RWC: Springboks - Samoa (30-09-2011, 20:30)

[TRF_heineken]

I think this is the last throw of the dice for certain Bok-players... Guys like Habana must have a brilliant game vs Samoa to keep his starting position because Hougaard is in-form and very dangerous.

I personally like the 5-2 split on the bench... it shows our intent to utilize our forwards and dominate up front. Our props will stay fresh and our set pieces will be our platform to attack from, I expect plenty of pick and drives, mauls from line-outs (especially with our line-out master Matfield back) and in the scrums with the Du Plessis bro's we will break the Samoans.

as for our back line, we have a lot of Utility players in the 22. Lambie, Steyn, JDV, Hougaard and even Fourie can swop places if something goes wrong. like I said earlier, the Boks to win by 20+

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

http://asia.eurosport.com/rugby/world-cup/2011/matfield-to-lead-boks_sto2966913/story.shtml

How far off from full strength?

Apart from injuries it's our best team IMO with the exception of Hougaard in for Habana and assuming FdP will get 'there' eventually. A lot of 'ifs' but I am confident in this team. Personally I think 6Brussow, 7Alberts, 8Burger would be a lot more effective backrow unit but am happy with Spies against Samoa.

I like the starting XV but what is up with the 5-2 split??? That almost messed up our match against Wales...

They seem to like having two props on the bench - the advantage of this is that John Smit won't be forced to play prop

I like that Smit won't end up propping but I don't like the 5-2 split either and you can be sure of a few big hits coming in from Samoa as they like targeting the opposition midfield and outside backs with bruising hits- with us only having 2 guys on the bench to ease the pressure.

That is a scary boks squad. My heart will go to the Manu, my vCash will go the Manu and I will with baited breath watch the result behind closed fingers.
Whoever crawls out of Pool D irrespective of first or second will be fairly beaten up by the Finals.
Samoa will mix up the flair and hits. For the boks sake hopefully someone can take out Smit should he come on.

And Steyn 12 may have best PdV best decision in his bok coaching career coz he is simply outstanding there.

I'm happy Steyn is playing so well at 12 but it's hardly a decision from PdV; just another happenstance brought on by injury (JdV). Seriously, since 2008 it's ridiculous the amount of times injury has forced selections into a better route than PdV's planning.

I am sure we're the only team in the comp who can lose 5 1st choice (according to the coach) players (Smit, Botha, Spies, JdV, Habana) and come out stronger for it (Du Plessis, Rossouw/Alberts/Burger, Steyn, Hougaard/Aplon)..
If we win this tournament I won't be suddenly singing PdV's praises.

 

[DJRonStar]

SA by more than seven. Should open up in the last 25-30 and run in a few tries. Go on Bismarck! Will be great to see him wearing 2 instead of 16

I think you will be wrong. Samoa are a 80 minute team. They also have a useful bench and they know this could well be there last game so they will play till they cant move.

Go samoa!!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Yeah, I think many Saffas who are expecting a 20+ win will be sweating come the 60 minute mark as we had seen how Wales struggled and that against a tired Samoa and this time round they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. That said I think we are also better than our game against Wales suggested; gonna be a cracker!

 

[psychic duck]

I'm happy Steyn is playing so well at 12 but it's hardly a decision from PdV; just another happenstance brought on by injury (JdV). Seriously, since 2008 it's ridiculous the amount of times injury has forced selections into a better route than PdV's planning.

Stormer2010 you are completely right again, if it wasn't for injury SA still might have ignored Brüssow (who didn't even make the original training squad in 2009), and still have Adi Jacobs playing

and as I have been saying Steyn is a much better 12 than 15, but it is luck for SA that PdV put him there as JdV was injured

unfortunately though nothing has made him drop John Smit

 

[Jer1cho]

Going to be a very interesting game. Something about this Bok team seems to be changing though. The calmness of the players in the interviews I was watching yesterday said a lot. They all know what they need to do, and are growing in confidence. I think this is the game where we will lay down our marker. We are not going to give that trophy up as easily as people think. Samoa will come out firing, but I can't see them lasting for 80 minutes if we are clinical in our set pieces, and keep our defense as good as it has been. Very interesting game indeed.

 

[Sam Owen]

Samoa will come out firing, but I can't see them lasting for 80 minutes if we are clinical in our set pieces, and keep our defense as good as it has been. Very interesting game indeed.

