RWC: South Africa - Wales (11-09-2011, 20:30)

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales can look on the bright side. You're always able to score tries and look good in attack, but it's the forwards and composure that have always been a problem.

At the moment, the Welsh scrum is good. Their lineout, usually poor, was excellent against the world's best today. If you can keep that up, the tight 5 is good.

There's 3 young players in the back row who could be a real force if they stay fit and keep improving. So as an 8, that's a bright outlook.

As for backs, you seem to have a production line of good wingers, no problem here. Scrum halves as well are normally good (can't believe Peel is in England atm..)

midfield, you have the classiest footballer in the UK in James Hook, if only you knew where to put him. Find somewhere - he's too good for 15. Priestland really impressed me at 10 today, looks composed and takes the ball nice and flat. And Roberts gives a bit of directness and power.

All in all, Wales have some very nice, young options... they should be a very competitive team for the next 4 years at least. Provided they can get over the biggest of Welsh failings, which is composure. Therein lies the Welsh side that lost to Fiji, the one that fails to win games today....

Agree with all of the above especially the bold bit.

 

[Jer1cho]

I must say though, Schalk Burger was incredible. He must have made more tackles than anyone. Morne Steyns defense was shocking, and now the WHOLE WORLD can finally realise what happens when you replace the deadweight Spies, Habana and John Smit with the players who should be starting in the first place. Bismark, Francois Hougaard and Willem Alberts won that game for us, or rather, kept Wales from winning it.

Francois Steyn was also pretty decent.

 

[Draggs]

I could make excuses but in reality SA were lucky to come away with the win. Wales lost it rather than South Africa winning it.

Now that's a poor attitude. SA won, they were the better side. We blew countless chances and once again lacked the ability to finish a SH opponent.

Regardless of Barnes, the kick, and everything else, we had a period in the second half where we could have done what we wanted but were simply too disorganised to score.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Just seen Preistlands drop goal miss again ... if I had one bullet ... :lol:

Now that's a poor attitude. SA won, they were the better side. We blew countless chances and once again lacked the ability to finish a SH opponent.

Regardless of Barnes, the kick, and everything else, we had a period in the second half where we could have done what we wanted but were simply too disorganised to score.

Come off it ... you have just taken a slight bit out of the quote.

I even said Wales had the chances to finish SA off and they failed to do so and therefore lost. Pick and mix time is it?

 

[Draggs]

I don't think SA were really lucky (apart from the debatable pen, but I won't use it as an arguement). They started off well, scored, and when they were down, made changes and turned the game around.
It was painfully evident that the benches would be a major difference, and so they were.

Regarding Priestland's DG attempt. I could see it happening a few minutes later if nothing was on, but at the time we were making good ground and moving our backs well.

Was anyone else worried when Bennett went down??? Played a good game, I thought. Lineout starting a bit dodgy, but the selection of Charteris made sense. (Who also put in a good performance)

 

[Rhyer]

South Africa were very good and had composure, that was key, you could tell they didn't really feel under pressure at all as every movement they made was fluid and wasn't rushed. Wales on the other hand were all over the place but ultimately lacked the fitness as do a lot of European sides to go the whole 80. South Africa won it, Wales didn't lose it, give credit where credit is due people.

 

[Sker]

Wow Deja Vu, JdV injured in the first game of the RWC. Maybe this'll open the way for JdJ. FdP had a shocker imo. I'd rather have Hougaard playing at 9, JdJ at 12, Aplon at 11. Bissy at 2 and Alberts at 8.

 

[Pink Floyd]

First post, hi all! Just gone through all 53 pages, phew. Looks like a tidy community I think I'll stick around.

Good performance by Wales, great defence from South Africa. We should have won but didn't, congratulations to South Africa. After a few hours cooling down I'm happy enough, we need to be more clinical but still confident we can progress to the knockout stages. Thought the ref had a mare for both sides. Priestland had a good game but I still want Hook to play 10. Wales really lack the ability to snatch wins and it's painful to watch. Disagree with Rhyer on Wales ultimately lacking fitness, I thought they looked sharp, fast and strong throughout 80 minutes but as you said were too disorganised to do much with the possession.

Nice to see the locals getting behind Wales, it might help us in our final games.

 

[SelimNiai]

Gutted beyond belief but still am immensely proud of all the boys. Sterling effort by all. But please don't let this be a flash in the pan, keep up the intensity in the next one.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Surely was the Touchjudges fault with regards to the penalty?
Neither of them put their flags up, and when Warburton asked him he said he trusted the officials (seeing as touch judges are now full on referees and have a big say in it it's on their backs to say whether TMO is needed - they just said straight no)

 

[TRF_Cymro]

South Africa were very good and had composure, that was key, you could tell they didn't really feel under pressure at all as every movement they made was fluid and wasn't rushed. Wales on the other hand were all over the place but ultimately lacked the fitness as do a lot of European sides to go the whole 80. South Africa won it, Wales didn't lose it, give credit where credit is due people.

Fitness come off it.

Agreed about the composure part but the fitness part I cannot agree with.

