[RWC2023] South Africa vs Ireland (23/09/2023)

[General Melchett]

Last minute thoughts from SA and Ire fans.

You guys are favourites. No you're favourites. No you're favourites...

You hang up. No you hang up. No you hang up....

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Last minute thoughts from SA and Ire fans.

You guys are favourites. No you're favourites. No you're favourites...

You hang up. No you hang up. No you hang up....

Beer 2 on the way.

We are GOATed and won't lose for at least another 15 games.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ireland won't even get a losing bonus point. Ireland always crumble at world cups

Not in the groups.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Mike Haley is out in France to watch the game, Farrell too much of a COWARD to start him, instead he's gonna stick with whoever that make a wish kid is they've got wearing 15 atm

 

[ShropshireAllBlack]

Ireland won't even get a losing bonus point. Ireland always crumble at world cups

I have a feeling that this post won't age well…

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

 

[Which Tyler]

TBF, I fail to understand either.
It's high risk : mediocre reward - and any team is welcome to take those risks if they choose to; be it in selecting the balance of the bench, playing an individual player, or making a single call on what to play from a penalty.

The reward is having 1 extra forward who's fresh for 20 minutes or so, versus a 6:2
The risk is having to play a flanker in the backline somewhere, potentially in a specialist position (RSA mitigate this risk by having SHs who are perfectly competent FHs - about the only country with that currently - no idea why it seems to have dropped out of fashion in France)

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Everywhere I see a headline or a journalist's prediction or betting odds I see us being called favorites but I can't see why. We certainly will have a decent chance of it I'm sure but Ire has the record, has the recent record in direct matches, is the higher ranked side, doesn't have the injuries and if that weren't enough have more to play for in that they still have Scotland next up. Am I missing something?

I agree. Ireland should be favorites. They have beaten South Africa the last few times they have played them.

 

[General Melchett]

TBF, I fail to understand either.
It's high risk : mediocre reward - and any team is welcome to take those risks if they choose to; be it in selecting the balance of the bench, playing an individual player, or making a single call on what to play from a penalty.

I think the journos/former players who have generated most of the hysteria might feel a bit embarrassed once the game is over. They've just made it look like they're rattled and are getting excuses in early. It's not even like anyone can argue it's not in the spirit of the game when it's 100% in accordance with the laws.

It's like football pundits moaning about opposition teams who park the bus or play ticky tacky football. Coaches should see it as a challenge to be overcome rather than whining about it (not referring to A Farrell who has been spot on IMO).

Talking about Andy Farrell - is it just me or can anyone else imagine him playing Gladiator as good (if not better) than Russell Crowe?

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I could understand you saying "that could backfire spectacularly". I get it. I have trouble understanding how some fail to see the potential upside. Keyword being "potential", granted. Still… They are grabbing their strongest tool and adding nitro to it. How isnt the (potential) upside clear and obvious? Is it that you dont like it, you believe it wont work or you genuinely dont see what they are trying to do.

What makes this game spectacular to me is in part how clear RSA's plan is. I want to see if and how Ire can stop it. I do not know. But it is far from obvious to me that they can stop it.
I can imagine a slick and precise Ire shredding Rsa to pieces as i can also picture RSA bullying Ire around the pitch for 80 minutes. That s the beauty.

 

[Which Tyler]

I'm pretty sure I already used words to say why I think the reward is only mediocre:
"The reward is having 1 extra forward who's fresh for 20 minutes or so, versus a 6:2"

1 more fresh forward for 20 minutes isn't really what I would call a huge advantage, adding nitro, or anything else like that, it's an extra couple of percentage points. It'll make a difference in a tight game maybe by as much as a single penalty versus not having that 1 extra forward. It also comes with the sacrifice of a fresh back, so even the advantage is swings and roundabouts (a greater gain than loss, sure, but nothing revolutionary.
It's also... an opinion - not everyone has to agree with mine, or yours, or Matt Williams'
I've not seen anyone failing to see the upside - just disagreeing on how much of an advantage is it versus different balances of bench selection.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Ire have beaten RSA 8 times, but only once outside of Ireland - a 6 point win in 2016.

The Boks have won 18 times, 9 of which have been in Ireland.

That's history, but both teams will be aware of it. Psychologically another slight edge for the Boks.

 

[Bluemoon]

Probably the biggest game of the tournament since NZ and France on day 1. France put the marker down. Now it's SA's turn, I think they'll have a bit too much up front for Ireland here but what a game it'll be!

I think the real blight here will be how many injuries come from the game as its going to be all out war up front - it'll impact on both sides knock out games.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

I agree. Ireland should be favorites. They have beaten South Africa the last few times they have played them.

They've played once in the last six years?

 

[Umaga's Witness]

Will be interesting to see irelands attack against the boks defence style

But I think ireland will win the first half

 

[dirty harry]

Probably the biggest game of the tournament since NZ and France on day 1. France put the marker down. Now it's SA's turn, I think they'll have a bit too much up front for Ireland here but what a game it'll be!

I think the real blight here will be how many injuries come from the game as its going to be all out war up front - it'll impact on both sides knock out games.

Tell that to the Fijians, or Australians!

 

[Smurfy]

Ire have beaten RSA 8 times, but only once outside of Ireland - a 6 point win in 2016.

The Boks have won 18 times, 9 of which have been in Ireland.

That's history, but both teams will be aware of it. Psychologically another slight edge for the Boks.

I think the current Irish side shredded that argument in NZ last year. We were also supposed to be bullied physically once we came up against a side like SA last Autumn, and we couldnt handle being favourites against France in the 6ns. There are a number of reasons why SA could very possibly win this game, but yours isn't one of them.

 

[dirty harry]

I think the current Irish side shredded that argument in NZ last year. We were also supposed to be bullied physically once we came up against a side like SA last Autumn, and we couldnt handle being favourites against France in the 6ns. There are a number of reasons why SA could very possibly win this game, but yours isn't one of them.

RWC history, and that thought in the back of their heads telling them they cant choke again?

I have no clue what will happen, and immovable force is about to be hit with an unstoppable force, and I CANNOT wait!

 

[Smurfy]

Before the third test in NZ we were told to expect a huge backlash from the Kiwis, and that Ireland had always folded when expectations were highest, and Ireland produced the best first half of rugby by an international side in quite a while in response In that third test. Against France in the 6ns they won by 4 tries to 1 pulling away against a side that were expected to bully them physically and were fully up for the game. Do you really believe the current side has inherited the psychological damage of its predecessors? As I said, there are any number of reasons why we mightn't win today but i wouldn't rely on this side to be be worried about what has gone before.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

the rugby fan's obsessions with historical results and emotional patterns is akin to all mu ex girlfriend's obsession with astrology and chakras