[EOYT] France vs South Africa 23/11/13

[Big Ewis]

Something I found surprising:

From our last tour of Europe in 2012 to now we have faced Ireland, Scotland twice, Wales and England and have conceded only 1 try to the Scots in all 5 those matches in Europe.

oh well don't worry buddy, we'll change that stat right away for you on Saturday.
naahhh...possibly not really.... :s



EDIT:
I already double posted so I'm going to write this here.
Man, I feel like this is going to be the hugest battle of the entire EOYT, not to take away from anyone else. I've been reading tons and watching vids on the FFR Dailymotion channel, and the way people on the French side of this battle are talking about the Boks and what this match will be like, the utmost arduous battles and the clash of the forwards and ponderous hits and all...it's just so epic, I feel like a nuclear explosion will result from those two teams coming together. SUPER excited !!

Basically the French players are saying how physical the Boks forwards are, how their game is ultra-simple yet so effective, how it's most of the time a one-pass game almost but they gain field with every impact and if we don't respond to that challenge we're already done for. They feel if they can challenge or at least contain the Boks at the breakdown, they have other qualities and good backs that can make the difference.
They kept saying how besides the Blacks, there's no better team. How they've only lost to the All-Blacks all year...how you just can't drop a ball and they'll have to be tidy, coz they mention Habana-Pietersen or La Roux picking it up and crossing the line and that means 7 points.

The French will have to play a near-flawless game. I say "near" because the South Africans will be under pressure themselves, I don't think they feel as comfortable playing in Paris as they do other fixtures, and have a lot to prove still contrary to mainstream thought. Plus, they do look flawed quite visibly, but their strengths always make up for whatever miscue.
I'm sure this will be great.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Some trivia while we wait for kick off (yes, I am waiting already) thanks to www.irb.com:

• The first meeting between the two sides came in
1913 and ended in a 38-5 win to South Africa
• Saturday's clash between France and South Africa
will be the 39th time these two sides have met
in all competitions. South Africa lead in terms of
Test wins with 21 compared to France's 11, and six
draws.
• France have scored 568 points against South Africa
with a total of 50 tries in the 38 previous matches.
South Africa have scored 764 points against France
and have managed to score 88 tries in the process
• France's record win over South Africa was a 30-10 victory
at Marseille in 2002. Five years earlier at Parc des Princes,
the South Africans notched up their record 52-10 win over
the French.
• France have won nine, lost ten and drawn two under head
coach PHILIPPE SAINT-ANDRE, which is a win percentage
of just under 43%
• South Africa boss Heyneke Meyer has a winning ratio of
almost 70% thanks to the 16 wins, five defeats and two
draws he's achieved since taking over as head coach in
June 2012.
• The most recent match between France and South
Africa was in 2010 which finished 42-17 in favour of
the Springboks in Cape Town.
• France have led South Africa at half-time 14 times,
but only won on seven of those occasions.
• South Africa have a much heavier pack than
France. The Springboks weigh in at average of
117kg per person compared to France's 110kg.
• South Africa have scored 16 tries in the last five
matches at an average of just over three per game.
They've scored 122 points and conceded 90 in the
process.
• France scored four tries against Tonga last week,
accumulating 38 points, which is almost the
same amount as their previous four matches put
together.
• France have scored six tries in the last five matches,
scoring 79 points in total and conceding 121.

To add; Something I found almost ironic considering the amount of Blue Bulls players we started off with and the fact that Meyer was head coach there is that we only have 1 Blue bulls players this week in Flip van der Merwe. Consider that Toulon, Tolousse, Griquas (even though both will play for different teams next year) and Free State each have 2 players here in the SA 23.. crazy. One has to add though that there are many ex-Bulls players (Botha, Steenkamp, Steyn, Vermaak and even Habana and FdP if he were avaiable)

 

[Big Ewis]

^ interesting. Here's some more information and reading about this confrontation:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9035186,00.html

"The hosts are a far less settled and far less experienced unit (the French starting XV has 381 Test caps compared to South Africa's 694) [...]"

"Saturday's match will only be the third time these two sides have met at the Stade de France."

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The disparity in caps (% wise) is lowered a bit adding the bench (only slightly though);

16 Adriaan Strauss, - 32
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, - 48
18 Lourens Adriaanse, - 0
19 Bakkies Botha, - 77
20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, - 0
21 Siya Kolisi, - 9
22 Jano Vermaak, - 3
23 Patrick Lambie. - 31
200 caps

16 Dimitri Szarzewski, - 56
17 Thomas Domingo, - 17
18 Rabah Slimani, - 0
19 Sebastien Vahaamahina, - 0
20 Yannick Nyanga, - 25
21 Jean-Marc Doussain, - 1
22 Frédéric Michalak, - 59
23 Mathieu Bastareaud - 10
169 caps

I am surprised at the amount of caps for SA but with the exclusion of Serfontein(9) and Engelbrecht(12) in preference of seeing whether Jaque Fourie has still got it, the injuries to Malherbe(2), Arno Botha(2) and Johan Goosen(4) only recently back from injury I suppose it makes sense. These youngsters should ideally make part of the squad though. Then bring in Fourie du Preez(67) and drop Ruan Pienaar (73) into the ocean (preferably above the Mariana trench) and you chop a little more of the total SA caps.