 

[Draggs]

Poland seems to have sorted out some of our fitness issues.
Definitely better fitness levels than last year. Save for Adam our players looked in pretty good shape.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Here is my view on the match.

The Springboks started off very well, making good progress resulting in a try in the corner. Immediately after that, we fell into a gap. Things didn't go our way, Wales had us by the throat and could have easily scored a couple of tries. I still don't get why they went for the posts with the penalties they got. At the moment they had the momentum and should have used it.

Wales were very good at the rucks and had a couple of good turn-overs. I know Barnes was utterly poor today, but he was a pain in the ass for both teams. His bad decisions went both ways. No difference there. I noticed a couple of times players were allowed to play the ball after placing it on the floor. It's just things that go your way one time, and go against you another time.

Did Wales deserve a win? I think they were dangerous enough to score a couple of tries but with the Bok-defence being so solid, it's nothing to be ashamed about that they only scored once.

About the penalty... Of course it is difficult to see and we will never agree on this. I think we should trust the touch judges who stand near the posts when the kick is taken. They had the best view and I am not sure the TMO could have clearly decided if it was or wasn't right. No need to blame Barnes for this, since the touch judge is there to raise his flag or not. You cannot blame everything on the guy.

All in all, Wales could have won this match but in the end it was the extra class that Bismarck du Plessis, Willem Alberts and Francois Hougaard brought to the game.

Priestland's dropgoal and the second half penalty missed by Hook is what cost Wales the 4 points. On the other hand, the Springboks won the match with the subs coming on.

Habana showed absolutely nothing, I cannot remember seeing Spies actually touching the ball and John Smit was outrun after a line-out when he had a 5 metre lead with the ball only being 2 metres away... Quite sad to see, since he is a good lad, just not good enough to play for the Springboks.

Fourie du Preez was very poor. Still cannot believe how **** he was. The way he was trying to outrun the Welsh backs in his own 22 in the first half... Man, that was heartbreaking. Just before that he had a good run, but he should have left it at that.

Did anyone notice the ball being thrown back and forth between du Preez nd Hougaard in the second half? That must have been forward at least once hahahaha


For next weekend I hope to see de Jongh, Hougaard, Lambie and Bismarck du Plessis in the starting XV.

 

[SALions]

Bismarck should start - no question about it. Alberts should also be in starting XV. Fourie du Preez had a sh*t game and Habanna is overrated. We were lucky to beat Wales.

 

[GoBokke91]

Did anyone notice the ball being thrown back and forth between du Preez nd Hougaard in the second half? That must have been forward at least once hahahaha

Lol, I remember this, if anyone finds a video of it please post it, would love to see that bit of action again.

 

[SelimNiai]

Bismarck should start - no question about it. Alberts should also be in starting XV. Fourie du Preez had a sh*t game and Habanna is overrated. We were lucky to beat Wales.

Certainly improved when Bismarck came on (well, you would when you play a German Battleship in the front row). I've made the mistake of writing off Habana (2009 Lions, 2nd Test) before. This time I will slag off JP Pietersen, why does he continue and play and do bugger all.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Lol, I remember this, if anyone finds a video of it please post it, would love to see that bit of action again.

I have the match recorded on my laptop... I will see if I can cut that part out and upload it on Youtube

 

[GoBokke91]

I have the match recorded on my laptop... I will see if I can cut that part out and upload it on Youtube

That would be great, thank you.

 

[SavageLez]

For me the turning point in the game was when the Springboks were leading 10-9 and Wales were given a penalty when Warburton clearly came in from the side, was not penalised and Wales were given the bloody penalty from which they scored.

The Springboks should have been awarded the penalty and Steyn would have slotted it in his sleep to put the Springboks 13-9 ahead. Add Hougaards try and SA would comfortably have taken the win. Add the penalty not given (right or wrong) and SA would still have had an 8 point cushion.

This key moment could have changed the game it did not. Wales should have won it form there they did not take their chances so well done to SA on the win. I think SA will take more from this game than had they won by 20 points.

 

[dullonien]

For me the turning point in the game was when the Springboks were leading 10-9 and Wales were given a penalty when Warburton clearly came in from the side, was not penalised and Wales were given the bloody penalty from which they scored.

But did he come in from the side? Warburton has a great ability to slide in from the side, but still get to the backfoot before placing his hands on the ball, it's one of the reasons he's always so quick to the ball. In the end, things like that happen in every single game at the ruck. At the same time, the missed penalty is something that sometimes happens, it looked over from the camera angle but it was difficult to judge is the ball had passed the post before curling back in. The linesmen were in the best position, so after a while of feeling a little robbed, I will accept their decision.

The one big turning point in the game for me was when Roberts lost the ball close to the SA line, following Faletau's break. I'm still not quite sure if he lost it, or if someone got in there and stole it, but either way, Wales had serious momentum at that point following Faletau's try, and if we could have recycled that ball, a try was almost certainly on. That was our fault, and we let SA off the hook. I would have felt pretty confident of securing the win if we could have gone into the final 15mins with more than a 7 point advantage, 6 points was always a vulnrable advantage.