[RWC2019][Semi-Final 2] Wales vs. South Africa (27/10/2019)

[bushytop]

To be fair: Find me a referee that Biggar hasn't cried at

Owens

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Owens

Guarantee he has at club level

 

[TheOvalBall]

I always like to see the world champions versus the 6 nations champions in a world cup final. Not sure how many times that has happened.

Or put it another way. That is my dream scenario.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Peyper can't take the helm, as he's South African. Owens can't because he's Welsh. So it basically leaves us with Garces, Barnes and then the others that are of a lower-ish standard.

Barnes wouldn't have been a choice as he was officiating us against Japan, and it hardly ever happens that the same ref is in charge of an international 2 weeks in a row for the same team. So by process of elimination, Garces is the obvious choice, as much as it pains me that this twunt is in charge of a crucial game again.

And Skeen as TMO. Seriously?? Are WR trying to create more controversy?? Especially after what happened in the QF with Garces overruling him so fast Skeen didn't even have time to refute...

Oh well. Guess our guys will have to concentrate even harder now...

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I'm inclined to say South Africa, but le Roux is not having a good world cup. It's not just one game, he's been just poor. Wales tend to be very tidy and their kicking game is not bad at all. I can see Wales exploiting that to their advantage.

If Wales play a positional game and get lucky here and there thy have a shot. Other than that I dont see them competing with the south african pack.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Owens reffed the ABs v Ireland last week and now this week v England. Peyper May have got the gig but for his photo faux pas.

 

[TheOvalBall]

Wales will target Le Roux if he plays. It's really weird that Rassie keeps picking him.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Wales will target Le Roux if he plays. It's really weird that Rassie keeps picking him.

Well, The question is if Rassie will pick him again, or if he'll select Gelant or Willemse in his place? I personally would like to have Willemse run out at 15 ahead of Willie and Gelant. Willemse is the freshest of everyone at the WC and has only played against Canada.

Him, and Kolbe could be a dangerous combo from deep...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I'd rather have Kolbe 15/Nkosi 14 than Willemse 15/ Kolbe 14 TBH. Have Willemse on the bench.

I'm not happy with Garces' appointment but TBF his last game wasn't the worst I've seen at this RWC. I think Aus had more 'benefit' than England from him and England managed just fine. Hope he continues to improve. If not, he is a known quantity and we really should start being able to adapt.

 

[1015]

Unfortunately I see this game going SA 24-16 Wales.

SA have less bruised battered bodies, and will just break Wales down with rolling mauls and just up front direct rugby.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

Well well well. This will be interesting. Garces favours a breakdown where you can do whatever the **** you want. The Welsh love this. They will adopt their "accidentally" falling on the wrong side, "accidentally flopping on top of the ruck", joining from wherever you want and of course the all time classic of lying in the middle of the ruck waving their arms around pretending that some great injustice has led them to be there and they couldn't be doing anything more to escape their terrible predicament......

Chance of quick ball for South Africa? Zero. This is going to turn into the worst kind of rugby. Faf will kick it, Williams will gather and kick it back, Le Roux will kick it back, Biggar will gather and will kick it and contest it. It's then 50/50 pinball as to who benefits. However Biggar is a master of either:

a) being one of the best under the high ball in the game and totally justified in his approach to the ball
b) being massively reckless and jumping into dangerous positions that mean defenders have a decent chance of being sent off despite minimal fault in their actions.

Kick fest then....................

 

[Bull]

Faf will kick it, Williams will gather and kick it back, Le Roux will kick it back,

Kick fest then....................

I hope Le Roux is not in the match day 23 at all!

 

[TRF_heineken]

Well well well. This will be interesting. Garces favours a breakdown where you can do whatever the **** you want. The Welsh love this. They will adopt their "accidentally" falling on the wrong side, "accidentally flopping on top of the ruck", joining from wherever you want and of course the all time classic of lying in the middle of the ruck waving their arms around pretending that some great injustice has led them to be there and they couldn't be doing anything more to escape their terrible predicament......

Chance of quick ball for South Africa? Zero. This is going to turn into the worst kind of rugby. Faf will kick it, Williams will gather and kick it back, Le Roux will kick it back, Biggar will gather and will kick it and contest it. It's then 50/50 pinball as to who benefits. However Biggar is a master of either:

a) being one of the best under the high ball in the game and totally justified in his approach to the ball
b) being massively reckless and jumping into dangerous positions that mean defenders have a decent chance of being sent off despite minimal fault in their actions.

Kick fest then....................

As strange as it might sound, I don't think we are going to kick it back...

 

[Goodey]

I always like to see the world champions versus the 6 nations champions in a world cup final. Not sure how many times that has happened.

Only once, England v Australia in 2003.

Though the first two world cup finals did involve the 5 nations champions against probably the best SH team, just not the world champions.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Right, last weekend we played against the whole world and it did not bother us.
This week we will play with some dodgy officials in charge, it will not bother us.

Rassie had this thought trough minutes after the Japan victory, he has altered our approach.
Imagine our self belief and camaraderie come this finals, should we clinch this one.

Bring it on!

 

[TheOvalBall]

To be honest, the Boks winning the world cup will be such a good thing. The country desperately needs it.

 

[Kapa O Pango]

I know that Rassie gameplan revolves around box kicking, but Faf's box kicking is not one of his strong points.

I could see Wales capitalise on it.

 

[MattGaff]

Oh ooofs Owens is so unbiased I don't even see him as Welsh! Why are there no Scottish refs!

Trust me, nobody wants them. Who remembers Malcolm and David Changleng?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Same team then for SA? If Rassie is going to cull anyone it is likely Le Roux though I expect we'll see the line-up largely unchanged if only because Le Roux brings those caps to the backline. Faf, box kicking aside was very good vs Japan. His service was quicker than previous games and he was a champion in defense. Also ran a nice support line for Marx where support has been an issue for us this RWC. So many opportunities gone begging due to a lack of follow up.

 

[Goodey]

Only once, England v Australia in 2003.

Though the first two world cup finals did involve the 5 nations champions against probably the best SH team, just not the world champions.

To add to this:

The 5/6 nations champion has made the final 3 times (1987, 1991 and 2003)
The world champion has only made the final twice (2003 and 2015)
The tri-nations/RC champion has only made the final once (2015)