[June Tests 2018: 2nd Test] South Africa vs. England (16/06/2018)

[SomeOke]

@unrated Haha I don't want to nit pick but DDA was covering the 10 channel. Don't want to argue though, it was a poor tackle!

 

[TRF_heineken]

I see the weather for Saturday is sunny, with a minimum of 2 degrees and a maximum of 10 degrees. Typical Free State winter weather.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Not really. If you're going to pick them for your match squad, play them. If they're good enough to be in one, they're good enough to be in the other.

Yea DDA had one good moment in the previous test where he spinned out of a tackle to make a nice pass that led to a try. But that first try that Mike Brown scored was also down to De Allendes poor defending, so if anything we will only gain something by replacing DDA with Esterhuizen.




Watch this video, at 50 seconds you will see DDA attempting to tackle Mike Brown from roughly 7 meters away from the try line. But he just has this weak attempt and Brown scores. How does a Springbok level 12 have such bad tackling skills?

Watching that clip I'm trying to work out which tackle was worse - Pollard or DDA!

 

[RedruthRFC]

Why is Jones dumb? What does Wilson bring over a second row who can also play backrow in Isiekwe? Brainless stuff.

Frustrating as it is, it's fun to play the "second guess Jones" game! This time around, I'd say it's Jones sticking to his guns (both in picking no bench lock last week and in bringing Shields on so early) and wanting smaller, more mobile men on the field. I agree with Rats' and Old Hooker's comments on this approach.

Just as valid a question to me is what does Wilson bring over Simmonds? More physicality I guess, but I'd happily sacrifice this for Simmonds' gas and ability to cover seven if called upon.

 

[Gena_ZA]

A friend bought a bunch of tickets for this game, sorted accommodation and then told us (after it was bought) that he bought tickets and we needed to come. So in kind of a last minute thing I will drive the five and a half hour drive to Bloemfontein tomorrow, to go and watch this game.
Now the Springboks really have to win ! will be really **** to drive all that way and we lose! I mean there is nothing else to do in Bloemfontein.

Hope our centre combinations gets swapped with Kriel and Esterhuizen, they will run the English off their feet at Bloem, and then PSDT should start as he and Etzebeth are our best locks despite a great debut by RG Snyman.

LEKKER man LEKKER

 

[ratsapprentice]

As usual with Eddie Jones, it's tough to find any logical consistency between what he ways and what he does. If he believed in "back 5" players, then why did he sub a lock for a blindside so early on last week?

Because he doesn't see any great distinction between the second row and back row. He's said that explicitly before - I think we're just now seeing the degree to which he actually believes it.

Locks in the back row during the 6N, back-rowers in the second row now... all points to the fact that he meant what he said...

They are "back 5" players to Eddie.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Just as valid a question to me is what does Wilson bring over Simmonds? More physicality I guess, but I'd happily sacrifice this for Simmonds' gas and ability to cover seven if called upon.

Ability to play at lock. Wilson's also a decent, if not outstanding, jackaller.

 

[RedruthRFC]

Ability to play at lock. Wilson's also a decent, if not outstanding, jackaller.

I didn't know that he could, in that case, fair point. I was assuming that if necessary, Shields would go there again. Is Wilson taller than he's listed as? Most places list him as 6'3".

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wilson's one of those guys where it's hard to say what he does that's special/standout but he does everything very well.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I didn't know that he could, in that case, fair point. I was assuming that if necessary, Shields would go there again. Is Wilson taller than he's listed as? Most places list him as 6'3".

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/newcastle-falcons-mark-wilson-earns-10761890

As Olyy says, he's a good player. Not particularly exceptional in any one area, but a good all rounder.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

"He has not overly compromised us in the set piece".

That's from his club coach. I've heard higher praise.

Assume he won't go anywhere near the row and leave all that to Shields.

I guess there must have been an Eddie match day squad where I haven't been left scratching my head over at least one selection. Right now I'm struggling to think when it was.

 

[Scotty]

Ability to play at lock. Wilson's also a decent, if not outstanding, jackaller.

On that same point what does hughes bring over simmonds off the bench? He's a carrier but not half as destructive as billy. Can only cover one position and arguable not fit enough yet. Simmonds and wilson could play 8. Would they do so much worse than hughes? We lose curry and we lose the pace in the back row and nor hughes or wilson will have that in the back row. For me long term simmonds holds that 20 shirt.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

On that same point what does hughes bring over simmonds off the bench? He's a carrier but not half as destructive as billy. Can only cover one position and arguable not fit enough yet. Simmonds and wilson could play 8. Would they do so much worse than hughes? We lose curry and we lose the pace in the back row and nor hughes or wilson will have that in the back row. For me long term simmonds holds that 20 shirt.

You know what. In the longer term if we really powered up our front 5, and let them get on with all the grunty stuff I'd be very happy to try Curry and Simmonds either side of a big no8. Or even Curry and Curry. Not quite Hooper and Pocock, but a similar principle. We seem to have backs that can run, so why wouldn't we want our flankers more attuned to that style?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Apparently the first time Robshaw has been dropped since 2012.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Who's the South African 10 cover? Le Roux?

 

[Big_Grumper]

@SomeOke @TRF_heineken OK, as you'll have three locks on the field in your pack can we borrow one of them when Launchbury gets knackered at the 50 minute mark? We can offer Robshaw in return as a water boy?

 

[TommiG88]

Happy with that team. I think Robshaw as been our problem the last few games as he's not covering the same amount of ground as he use to.

Would have liked to see a winger in the 11 shirt.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Apparently the first time Robshaw has been dropped since 2012.

Spose he was never going to be dropped during the captaincy years regardless, but that's still astonishing.

 

[McTallshort]

Why is Jones happy to pick players who are contracted to super rugby but not players in the top 14?

Yet another SH mercenary filling his nest egg

 

[ratsapprentice]

Why is Jones happy to pick players who are contracted to super rugby but not players in the top 14?

Why have you not understood such a simple concept by now?