 

[Big Ewis]

Just some encouraging stats for the French about South Africa's weaknesses and flaws in recent games:
- discipline: they've had trouble in both games this EOYT.
* in WAL: 15 to 11 penalties and 2 yellows to 1.
* in SCO: 13 to 6 penalties and 1 yellow to 0.

- defense: they've missed some tackles, more than their opponent both times, even if those numbers aren't dreadful.
* in WAL: 12 missed to 8.
* in SCO: 11 missed to 7.

Both Wales and Scotland have beaten more defenders
* in WAL: 12 to 8
* in SCO: 11 to 7.

There are more stats that go that route, but basically the point is neither Wales nor Scotland have managed to profit from those opportunities. But also, South Africa's flaws are out there, and consistently so. France must keep those notions in mind.

Now those following stats are interesting to see in numbers what we've observed on screen, the Springboks' very simple yet very effective style:

* Wales have made 329 meters run with the ball, to South Africa's mere 281m. Scotland is just below South Africa's number for that match.
* South Africa have kicked from hand in those two matches a lot: 30 in Wales (to 23) and 28 in Scotland (to 20).
* This is the most expressive stat here: 79 passes (to Wales' 128) and 115 passes (to Scotland's 153).
* Own rucks success rate: in Wales both teams around 87-89% and in Scotland both teams at 96%.
* Turnovers conceded: in Wales 13 (to 17) and in Scotland 11 (to 20).
* Mauls: in Wales 7/8 (to 1/2) and in Scotland 7/7 (to 8/9).

Basic deduction: South Africa play a very risk-limiting, simple style. The passes totals are surprisingly low (Wales made 50 more that match). They're good in the rucks but the home teams have been right on par in own rucks success rate, but they've conceded way more turnovers so South Africa's ruthlessness at ground battle is backed by the stats here. They'll attempt a lot of mauls and have great success with them statistically, and we've seen them collect penalties from them or even tries. They'll execute lineouts solidly and more often than not immediately look to form a pack and advance, and more often than not collect a penalty.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

has the south african or french squad been announced yet ?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

The disparity in caps (% wise) is lowered a bit adding the bench (only slightly though);

16 Adriaan Strauss, - 32
17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, - 48
18 Lourens Adriaanse, - 0
19 Bakkies Botha, - 77
20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, - 0
21 Siya Kolisi, - 9
22 Jano Vermaak, - 3
23 Patrick Lambie. - 31
200 caps

But, but, he played against Wales 2 weeks ago...

 

[Big Ewis]

more fun stats:

1 - overall in their test match history, the Boks have won 65.92% of their matches. France, well behind at 57.24% which is - this is really comical - a tiny touch behind England at 57.33%
The All-Blacks ahead of the pack easily with 77.88%.

source: rugbyrama.fr

2 - A total of eight Springboks in the lineup are RWC champion veterans from the 2007 team: JP. Pietersen, Jacque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, and Bakkies Botha.

3 - I'm sure Saffa fans will know this, but Morné Steyn who will start tomorrow is currently 2nd all-time in Springbok history for points scored, behind Flash Gordon.........err I mean uhm Prince Charming from Shrek........errrrr I mean uhm Percival Montgomery........errrrrrrr I mean uhm...oh wait, yeah, that last one was actually right.

 

[Big Ewis]

Saw this on some FFR blog. Thought it would be a judicious choice to post it here and Saffas reminisce upon that fantastic test:




Some of those highlights almost a carricature of all the technical aptitudes we've been debating on this board: South Africa with a great line-out and Smitt try beating the French easily on the play. France with the huge scrum and penalty. A play many (incl. myself) considered a flashback to French Flair on that Clerc try, what a fkn play. Missed opportunities for France. Classic, classic, classic.

Rendez-vous in 9 hours at the Stade de France, saffas ! (well, around our tv sets really)

EDIT: I should add there's something I find interesting about watching those highlights again: the team at the time didn't have as much 'talent' as our squad does today. Nowadays, we've got the Fofana, Guitoune, Lauret, Fickou (though not playing this)...that sort of young, highly athletic bunch of guys. Yet, the French 23 at the time still had much more virility to it: Traille, Clerc, Heymans, Barcela, Servat, Nallet, Harinordoquy...
Anyways, what a match. Crossing my fingers for tonight, for a similarly good match (and hopefully, similar outcome).

 

[Big Ewis]

so Saffa fans, your balls shrinking yet under the effect of all the adrenaline rushing through you ??? mmm??

This will be a horribly awkward, clumsy and utterly stressed beginning to the match, no doubt.
Good luck to both teams (esp. France) and may the best team win and no other outcome.

 

[Tony Manx]

............... and may the best team win and no other outcome.

................as long it is not the saffers!

 

[Draggs]

Three simultaneous camera shots during the anthem and NO ref cam. Shameful.

Interesting rendition of the anthem, but nothing on Ras

 

[Tony Manx]

OH noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[ruggabee]

So poor.

 

[hjklhjkl]

Lovely Charge down try

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Way to quench that fire, JP!!

 

[Bada-Bing!]

What a gift of a try for SA.

 

[Chikwa]

Hopefully les Bleus won't crumble immediately.we need a competitive test match for the neutrals .

 

[ruggabee]

The field sucks.

 

[Tony Manx]

This is the French Dunkirk moment...............all they are doing is going backwards and fighting on the beaches (literally!).............they were destroyed at that scrum and the back three seem to have stage fright!!