[2017 Rugby Championship] Round 6: South Africa v New Zealand (07/10/2017)

[Bada-Bing!]

Harsh red

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Humanity had more poor people (%) when i was born than today. I'd be quite an assumption to say i'm the sole reason for poverty to fall.
Correlation doesn't imply causality.

Of course not. But it isn't an isolated stat. 8 points conceded in the 51 mins the "poor defender" Jantjies was on the field. 14 extra conceded in the 20 mins when Pollard was on the field.

 

[Durbanite]

Marx MOTM no doubt, what a display of forward prowess!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

DDA is just addicted to the bench. Maybe he was missing his pal Paige. Nice response by Boks to a questionable decision.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Great test match. Boks performance so much better than 3 weeks ago.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

A better contest in the second half and something for the Boks to take into the EOYTs. The challenge for them is to produce that performance in a match when the championship is at stake, not just during a dead rubber.

I don't think the ABs got close to top gear in the last three halves of rugby so they will still have plenty to work on.

 

[Spuds100]

Crazy game. AB ball control was awful though.

 

[SomeOke]

Hell of a game. Sucks to lose but hard to be disappointed with that game of rugby.
Eben, Marx and Kitsoff were ridiculous.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Of course not. But it isn't an isolated stat. 8 points conceded in the 51 mins the "poor defender" Jantjies was on the field. 14 extra conceded in the 20 mins when Pollard was on the field.

Again, you are confusing correlation with causality. It is true that while Pollard was in the Springboks allowed more points. I do not believe he was the reason for that.

What you are saying is the equivalent of saying that when you see more people with umbrellas you tend to see more rain, therefore people taking their umbrellas causes rain. Again, correlation (two events happening at the sime time) doesn't imply causality (one of the events causes the other). There are other things going on at the same time.

 

[mdaclarke]

Possibly the best game of Rugby I've ever watched. Worthy of a world cup final.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Again, you are confusing correlation with causality. It is true that while Pollard was in the Springboks allowed more points. I do not believe he was the reason for that.

What you are saying is the equivalent of saying that when you see more people with umbrellas you tend to see more rain, therefore people taking their umbrellas causes rain. Again, correlation (two events happening at the sime time) doesn't imply causality (one of the events causes the other). There are other things going on at the same time.

No. What I am suggesting is that someone who says Pollard is clearly the superior option should consider some empirical data to back up that claim. They should probably also review the fact his injury affected performances during the Super Rugby season were far behind those of several South African fly halves during the season, including Jantjies.

Is Pollard a really good option for the Boks to have and should he be competing for the starting position? Absolutely.

Is it incredibly clear cut that he is the superior option for the Boks based on the evidence of either this game, or their respective club performances this year? No.

 

[smartcooky]

Again, you are confusing correlation with causality. It is true that while Pollard was in the Springboks allowed more points. I do not believe he was the reason for that.

What you are saying is the equivalent of saying that when you see more people with umbrellas you tend to see more rain, therefore people taking their umbrellas causes rain. Again, correlation (two events happening at the sime time) doesn't imply causality (one of the events causes the other). There are other things going on at the same time.

Not to mention that Pollard unloaded to allow a teammate in for a try.... you never see Jantjes do that.

 

[Penne Rara]

Not to mention that Pollard unloaded to allow a teammate in for a try.... you never see Jantjes do that.

Agreed, that offload was brilliant

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

What I am suggesting is that someone who says Pollard is clearly the superior option should consider some empirical data to back up that claim.

I agree. The difference lies on how we look at things. You look at the end result (points) while i like to look at their (specific) individual performance. Just two specific examples:

1) Min 15 (that close call that wasn't an AB try by an inch) came from EJ missing a tackle.
2) Min 31: ABs try. come from a missed kick from EJ.

Using your line of reasoning (no points), example 1) is not a problem as ABs 11 dropped the ball and missed the try. I still think missing a tackle that wasn't a try by accident is a problem.

Back rows target EJ because they perceive he crumbles under pressure. What's the first thing Pollard does when he gets the ball? He charges, and breaks the advantage line. Twice on a row. Minute later he offloads for a try...
And no, i am not saying that is a fundamental nor necessary flyhalf trait, but it certainly makes them less predictable. I also think (i'd evidence is abundant) that Pollard is better at defense.
I'd say their handling is at par, and although i'd give EJ's the kicking contest on club rugby, evidence strongly suggest he chokes when the stakes are high. This is why i think Pollard is a better option.

But, agree to disagree.

 

[Spuds100]

I don't agree with the rules being so soft, but that was 110% a red card. Illegal tackle, to the head/neck and on purpose.

 

[mania]

So who said boks were a bygone honoured enemy? Boks stepped up just as most kiwis predicted.

Bokke returned to the mantle of the international baptism by fire.

Garces was horrible. Missed more calls than me with my work phone off.

 

[mania]

Poite and garces shouldn't be allowed to ref together.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

I'm just glad that the DMac doubters have been all but silenced. Back-to-back MOTM awards. Happy for the kid.

 

[Brigantine]

South Africa really didn't deserve to finish that season winless except vs Argentina.

If they'd conceded one less penalty each game...

 

[RoosTah]

I don't agree with the rules being so soft, but that was 110% a red card. Illegal tackle, to the head/neck and on purpose.

He barely touched him... it was incedental contact. He should have tried to pull out, but to send someone off for that sort of contact is soft in the extreme.