[RWC2023] South Africa vs Romania (17/09/2023)

[unrated]

7 RWC matches or something like that since we've conceded a try.

That and it doesn't look like we've lost another player about the only real positives? Don't think any of our other questions have truly been answered tbh.

Full first team is getting a break in wait for Ireland and we won a world cup game with a bonus point. Thats all that matters with the bigger picture in mind.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Romania deserved to be nilled by apparently selecting no goal kicker. It is so sad what has happened to their defence. It is in tatters.

 

[saulan]

Romania deserved to be nilled by apparently selecting no goal kicker. It is so sad what has happened to their defence. It is in tatters.

Saw some posts saying they were up for this tournament a year ago but have lost it since they've lost their coach. Given they previously beat Uruguay and some of the Pacific Islands in the past 18 months, really sad to see.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Saw some posts saying they were up for this tournament a year ago but have lost it since they've lost their coach. Given they previously beat Uruguay and some of the Pacific Islands in the past 18 months, really sad to see.

Yeah, they started declining under Andy Robinson, couldn't really do anything with their backs. So he stepped down, they gambled on the top domestic coach and he has failed to play a consistent selection and the defence (in particular) has gone to pieces.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I'm not cherry picking, what I'm saying is a 20 team world cup is too big, there is no value in Romania playing the Springboks once every four years, getting smashed, then ignored. As I stated yesterday, we should have a European Championship so teams like Portugal get regular games against the bigger teams. I would like "A" teams to tour South America, expand the game organically, rather then pretend it's a game with a global footprint

So instead of them being humiliated at the World Cup, you want them to be humiliated in front of their own fans? That's not a solution either. What these smaller teams need, is more frequent games against equal opposition. I suggested this elsewhere but the Sevens structure would be a great way to give these countries the opportunity to play against each other, something that otherwise simply can't be done logistically or financially.

Let the 3rd placed teams battle it out in their own knockout stage, the 4th placed teams, and the 5th placed teams.

Example:
Italy, Scotland, Fiji, Japan play for the Plate
Tonga, Namibia, Samoa, Georgia play for the Bowl
Romania, Uruguay, Portugal, Chile play for the Shield

This would be much more beneficial than excluding them from the RWC. They get to play for some silverware and they play in games they mean something. Italy is a perfect example of a country that never has anything to play for. They are never good enough to beat the tier 1 nations, and too good against the tier 2 nations they face and finish 4th and 5th in that group.

 

[spursindevon]

So instead of them being humiliated at the World Cup, you want them to be humiliated in front of their own fans? That's not a solution either. What these smaller teams need, is more frequent games against equal opposition. I suggested this elsewhere but the Sevens structure would be a great way to give these countries the opportunity to play against each other, something that otherwise simply can't be done logistically or financially.

Let the 3rd placed teams battle it out in their own knockout stage, the 4th placed teams, and the 5th placed teams.

Example:
Italy, Scotland, Fiji, Japan play for the Plate
Tonga, Namibia, Samoa, Georgia play for the Bowl
Romania, Uruguay, Portugal, Chile play for the Shield

This would be much more beneficial than excluding them from the RWC. They get to play for some silverware and they play in games they mean something. Italy is a perfect example of a country that never has anything to play for. They are never good enough to beat the tier 1 nations, and too good against the tier 2 nations they face and finish 4th and 5th in that group.

What these smaller teams need, is more frequent games against equal opposition.

You mean the Rugby Europe Championship

 

[Alex Anghel]

I hope we will participate again in a Rugby World Cup only after we have remained ourselves who we used to were in the 60', 70', 80' and a bit of 90s.

In the 1995 Rugby World Cup, we lost 8-21 to Springboks, now 0-76.

Embarrassing beyond belief, but with less that 1.000 currently registered players, we should probably start packing all in and just find some solace in reading old newspapers or via the internet how we stood up successfully against France, Wales or Scotland.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

You mean the Rugby Europe Championship

There's more to rugby than just Europe. How is the Europe Championship helping Namibia? Or Uruguay? Or Chile?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Apologies if mentioned. So the green / yellow clash does not apply to Boks vs Romania but does to Ireland vs Romania? Due to darkness of Boks top?

 

[Which Tyler]

There's more to rugby than just Europe. How is the Europe Championship helping Namibia? Or Uruguay? Or Chile?

Like the Rugby Africa Cup, Pacific Nations Cup, Americas Rugby Championship and Asia Rugby Championship?

Have I missed any?

Apologies if mentioned. So the green / yellow clash does not apply to Boks vs Romania but does to Ireland vs Romania? Due to darkness of Boks top?

Correct - to my understanding.
As per the last time. Imagine your eyesight was like watching on a black and white TV, you can probably tell "light" "dark" and "middling"

 

[spursindevon]

There's more to rugby than just Europe. How is the Europe Championship helping Namibia? Or Uruguay? Or Chile?

