[2018 November Tests] Wales vs South Africa (24/11/18)

[oj121]

I agree with the progress thing but too much too young can be a bad thing. I hope he has a stormer to silence people like me tomorrow but he is up against a seriously strong unit.

Currently watching the Blues at Glasgow

 

[unrated]

Lots of reasons why I can't pick a winner:


- Boks somehow improving with Kriel / DDA despite having the same backs coach and them being bloody ordinary in 2017. So the Boks are now more of a scoring threat.

Stick was the backline coach under Coetzee in 2017, was basically a quota coach. Under Erasmus they HAD to retain him in the team, even though the players he is coaching is more experienced both internationally and locally in rugby union than them. So Erasmus gave him the role of positioning specialist, he is responsible for the positioning of players for the first three phases or something lile that, our current backline coach is Swys de Bruin. Many people say he was the mastermind behind the Lions playing that attractive running rugby when he was assistant coach to Johan Ackerman at the Lions. Now he is both theit head coach and the Springbok assistant coach. Officially he is there on a consultancy basis but he has been involved with every match under the Rassie regime. So the upturn in our backline and attack is largely due to him.

 

[unrated]

Lots of reasons why I can't pick a winner:


- Boks somehow improving with Kriel / DDA despite having the same backs coach and them being bloody ordinary in 2017. So the Boks are now more of a scoring threat.

Stick was the backline coach under Coetzee in 2017, was basically a quota coach. Under Erasmus they HAD to retain him in the team, even though the players he is coaching is more experienced both internationally and locally in rugby union than him. So Erasmus gave him the role of positioning specialist, he is responsible for the positioning of players for the first three phases or something like that, our current backline coach is Swys de Bruin. Many people say he was the mastermind behind the Lions playing that attractive running rugby when he was assistant coach to Johan Ackerman at the Lions. Now he is both their head coach and the Springbok assistant coach. Officially he is there on a consultancy basis but he has been involved with every match under the Rassie regime. So the upturn in our backline and attack is largely due to him.

 

[bushytop]

Apparently there is a late fitness doubt over Lydiate with an elbow ****le. This, if true would bring Ellis Jenkins in at 6 and Wainwright onto the bench.

Would be gutted for Wales and for Lydiate if this is the case as he's been pretty huge for us in the first 2 games and he's totally re-established himself as a major option moving towards the World Cup.

Might sound crazy but if Lydiate is unable to play today, I would be inclined to start Wainwright and leave Jenkins on the bench. Aaron puts in a lot of tackles much like Lyds and would imo keep the back row balance. This won't happen of course but I've been very impressed with Wainwright over the last year.

 

[oj121]

If lydiate is out we will lose. His tackle count is that important.

 

[bushytop]

If lydiate is out we will lose. His tackle count is that important.

I totally agree with you on the level Lydiate being out would be a huge loss, particularly in a game against the Boks. He really is perfect for this sort of game.

Where I disagree with you is how definitive your statement is. You never can tell how the cards will fall. For example, going into last weekend I would've said that Conor Murray being out against the Kiwis would be a 'bigger' loss under the circumstances (than Lyds being out today) yet Ireland still won (with Marmion performing a note perfect Murray impression).

In sport you never can say that something 'will' happen, only the likelihood of something happening and the reasons you feel that is the case.

 

[Dai Yorkshire]

Wainwright, yes could be a good call haven't seen him as much as you and others, but was impressed with him against Tonga got up after that shoulder tackle so would be tough enough for the bocks me thinks

 

[Ospervat]

Comment just heard in pub.......

You can't call them Japies anymore, there aren't many left, now it's Sharpies they've got all the colours.

 

[bushytop]

It's confirmed, Lydiate out and Jenkins in.

A big performance is required from Ellis... he's definitely up to the task but has been quiet during the autumn thus far.

 

[oj121]

Big Jenkins fan and believe he will be full time captain after the WC but its a big ask for a relatively small 7 to step in and play destroyer vs such a huge team.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Kolbe is probably my favourite player to watch in rugby atm, he's just LUDICROUS

 

[Every Time Ref]

Tomas Francis looks like he literally doesn't know how to put the ball down over the line!

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Tomas Francis looks like he literally doesn't know how to put the ball down over the line!

Makes sense, the last time he scored a try was with the Doncaster Knights back around 2012-2013

 

[g6mcg]

Good mix of prop incomprehension but also a decent support line.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Parkes is shocking, surely Wales have a better 12?
Jamie Roberts would be an improvement out there

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Wales clearly a bit better and their defence strong enough to repel a more powerful pack. Good to see Wales playing with some attacking intent, compared to against the Wallabies.

I liked the Boks decision to have a tap and go on the five yards. I think refs have directives to not give cards or penalty tries for attacking scrums to try and dissuade teams from doing it.

 

[ThebigARena]

Watkins should be there, Parkes is numb ATM sure he make takes but no creativity lately a long way from his form at Scarlets a few seasons ago.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Watkins

That's the one, I was trying to think of his name.

With Parkes it's like they think they've found someone who can play like a younger Roberts except he's slower, worse hands and significantly less physical.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Awful support line from Davies. Was stood way in front of Williams.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

South Africa sure don't like securing the ball at the ruck.
Wales don't even really need to compete, just wait and it'll eventually come rolling out and they can dive on it.