[2018 November Tests] England v South Africa (3/10/18)

[unrated]

If it goes wrong today, injuries are an easy excuse. We've lost some experience and the bench probably isn't quite as strong as we'd like. But overall we're not really as far below strength as headlines suggest.

1. Clearly we'd like at least one of Mako or Genge. But Hepburn's pretty busy in the loose and will he be really be that much worse that Mako in the tight? Bench not as strong as we're used to.
2. Everyone's available
3. Everyone's available
4 / 5 Many think Krutoje's our first choice anyway. Bench not quite as strong as usual
6. Robshaw was being phased out. Shields and Underhill were the next 2 cabs off the rank, both available.
7. Curry now seems clear first choice
8. We've lost our brick wall merchants, but maybe Wilson will bring a more all round game? V interested to see how he goes. Maybe Jones has had his hand forced into selecting that most mythical of beasts, the balanced back row. Excited to see how Mercer goes when he comes on, not really a downgrade on Simmonds.
9. Usual suspects available. Would Robson have got a look in?
10. First choices picked
11. First choice picked.
12. First choices picked. Te'o will be unfit / break but Jones likes him.
13. Got to discount Manu. JJ might be first choice, although he'd become a bit neutered in attack. Slade brings something a bit different, give him some decent ball and I'd back him over any of the others to put the wings into space. Also a better kicking game, which will be bought into play more with a non kicking 12.
14. Few people would moan at Nowell. Watson's obviously out, but 3 sprinters in the back 3 could be seen as a bit one trick and May and Daly now seem inked in. Would like to have seen big Joe on the bench ahead of Ashton.
15. Daly's going to play, it's just a question of which shirt. Brown was also available.

Saffers are shorn of key men in Faf and Willie and maybe others for all I know. While it could be a long afternoon it could also be a great opportunity for some players to lay down a real marker.

Other Springbok fans might not agree with me, but in my personal opinion the following players left out due to numerous reasons such as,

• not being available outside international windows,
• to injuries,
• to club restrictions,
• to quotas
• to premature international retirement (Hougaard)
• and maybe the coaches personal preference or view on form

despite any of the above i felt the following players would have improved the Springboks, even if just adding depth or boosting the quality of the squad. (None of the below players are avaialble)
Caps in brackets

1. Francois Steyn (56) 29 years old
2. Jan Serfontein (35) 25 years old
3. Johan Goosen (13) 26 years old
4. Rohan Janse van Resburg (1) 24 years old
5. Faf de klerk (20) 27 years old
6. Willie le Roux (50) 29 years old
7. Bismarc du Plessis (81) 34 years old (we added Schalk Brits to the squad so dont tell me he is too old)
8. Francois Venter (7) 27 years old
9. Cobus Reinach (11) 28 years old
10. Marcell Coetzee (28) 27 years old
11. Chris Cloete (uncapped, possible Irish qualification soon)
12. Francois Hougaard (49) 30
13. Jean luc du Preez (13) 23
14. Ruan Combrinck (7) 28
15. Patrick Lambie (57) 28

All the above mentioned players are now in their prime, with the exception of Bismarck

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Couple of stats from the Times. Eng first.

Backs: 101 stone v 102
Pack: 135 stone v 144
Starting XV Caps: 413 v 415
Most capped: Hartley 93 v Etzebeth 73
Bench caps: 212 v 120
Tallest: 6'6" Kruis v 6'8" Etzebeth
Heaviest: Sinckler 17st 11lb (below a graphic of Itoje at 18st 2lb......) v Malherbe 20st 11lb
Starting XV average height / weight: 6'1" 15st 11lb v 6'2" 16st 6lb

 

[NDC89]

I'm saying England will squeak it by a score of less than 5. If the Springboks had all their players available I wouldn't be saying this though...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Couple of stats from the Times. Eng first.

Backs: 101 stone v 102
Pack: 135 stone v 144
Starting XV Caps: 413 v 415
Most capped: Hartley 93 v Etzebeth 73
Bench caps: 212 v 120
Tallest: 6'6" Kruis v 6'8" Etzebeth
Heaviest: Sinckler 17st 11lb (below a graphic of Itoje at 18st 2lb......) v Malherbe 20st 11lb
Starting XV average height / weight: 6'1" 15st 11lb v 6'2" 16st 6lb

What the hell is a stone?!!!

 

[spartan32]

What the hell is a stone?!!!

The correct method by which one measures weight

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Couple of stats from the Times. Eng first.

Backs: 101 stone v 102
Pack: 135 stone v 144
Starting XV Caps: 413 v 415
Most capped: Hartley 93 v Etzebeth 73
Bench caps: 212 v 120
Tallest: 6'6" Kruis v 6'8" Etzebeth
Heaviest: Sinckler 17st 11lb (below a graphic of Itoje at 18st 2lb......) v Malherbe 20st 11lb
Starting XV average height / weight: 6'1" 15st 11lb v 6'2" 16st 6lb

Wade might be right.... English rugby may be overly obsessed with size

 

[ncurd]

UHD not getting any commentary can't decide of this is good or bad...

 

[Bada-Bing!]

What the hell is a stone?!!!

Multiply stone by 14 and divide by 2.2 to get to kilos.

 

[Jockstap]

What the hell is a stone?!!!

a rock or particular piece or kind of rock, as a boulder or piece of agate.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Targeting Daly already

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hepburn is such a weird one,
Smaller than a lot of flankers yet holds his own in the scrum

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Wilson already impressing. I'd have him over Shields and Underhill at 6.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Might as well play Curry in the centres

 

[Reiser99]

Yay first easy penalty given away, waste of all the good work...discipline is our weakness more than anything.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Itoje and Sinckler - the usual suspects

 

[ncurd]

Yay first easy penalty given away, waste of all the good work...discipline is our weakness more than anything.

why break the habit?

SA have had to do nothing for their lead.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Well this feels the same as last time, Itoje and Sickler going to get us penalised out of the game...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Well this feels the same as last time, Itoje and Sickler going to get us penalised out of the game...

Imagine if Haskell and Hughes were there, and Cole to come on

What is it with our forwards and being brain dead bozos?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Granted, hind sight is a wonderful thing. But not at least having Brown on the bench was a mistake.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

A stable/stationary scrum like that is far more satisfactory to me than a demolition by either side