[RWC2023] South Africa vs Scotland (10/09/2023)

[retired9]

Hard day for Scotland but you get another bite at Ireland. Sucks on the refereeing but I wouldn't have put it past SA to win with 14 tbf.

And this is also a fair point, the rush defence was stifling Russell and with the set piece problems it was still no gimme vs 14

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Agree that Scotland would have struggled against 14, the Boks were giving nothing away at the breakdown and Ben White couldn't get any fast ball (and I'm not sure Horne would have either, although he may have tried harder). For me Kriel came into the tackle with just enough easing off that I could have seen it being red or yellow in the bunker. Whereas the English guy who got red just went full force looking to make a dominant tackle and judged it wrong.

Scotland are apparently now increasingly identifying and selecting kids who are forwards based on their physical attributes. So if they have been identifying and picking kids based on size and strength they might finally start to address the longstanding relative inadequacies of their pack. Two of the top 10 strong men in the world are Scottish (including the 2x reigning champ who is a 6'8" freak), so there are plenty of potential forwards out there. Despite improvements I would rate the Scottish pack about the joint 8th best in the world (with the Pumas). They are always going to struggle against a top two or three pack to an extent that if the opponent plays even to 80% then Scotland will lose if they are not immaculate. Line out weakness and snatching at the very limited opportunities means Scotland were well short of immaculate today.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Kriel to get cited sit on the naughty step for two weeks or so?

Would be a fair result and a good early lesson for our boys to be accurate in the tackle though TBF overall they were excellent and I don't believe there was any malice in it but the rules are there for a very good reason. These head knocks have to be sorted.

Also I'd prefer to see the Esterhuizen Moodie midfield the next two games running. They just offer that little bit extra atm.

Sweating on news regarding Etzebeth. Him, Am and Pollard I'd have said pretournament were our most irreplaceable men and we are already 2 down. I'm assuming Marx coming off was just precautionary but imagine him being out as well! Him and Kolisi are probably next in line with the mvp tags.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm assuming Marx coming off was just precautionary

Looked like he "just" had a bad cut - he went off as a blood sub twice (though the first one he didn't even make it off the field as it was just as they called a drinks break and they got his head bandaged up before the break was over)

 

[saulan]

Sweating on news regarding Etzebeth. Him, Am and Pollard I'd have said pretournament were our most irreplaceable men and we are already 2 down. I'm assuming Marx coming off was just precautionary but imagine him being out as well! Him and Kolisi are probably next in line with the mvp tags.

Marx and Mbonambi were just playing musical chairs with each other. Blood cut, so I think Marx will be fine.

I actually think this was a test for Etzebeth. I don't think he was fully fit going in given how he limped onto stage at the squad announcement. I expect we will rest him for the next week so he has a two week break and then bring him back in for Ireland.

 

[General Melchett]

.

 

[saulan]

.

1- winner of the game played between the tied teams
2- points difference
3- tries difference
4- most points scored
5- most tries scored
6- world rugby rankings

In that order

 

[General Melchett]

1- winner of the game played between the tied teams
2- points difference
3- tries difference
4- most points scored
5- most tries scored
6- world rugby rankings

In that order

Thanks.

Gotta love number 6 especially when the draw was made using rankings from three years ago. That one will be of great comfort to Scotland.

 

[NotTooAmused]

Two of the top 10 strong men in the world are Scottish (including the 2x reigning champ who is a 6'8" freak), so there are plenty of potential forwards out there.

They came to training with us once! They obviously can't play due to their... diets... but they are very strong.

Scotland has a (in my opinion) horrendous youth development system, especially in the highlands (where the Stoltmans are actually from) and a lot of our players at club level are english anyway.

We seem to be fascinated with football, despite being quite bad at it, and everyone thinks rugger is for poshos.

 

[SG59_]

The Bee Gees think they've discovered a new lead singer for their come back tour

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Probably already been posted up but how did Kriel get away with this? Will he get cited?

 

[NotTooAmused]

Will he get cited?

I'd be surprised if *any* of the missed calls get cited.

 

[saulan]

Seven to ten days out with his shoulder injury, and a statement that he wouldn't have played the next game anyway. So we are all good.

 

[OldSchoolRugga]

South Africa were ok. Scotland were nowhere really. Boks second try was really well executed. They sorely miss a reliable goalkicker.

 

[AlRums]

View attachment 17652

Probably already been posted up but how did Kriel get away with this? Will he get cited?

Of course he won't Erasmus has been on a sniper course

 

[saulan]

Rassie on the Kriel hit:

VIDEO EVIDENCE: It wasn't direct head-to-head

REACTION: South Africa's Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus has come out in defence of veteran centre Jesse Kriel, in the wake of the fall-out in the United Kingdom media over a reported head clash.

rugby365.com

Second angle looks significantly less bad than the one all the screenshots are coming from (embedded video in the link, it shows the first angle, then the Curry hit, then the second angle). It's definitely secondary contact rising up from making contact with the ball as Rassie said, but I'm really not sure what the law says on this.

I know I'm a Saffa so not going to comment further on it. But intrigued on the view of others with that second angle. @Cruz_del_Sur , thoughts?

 

[Rosso Verde e Nero]

1- winner of the game played between the tied teams
2- points difference
3- tries difference
4- most points scored
5- most tries scored
6- world rugby rankings

In that order

6. World rugby rankings

I wonder would they apply the rankings from a few years ago. After all, it was good enough for the pool draw...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I'm not going to make excuses for Kriel. I think we were lucky he didn't get a yellow but I will say that the way the media and casual fans are reacting on boards elsewhere you would swear that they believe that there is a conspiracy where somehow Rassie, Kriel, WR and reptilians are all in on it whatever it might be.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'm not going to make excuses for Kriel. I think we were lucky he didn't get a yellow but I will say that the way the media and casual fans are reacting on boards elsewhere you would swear that they believe that there is a conspiracy where somehow Rassie, Kriel, WR and reptilians are all in on it whatever it might be.

Only Rassie and the reptilians here though.

Can't say I've seen anything but the screenshot tbh. If it was passive it would only have been a yellow, might have changed the scoreline but can't see it affecting the winner.

 

[Rosso Verde e Nero]

We seem to be fascinated with football, despite being quite bad at it, and everyone thinks rugger is for poshos.

I guess in the Borders rugby is probably still up there - places like Hawick and Galashiels have a long and rich heritage. But elsewhere, rugby is a very poor second and relies on the output from the independent schools. Correct me if I'm wrong - I did live in Scotland for 4 years, but it was a while ago.