[2024 TRC] South Africa v New Zealand - 31/8/2024

[mdaclarke]

I thought of the Du Preez twins. But if we haven't called them up yet I can't imagine Rassie giving more caps now. Criminally underrated players. I have totally forgotten about Cobus Wiese.

I also forgot about Nicolas Janse van Rensburg who apparently has already been called in. Don't know how I missed that. For some reason though he just isn't on my radar.

How is Wiese going BTW? I rated him very high at the Stormers when he was still a fringe player here. I expected him to be where Ben Jason Dixon is now.

If there are flying in Janse Van Rensburg then I imagine he will be in the 23 somewhere.

 

[OllyM97]

No Etzebeth. PSDT goes into lock. Sacha and Fassi both start. This Boks team is intruiging to me - I reckon it either sinks very quickly or it swims massively with the crowd behind them.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Only 1 lock in the entire 23 is well both interesting and more than a little concerning. I wouldn't be surprised to NZ have one over us at both scrum and line-out. Not unexpected beyond that and even that is almost forced.

If there are flying in Janse Van Rensburg then I imagine he will be in the 23 somewhere.

One would have thought so LOL. But no, no Etzebeth on top of Snyman, De Jager, Kleyn, Moerat and Mostert and we just ignore the lock we did fly in. Its a mad time to be a Bok supporter.

 

[saulan]

I'm excited about essentially having two PSDTs in the team (For those unaware, BJD is the same mould as PSDT with the same high workrate/intensity). Obviously our six (?) lock injuries are having an impact here by us not having a lock on the bench and slotting PSDT into the line-up, but overall that is still a quality second row... Trying to think of which locks are out injured, it is... Etzebeth (One week injury likely), RG, Kleyn, Lood, Mostert and Moerat. Front row as expected, hoping that Kitshoff is up to fitness standards so he can play the second test. Good coverage for loose forwards too obviously

Backline basically as expected given recent performances. 9 we have options and Reinach makes a lot of sense of someone with experience next to SFM going into this. Surprise is maybe that there is no WLR in this lineup at all. Big test for Fassi.

 

[Hydraulxx]

Eben might still make the team for Saturday. Rassie said that he did full training yesterday and depending on how he goes today/tomorrow they'll decide if he can play or not.

Eben drama! Rassie shocks by confirming Etzebeth could STILL play against All Blacks | Sport

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said lock Eben Etzebeth remains in playing contention despite not making the initial match-day 23 for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park.

www.news24.com

 

[OllyM97]

https://www.springboks.rugby/news-f...ared-for-nz-test-as-boks-release-four-players. Etzebeth on the bench. What price that come game-time, he starts?.

 

[IT157]

With the injury concerns for South Africa, I think New Zealand win this game.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

i feel razor is showing hes afraid, cane back starting even though hes leaving, TJP because "experience" even though hes too slow (takes 2-3 steps EVERY TIME) against the rush defence

 

[Alex Anghel]

i feel razor is showing hes afraid, cane back starting even though hes leaving, TJP because "experience" even though hes too slow (takes 2-3 steps EVERY TIME) against the rush defence
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Yes, he's been surprisingly way too conservative so far with his selections...and the AB bench doesn't have the X Factor/impact it used to, I would have started with Telea at 14, Jordan at 15 and either DMac or Beauden on the bench, to break the game open in the final 20.

 

[saulan]

Three vice captains? Has this been happening all season or first time they've put three up for BC?

 

[OllyM97]

Yes, he's been surprisingly way too conservative so far with his selections...and the AB bench doesn't have the X Factor/impact it used to, I would have started with Telea at 14, Jordan at 15 and either DMac or Beauden on the bench, to break the game open in the final 20.

I can see why he's starting but a fresh Beauden Barrett coming on for the last 20 minutes at altitude, when everyone is tired, could have been lethal. That ABs bench is set up to close out a game when they are in-front. I think they're struggling to win if they are behind after 50 minutes. In the past, the players that the All Blacks have brought off the bench have been of the same quality as the starting team - that's definitely not the case now in some positions.

 

[Larksea]

With the injury concerns for South Africa, I think New Zealand win this game.

not like NZ are without injury. We are missing a number of players. DeGroot, Tuipulotu, Dalton, Jacobson from the current squad and Taukei'aho & Roigard with long term injury.
plus, the reality that NZ are rebuilding with a new coaching setup and a raft of player retirements while the boks have the same stable squad they have been building for years

There are 10 players in the AB squad who have never played a game in South Africa.

it's advantage SA without question.

