With Boks we can point directly at the quota system and the current Bok coaching personnel (AC looks waaaaay out of his depth) getting back players like Pollard will help their cause as well. Morne Steyn can kick goals but he's not worth Pollards bootlaces when it comes to running a backline.
SARU should never have sacked Heineke Meyer. People seem to have forgotten that South Africa were not that far behind us under Meyer; they were on the improve, and in his last four matches at the helm against us, he had a win and three losses by 4 points, 7 points and in the RWC semifinal, 2 points. SARU failed to learn the valuable lesson from England and the All Blacks in retaining their head coach after not winning the world cup.
You're right Jonesy, this guy Coezee is out of his depth; a loss against Ireland that could easily have been two losses, a scratchy win against Los Pumas that could also have gone the other way, and a lacklustre bullying, kick and chase win over the Wallabies that only works against them because their forwards are soft. They tried the same game plan against us and got spanked for their trouble. And whoever is their defensive coach needs to learn two words.... "rush defence". Having your back line shuffling across might work against the Wallabies, but it will never work against the All Blacks who probably make more gain line metres than any other team in the world. The Bok midfield defence were continually being turned out-to-in the second half, allowing the All Black backs to run at their weak shoulder - Peranara's second try and Barretts second try both at least partially resulted from defenders being turned inwards.
With the Wallabies its a forward pack issue,...
Yep. As I said earlier, in the thread, the Wallaby forwards are chocolate soldiers (they melt when the heat gets turned up). They try to make up for that by putting in the cheap shots, high tackles and crafty punches like they did against us in the Wellington test. There is no doubt in my mind that they knew they were never going to win that match, and their behaviour was a plan to limit the score against them by drawing the All Blacks into their malarkey. In doing that, they forgot to play rugby. If they put all that energy into trying to actually play the game, with positive aggression, they would do a lot better. I hope that if they try that rubbish at Eden park, the All Blacks don't respond, and instead, have Read reminding the referee and ARs to watch for the off the ball stuff.
they need a few world class players in key areas (front row props and no.8 in particular) they could also do with a genuine 1st five in the mould of the great Stephen Larkham.
I think you have nailed the two main issues.
1. Pocock is not, never has been, and never will be a No.8. He is not a ball player like Read or Whitely. Pocock is a specialist openside flanker, and that is where he should be playing. They would be better off with Fardy at No. 8.
2. Time to kick Quade to the kerb. He's just no reliable enough. Also, Foley is just an average #10, and even lower than average at #12. IMO, Matt Toomua is the best #10 in Australia (excepting Christian Lealiifano who is out with severe illness and might never return to the game.
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The Jones Boy
You are by quite some distance one of the worst posters on these boards.
Your over the top modest posts displays your stupidity and eagerness to try be 'diplomatic' and wanting to be a 'good bloke'. It's impossible for you to make a decent pre-match analysis because you're too busy trying to act like a 'great modest kiwi' rather than actually processing the information and evidence at hand to get an educated well rounded opinion. You are full of euphemisms and BS and ramblings about irrelevant history.
It's embarrassing and make for awful cringe worthy reading. One of the worst was that Welsh prediction you made in the first test series in NZ. Predicting they could beat the All Blacks. Where is your head at? Really.
Hi Kiwi, ya' rescidivist sockpuppet ya'
Trollin' again I see!