and Slade are already tested at international level, but if you want to test how a new player like Sopoaga would go in an RWC knock out match, I'd suggest this game would come closest in terms of pressure. Maybe they'll start him, and have Barrett or Slade on the bench, just in case

 

[Kiwi_]

The Smith - Sopoanga combination was the best in the SR competition, he will likely give Sopoanga game time given how fragile all 3 of our current 10's are. Carter, Barrett, Slade all have had recentish injury concerns, giving Sopoanga game time now would be the smart thing to do, Ellis Park is the closest thing to a RWC knock out game you will find. It also helps give us a real look at him in a non-competitive RC year.

 

[nzlizard]

Can't see Sopoanga starting, 10-15 minutes of the bench if things are looking good.

 

[nickdnz]

Though JPP isn't a huge attacking threat I would feel quite confident with him there in a RWC knock out game. My next in line would actually be moving Lionel Mapoe back to wing. Just as defensively sound as JPP but is an actual attacking threat and also covers 13 like JPP would. I guess Meyer just wants some experience in the back line seeing as Reinach, Pollard, De Allende and Kriel don't have 10 caps between them.

We are doinf ourselves a disservice though if we aren't selecting our best players for any position. I don't feel this is the case with Combrinch though.

Really? Mapoe just seems to be too slow in my mind, which is why I figured he'd been moved to centre. I'd much rather see Mvovo, Senatla, Hougaard, Basson, Sithole, Colby all taken ahead of Mapoe. I'd back them to finish off half chances a lot better - and none (barring maybe Colby) would be a liability on defence.

 

[Shaggy]

Can't see Sopoanga starting, 10-15 minutes of the bench if things are looking good.

I doubt that he'll be on the bench, because he only covers one position ... I know they can always move Barrett or Slade, but it just seems more likely they'll start Sopoaga, or not play him at all.

 

[nzlizard]

I doubt that he'll be on the bench, because he only covers one position ... I know they can always move Barrett or Slade, but it just seems more likely they'll start Sopoaga, or not play him at all.

This just does seem like a thing that Hansen does though.

 

[Kiwi_]

Talk about throwing someone right into the deep end on their debut, starting Sopoanga at Ellis Park would be massive..

 

[Shaggy]

Talk about throwing someone right into the deep end on their debut, starting Sopoanga at Ellis Park would be massive..

I guess we'll find out soon; I think the team is named today at 5:30 pm NZT ... Geez, I hope that's right, they'll be some pretty ****** off people (myself included) if I'm wrong

 

[Kiwi_]

I guess we'll find out soon; I think the team is named today at 5:30 pm NZT ... Geez, I hope that's right, they'll be some pretty ****** off people (myself included) if I'm wrong

Where's the best place to hear the line up?

- - - Updated - - -

Just heard. Yep, Ben on the wing, with Naholo injured and Savea getting some rest and just a bit under the weather.

1.Woodcock
2.Coles
3.O.Franks
4.Broadhurst*
5.Retallick
6.Messam
7.McCaw
8.Read
9.A.Smith
10.Sopoanga*
11.Piutau
12.C.Smith
13.Nonu
14.B.Smith
15.Dagg

Congrats to Broadhurst and Sopoanga, can't wait to see them, perfect game for both of them to make their mark. I really hope Lima does well, I'm sure he will. Also an opportunity for Dagg to prove he's back to form and build on that Argentinian performance.

I feel the two débutantes are well protected and good to see Messam vs the Bok, it seems to be his favourite opposition.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I have added the 23-man team of the AB's to the OP of this thread.
@The_Blindside, HM did say that about Brussouw, and I think Brussouw has made an effort of changing his game a bit to not get penalised as much. But Brussouw is not just picked for his pilfering skills. He's one of the best at controlling the ball in a maul and is also a strong ball carrier and has the skills to offload.

I'm very hopeful of a South African win. I'm gonna say, Boks by 5

 

[Kiwi_]

I'm very hopeful of a South African win. I'm gonna say, Boks by 5

It's a good chance for you. But I think we will edge this game. Our line out will be excellent and A.Smith, Sopoanga and Dagg will play a great kicking game to keep you bogged down in your half. Broadhurst brings a strong presences to the breakdown as well. Ultimately our stronger bench should win us the game.

 

[TRF_heineken]

It's a good chance for you. But I think we will edge this game. Our line out will be excellent and A.Smith, Sopoanga and Dagg will play a great kicking game to keep you bogged down in your half. Broadhurst brings a strong presences to the breakdown as well. Ultimately our stronger bench should win us the game.

Yeah, I think tactics are going to play a vital role. But with Bismarck, Francois Louw and Brussouw in the team as fetchers, I think that the Bokke is going to target the breakdown area. The other area that we are going to target is the mauls. NZ struggled against Argentina in stopping the Mauls, just as they struggled in the Super Rugby, and it's an area the SA teams thrive on.

So I think there will be a lot of kicking & lineouts.

 

[Mcfadden]

I think it's a really good All Blacks side that will probably go on to win, despite two (in form) debutantes. I get the feeling more eyes will be on Lima than James. It's a well picked team, because Broadhurst is surrounded by experience in the forward pack and Lima is playing alongside the best center pairing in the world. I probably would have rested Kaino in later games, and started Savea over Piutau but if Julian is feeling unwell then that's that. There aren't really any major concerns, you just hope the new guys don't falter. Put it this way, it's stronger than the 2011 Tri Nations All Black side that went over there. The forward pack alone is better by a country mile this time around, and more in-form generally. From memory, 2011 the ABs created plenty of chances to win but didn't finish them off. They also conceded 15 points worth of penalties and a drop goal, so little wonder that I say the headline about Hansen warning about discipline.

 

[Kiwi_]

Yeah, I think tactics are going to play a vital role. But with Bismarck, Francois Louw and Brussouw in the team as fetchers, I think that the Bokke is going to target the breakdown area. The other area that we are going to target is the mauls. NZ struggled against Argentina in stopping the Mauls, just as they struggled in the Super Rugby, and it's an area the SA teams thrive on.

So I think there will be a lot of kicking & lineouts.

The rolling maul is a glaring issue, I can imagine we have spent a large amount of time working on it this week. It's a good opportunity to execute those defensive tactics this weekend. We need to be attacking the ball receiver more so he loses his momentum. Also watching our over compensating, which we seem to do a lot of. Broadhurst immediately helps the defence in the rolling maul department, he has really good line out defence. Should be a really interesting game, it will answer a lot of questions and perhaps raise some more. What a cracker it will be, definitely getting/staying up for it.

For the record I really hope you do target the rolling maul so we get plenty of practice defending it before the RWC.

 

[TRF_heineken]

The rolling maul is a glaring issue, I can imagine we have spent a large amount of time working on it this week. It's a good opportunity to execute those defensive tactics this weekend. We need to be attacking the ball receiver more so he loses his momentum. Also watching our over compensating, which we seem to do a lot of. Broadhurst immediately helps the defence in the rolling maul department, he has really good line out defence. Should be a really interesting game, it will answer a lot of questions and perhaps raise some more. What a cracker it will be, definitely getting/staying up for it.

For the record I really hope you do target the rolling maul so we get plenty of practice defending it before the RWC.

Haha, yeah, but we could double bluff, and not use it at all...


Are you guys not concerned that Messam's discipline would be an issue, based on last year's match as well as the matches in this year's Super Rugby between the Chiefs and SA teams, it seemed like his temper got the best of him.