 

[Al Bangor]

I've got the Springboks in this one.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Three vice captains? Has this been happening all season or first time they've put three up for BC?

captain and two vice captains were named at the start of the season, when scooter was out they didnt name a forth or anything so we only saw savea elevated to captain

 

[Umaga's Witness]

captain and two vice captains were named at the start of the season, when scooter was out they didnt name a forth or anything so we only saw savea elevated to captain

when scooter was out taylor became a vice captain

 

[Kiwiwomble]

when scooter was out taylor became a vice captain

really? missed that, ok, we want three captains at all times then

 

[OllyM97]

not like NZ are without injury. We are missing a number of players. DeGroot, Tuipulotu, Dalton, Jacobson from the current squad and Taukei'aho & Roigard with long term injury.
plus, the reality that NZ are rebuilding with a new coaching setup and a raft of player retirements while the boks have the same stable squad they have been building for years

There are 10 players in the AB squad who have never played a game in South Africa.

it's advantage SA without question.

Springbok fans don't want to admit it, but anything less than a 2-0 sweep is a failure. Their failure to completely dominate the All Blacks in a year and win a full Rugby Championship is the reason why I still put the 2009 Boks team ahead of this one. The 09 team whitewashed a much stronger NZ side, and they played them 3 times. RWC wins aren't everything. That's not me having a go at SA, winning back to back world cups is an amazing achievement, but in between WC's still matters when it comes to judging how dominant a team really is.

 

[miccloarch]

Springbok fans don't want to admit it, but anything less than a 2-0 sweep is a failure. Their failure to completely dominate the All Blacks in a year and win a full Rugby Championship is the reason why I still put the 2009 Boks team ahead of this one. The 09 team whitewashed a much stronger NZ side, and they played them 3 times. RWC wins aren't everything. That's not me having a go at SA, winning back to back world cups is an amazing achievement, but in between WC's still matters when it comes to judging how dominant a team really is.

Bok standards have dropped since they returned from isolation. They used to expect to win every test match just like the ABs but in the pro era they've been knockout game specialists. As back to back world champs they're pretty damn confident now though and the expectations are high even if they might not admit it everywhere (definitely not here, go to twitter or youtube then you'll see the trash talk).

The 2009 team's claim as a great Bok team isn't so straightforward. Essentially the same group as '07 but they clearly didn't fully buy in with PDV who was perhaps unfairly criticized at times but obviously wasn't in Jake White's class. They beat the ABs thrice but their win rate was only 67% that year, roughly the same as their win rate in the Rassie era.

 

[ChicagoKid]

Bok standards have dropped since they returned from isolation. They used to expect to win every test match just like the ABs but in the pro era they've been knockout game specialists. As back to back world champs they're pretty damn confident now though and the expectations are high even if they might not admit it everywhere (definitely not here, go to twitter or youtube then you'll see the trash talk).

The 2009 team's claim as a great Bok team isn't so straightforward. Essentially the same group as '07 but they clearly didn't fully buy in with PDV who was perhaps unfairly criticized at times but obviously wasn't in Jake White's class. They beat the ABs thrice but their win rate was only 67% that year, roughly the same as their win rate in the Rassie era.

The RWC was in its infancy during isolation and beforehand, only tours mattered.

Agree or disagree, Rassie has made it clear that winning the RWC is the primary goal. Not the Rugby championship, or New Zealand, or anything else. Everything will be sacrificed for a 3-peat.

If the Boks win on Saturday, I expect a heavily rotated squad for the 2nd test because that will help the Boks inch closer to finding their RWC2027 squad.

 

[miccloarch]

The RWC was in its infancy during isolation and beforehand, only tours mattered.

Agree or disagree, Rassie has made it clear that winning the RWC is the primary goal. Not the Rugby championship, or New Zealand, or anything else. Everything will be sacrificed for a 3-peat.

If the Boks win on Saturday, I expect a heavily rotated squad for the 2nd test because that will help the Boks inch closer to finding their RWC2027 squad.

The World Cup is the primary goal for everyone but performance within the cycle does matter.

It's also relatively new in the entire history of the sport. Traditions matter. The AB v Bok rivalry goes back a century and absolutely matters a great deal. RC itself is less of a deal but it's still a trophy. Easy to say you don't care about these things if you have a losing record.

Don't get me wrong though, Boks are favourites for this game and the RC despite the injuries. World Champs x 2, confidence through the roof, playing good rugby. Seems to me there shouldn't be any excuses.