Yeah, I think many Saffas who are expecting a 20+ win will be sweating come the 60 minute mark

SA by more than seven. Should open up in the last 25-30 and run in a few tries. Go on Bismarck! Will be great to see him wearing 2 instead of 16

Yeah Im concerned about our last 20mins, if we are in it by this stage that would be just awesome but that last quarter could undo any good work we've mustered up till then. I've been watching my team closely and we seem to drop off a little in the last 20 IMO, its either that or the other teams are just having things go their way. Anyway you look at it the last quarter will be a factor for us, whether were ahead by 10 or behind by 40 the last quarter is important, we need to finish strong.

Does anybody else feel like Samoa are probably the most improved side ever ?
I've been watching most of their games so far and I have to say, they don't play like a pacific island team anymore.

They do -really- good pragmatic stuff lately, setting up phases, running the ball when it's on and keeping it tight when it's not.
They've got some excellent structure that simply wasn't there before, and I'm genuinely excited for them. If they keep on playing this way they could very well start breaking through and beat the first tier nations on a more regular basis. They already got Australia earlier this year, and pushed Wales pretty damn close.

Last world cup we gave them a good hiding, I'm not expecting it to be anywhere near as open this time. I'm confident of a win, but think it might be between the 7 - 14 points margin.

I agree hardout, this is a really good post. May you win the lottery this week.

 

[peks89]

Samoa for the win!!! This the strongest Samoan team ive seen in a RWC (All that is missing is a brian lima in his prime) . Expecting a close match. Samoa by 2, Last minute try by Tuilagi.

Cmon Samoa, your our only hope...FOR FRODO! I MEAN....FOR THE PACIFIC!!!

 

[Dizzy]

Im hoping Tuifua, Fa'asavalu and Stowers have an immense game. Come on Kahn, bring some magic to the paddock bro.

 

[DJRonStar]

Tusi Pisi! We saw how much he was missed against Wales. This is a strong Boks team and I agree with some that they are starting to time there run well. They look mentally and physically prepared. The first 20 minutes is going to be hell on earth!!

 

[Dizzy]

Yes, I'm begging the Rugby gods for Pisi to be playing the full 80. He looked to have suffered an injury last week.

 

[Sker]

gods? there is only one Ed.

 

[Draggs]

Steyn has always been a centre and putting him at 15 was only to cover Montgomery.
I really wish we had him back in Durban...

JdV's form has been inconsistent and I would be tempted to stick with Frans at IC for right now. I'd really like to see de Jongh alongside Steyn but I see no reason to drop Fourie.
Lambie at 10 with Viljoen at 15, wings of Pietersen and Aplon and you have a pretty quick backline.

I'm really looking for JP to step up this game. His form for the Sharks was excellent near the end of this season and could be a major asset to the Boks with Habana's form of late.
While I am not a massive Hougaard fan, du Preez hasn't looked anywhere near his best and this could be his last shot.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I prefer Pienaar as our scrum-half so we can use Hougaard on the wing... Imagine this backline:

9: Pienaar
10:Lambie
11:Hougaard
12:F. Steyn
13.Fourie
14.JP Pietersen
15:Viljoen


Too bad we don't have Viljoen in the squad now

 

[Draggs]

I don't rate Pienaar now. Since he has gone to Ulster he seems a different player.
His service is slower and kicks much too often (and with poor aim).

Perhaps a call up for Ricky is in order.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Come on The Manu!!!

 

[Dizzy]

That little podgy thing??? Lol, The Springboks have such an embarrassment of riches in halfbacks it's not funny

 

[DJRonStar]

Manu Samoa Team to play the Boks

Samoa: Paul Williams, David Lemi, Seilala Mapusua, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Alesana Tuilagi, Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali'i; George Stowers, Maurie Fa'asavalu, Taiasina Tuifu'a, Kane Thompson, Daniel Leo, Census Johnston, Mahonri Schwalger (captain), Sakaria Taulafo. Reserves: Ole Avei, Anthony Perenise, Logovi'i Mulipola, Ofisa Treviranus, Filipo Lavea Levi, Junior Poluleuligaga, George Pisi.

Looks like Samoa have opted to go with a 5 - 2 split. Thinking they are going to go on full assault in the forward department. Good to see Lemi come in to the team. Sailosi has been pretty average in this competition and Lemi should add some speed. Eliota at second five a good decision, he offers another field kicking option as well as another play maker. Junior Polu comes in with experience.

Go Manu Samoa!!

 

[Siva Tau]

I like the bench setup although I wish it was Fai Mika or James Afoa instead of Mulipola. Ole Avei is certainly going to get a baptism of fire when he comes on

 

[Darwin]

I like the look of the Samoan team - hopefully Fuimaono-Sapolu and Lemi can add some spark to the Samoan backline. I would have preferred to see Perenise starting with Johnston on the bench, but it probably doesn't matter too much.