As I have said before, Argentina are the only side helping progress these sides through Super Rugby America. Also I said previously, would love to see an Ireland A team tour Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Brazil (South America is the next hotbed of rugby).

 

[saulan]

As I have said before, Argentina are the only side helping progress these sides through Super Rugby America. Also I said previously, would love to see an Ireland A team tour Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Brazil (South America is the next hotbed of rugby).

South Africa is supporting Zimbabwe, Kenya, Namibia, Georgia and (oddly) the USA in having them participate in our Currie Cup, and have been doing this consistently with Namibia for ages. We have also helped Argentina develop in the past in having them play in our Vodacom Cup.

Super Rugby has added two pacific island focused teams that is helping develop the Pacific Island teams. They are talking of adding back a team from Japan, Hawaii (weird, but likely geographically focused) and Argentina again.

Your statement of only Argentina supporting developing sides progress is false. Countries in their regions should be doing their best to help support their teams develop and you are seeing that in South America, Africa and Oceana.

The cutdown of the English teams was a good opportunity to bring more RESC teams into the Challenge Cup, and it's good to see the Black Lions from Georgia in there.

 

[IT157]

And to the surprise of no one, South Africa call up Pollard

Rugby World Cup 2023: Handre Pollard called up by South Africa

South Africa call up 2019 World Cup-winning fly-half Handre Pollard to their squad to replace injured hooker Malcolm Marx.

www.bbc.com

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

And to the surprise of no one, South Africa call up Pollard

Rugby World Cup 2023: Handre Pollard called up by South Africa

South Africa call up 2019 World Cup-winning fly-half Handre Pollard to their squad to replace injured hooker Malcolm Marx.

www.bbc.com

Ja but part of the reason is the poor quality at hooker beyond Mbonambi and its a bit bitter sweet though with Pollard coming in for Marx. Would've preferred Marx if you gave me the choice between the two but we shouldn't think about it that way I suppose. Mbonambi won't let you down but Marx is one of those players that can turn a game.

 

[IT157]

Ja but part of the reason is the poor quality at hooker beyond Mbonambi and its a bit bitter sweet though with Pollard coming in for Marx. Would've preferred Marx if you gave me the choice between the two but we shouldn't think about it that way I suppose. Mbonambi won't let you down but Marx is one of those players that can turn a game.

Well he is the best player at that position in the world imo. A big loss.

 

[Jer1cho]

Can I just say I think our green WC jerseys look fantastic. A real menacing feeling about that green. Are we playing in the dogs breakfast vs Ireland or are they in white?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Sounds like Koch might be out as well. What the heck are we doing in training?

Dweba in if the prognosis for Koch is long term? Or do we really go with Fourie and/or Van Staden in behind Mbonambi? Correct me if I am wrong but I believe that there is a minimum for the amount of props? In such a case it'll be Thomas du Toit coming in I suppose.

Can I just say I think our green WC jerseys look fantastic. A real menacing feeling about that green. Are we playing in the dogs breakfast vs Ireland or are they in white?

Wish I could answer your question. I've been wondering myself.

 

[saulan]

Sounds like Koch might be out as well. What the heck are we doing in training?

Dweba in if the prognosis for Koch is long term? Or do we really go with Fourie and/or Van Staden in behind Mbonambi? Correct me if I am wrong but I believe that there is a minimum for the amount of props? In such a case it'll be Thomas du Toit coming in I suppose.



Wish I could answer your question. I've been wondering myself.

Mmm it's a tricky one. Prop is where we probably burn our reserves out the most and it is so specialised. We would now be down to 4 and if we got another injury, there wouldn't be enough of a turnaround to get the player ready to play. I think it's necessary that if Koch is gone, we bring in another prop. Then if we get a wing or scrumhalf injury, then we bring in Dweba.

I've also tried looking up the kit question. Haven't been able to find anything. Looking at the World Cup fixtures page, we were listed first against Scotland and wore our away kit there... and we are listed as the first team against Ireland. Unclear if this is defining it though.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I've also tried looking up the kit question. Haven't been able to find anything. Looking at the World Cup fixtures page, we were listed first against Scotland and wore our away kit there... and we are listed as the first team against Ireland. Unclear if this is defining it though.

I think it's a coin toss. Our white kit is better than our home kit but I wouldn't mind if SA have to wear their babygrow design.

 

[saulan]

I think it's a coin toss. Our white kit is better than our home kit but I wouldn't mind if SA have to wear their babygrow design.

Are you sure? Hypothetically, would you want to lose to a Green and Gold Springbok team, or lose to the Springboks in our toothpaste kit and then have images of you losing to a weird looking team in the future? (Same thing to beating the Springboks in green/gold vs toothpaste kit)