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

[Umaga's Witness]

Particularly when those two teams who get an extra day, also had an extra week before their Quarter Finals. It is no coincidence that all three Quarter Finalists who had a week off looked phenomenal this past weekend.

The Boks practically had a week off too, having played their last game on the Tuesday and with a second string team.

Instagram reports indicate we might have a new lock pairing for this game with a former Springbok lock going straight into the starting lineup being a last minute addition to the squad

Rassie never played lock for the Boks, surely? I remember him in the 6 jersey, he was my favourite springbok.

 

[unrated]

Yea our first team had twelve days off prior to the Japan game so that other posters post about how clear it was which quarter final teams had rests does not compute.

 

[bushytop]

The Boks practically had a week off too, having played their last game on the Tuesday and with a second string team.

So it's just us then...

 

[Jer1cho]

Rassie was a phenomenal player. With Venter we had 2 of the best flanks in the world back then. Don't think I have liked a coach as much as him since Nick Mallet. Anyone been watching MasterPlan here in SA? I have been damn impressed with Swys de Bruyn.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Rassie was a phenomenal player. With Venter we had 2 of the best flanks in the world back then. Don't think I have liked a coach as much as him since Nick Mallet. Anyone been watching MasterPlan here in SA? I have been damn impressed with Swys de Bruyn.

Swys is a great coach. It's such a pity he has mental issues and fighting the depression battle. His value to the Springboks was unquantifiable in the short period he was with Rassie.

 

[Jer1cho]

Swys is a great coach. It's such a pity he has mental issues and fighting the depression battle. His value to the Springboks was unquantifiable in the short period he was with Rassie.

I heard he is off to the Kings though? Think it might have been as a consultant though and not as head coach. Yeah I hope he improves his mental health, and agree completely that his value and input over the last 2 years was absolutely massive. The guy has a rugby brain that just oozes understanding. Whenever he talks about the Boks I get so much more confidence in our team. Even as the week goes on I'm feeling more confident. I really do think we are a better team than Wales. I think we are better than a lot of people have given us credit for this WC.

 

[bushytop]

I think we are better than a lot of people have given us credit for this WC.

Well considering you were a lot of people's pick (more people went for the Boks than anyone else as far as I know) going in to the tournament you lot must be bloody miraculous !

 

[Hydraulxx]

Well considering you were a lot of people's pick (more people went for the Boks than anyone else as far as I know) going in to the tournament you lot must be bloody miraculous !

Faf, Le Roux and Pollard have struggled this WC hence people not thinking too highly of us recently. Our forwards have been amazing though

 

[bushytop]

Faf, Le Roux and Pollard have struggled this WC hence people not thinking too highly of us recently. Our forwards have been amazing though

On the whole the Boks are still considered very highly, I think you're all just put out a bit by the 'semi final 1 is the real final' talk!

Everyone is fully aware that you have won every game bar a very close game against the All Blacks, within which were some missed referee calls which appeared fairly blatant. You comprehensively beat a Japanese team who topped a group containing two tier 1 nations and you hardly broke a sweat.

Right now, I think the general consensus would be All Blacks favourites to beat anyone, England vs the Boks would be a 50/50 and Wales would lose to the other three...

 

[TRF_heineken]

So here's Faf de Klerk's remarks today: https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Rug...responds-to-criticism-from-back-home-20191023

Turning his attention to this weekend, De Klerk acknowledged that kicking would once again be a key component of the Bok game plan.

"It is going to be a different challenge this week (against Wales). I don't think we are going to have the same threats as that (from Japan). It's all about seeing the space, and I feel our wings have come so far over the last two years. They are really competing well in the air," he said.

"They (Wales) have got very good wingers, so it is going to be a massive battle in the air.

"It is going to be up to nine, 10 and 15 to decide which type of kick we are going to use, and if it's going to be off me, 10 or 15.

"We don't always go out with a set plan of me just going up and kicking. We do read the game, and listen a lot to what Handre (Pollard) is telling me."

 

[MikeTheNative]

Wales have been pretty poor with ball in hand so far. Expect them to kick a lot until they get into the opponents 22, then it's about low risk ball retention till they get a penalty. They expect a kick behind or a cross-field kick.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Wales have been pretty poor with ball in hand so far. Expect them to kick a lot until they get into the opponents 22, then it's about low risk ball retention till they get a penalty. They expect a kick behind or a cross-field kick.

Low risk ball retention. Against our pack? That might not be such a good move...

 

[ncurd]

On the whole the Boks are still considered very highly, I think you're all just put out a bit by the 'semi final 1 is the real final' talk!
Right now, I think the general consensus would be All Blacks favourites to beat anyone, England vs the Boks would be a 50/50 and Wales would lose to the other three...

I think more 60/40, should note those odd are where I put NZ over Eng. The reason for real final talk is most think Eng or NZ would be favorites to turn over either of the other SF. And thats kinda what the rankings suggest.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I think more 60/40, should note those odd are where I put NZ over Eng. The reason for real final talk is most think Eng or NZ would be favorites to turn over either of the other SF. And thats kinda what the rankings suggest.

Would that really have been the talk if NZ and SA weren't in the same pool?

 

[ncurd]

Would that really have been the talk if NZ and SA weren't in the same pool?

I think if England and SA or Wales swapped Semi-finals people wouldn't be saying it.

 

[bushytop]

I think more 60/40, should note those odd are where I put NZ over Eng. The reason for real final talk is most think Eng or NZ would be favorites to turn over either of the other SF. And thats kinda what the rankings suggest.

I don't necessarily disagree, I just think all the talk about NZ vs Eng being the real final and the winner is on that side of the draw is what is making the bok fans think they are being undervalued.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I think if England and SA or Wales swapped Semi-finals people wouldn't be saying it.

If we were in Pool A (who by the way is the only pool without a Semi-finalist), And SA didn't lose their first match against NZ, I have a suspicion that the talk of SF1 being the "real" final would never happened.

 

[MikeTheNative]

Low risk ball retention. Against our pack? That might not be such a good move...

Nah it will not, but I can't see Wales playing any other way since they haven't really played much differently the past year.

 

[bushytop]

The reason for real final talk is most think Eng or NZ would be favorites to turn over either of the other SF. And thats kinda what the rankings suggest.

If you're going to use rankings as proof of anything, by the same token they would also suggest Wales beat South Africa, although I notice few people are using them to make that argument. Essentially, the difference in ranking points between England, Wales and South Africa is so minuscule that I don't think they provide any real indicative information. The only reason England have over taken Wales into number two is down to your most recent (admittedly) conclusive victory over Oz and Wales' less than conclusive victory over France.

Now don't read my comment wrong, I'm not saying New Zealand and England aren't the two forms teams... only that using the rankings when there is such a fine margin between 2, 3 and 4 doesn't really provide much useful evidence.

 

[ncurd]

If you're going to use rankings as proof of anything, by the same token they would also suggest Wales beat South Africa, although I notice few people are using them to make that argument. Essentially, the difference in ranking points between England, Wales and South Africa is so minuscule that I don't think they provide any real indicative information. The only reason England have over taken Wales into number two is down to your most recent (admittedly) conclusive victory over Oz and Wales' less than conclusive victory over France.

Now don't read my comment wrong, I'm not saying New Zealand and England aren't the to two forms teams... only that using the rankings when there is such a fine margin between 2, 3 and 4 doesn't really provide much useful evidence.

I wish I hadn't written that because I'm known advocate of #therankingsarebollocks