Wales v South Africa

[Welsh Exile]

I don't bet, but those are amazing odds in a two-horse race, and worth a few bob.

Someone (possibly Donald Trump?) once bet a million dollars on Buster Douglas to beat Mike Tyson, and when collecting his winnings the press asked how he knew Douglas would win. His reply (paraphrased) : "I didn't. But the odds the bookies were offering on the guy were too good to pass up"

To be honest, I think I’d have as much chance of winning the lottery if I brought a lucky dip

 

[Welsh Exile]

Wales: Blair Murray; Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Joe Hawkins, Rio Dyer; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, Taine Plumtree, Alex Mann, Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Danny Southworth, Chris Coleman, James Ratti, Morgan Morse, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Callum Sheedy, Ben Thomas

 

[dirty harry]

Wales: Blair Murray; Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Joe Hawkins, Rio Dyer; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Carter, Rhys Davies, Taine Plumtree, Alex Mann, Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Danny Southworth, Chris Coleman, James Ratti, Morgan Morse, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Callum Sheedy, Ben Thomas

Is that official?

Murray i cannot understand, i still think he hasnt taken a contested high ball this autumn FFS. Other 2 wingers deserve their start. Is Rogers injured? Hatrick to dumped?

Deaves dumped as well?

Happy Sheedys goint to get a crack, looking forward to see the lock partnership.

Not looking forward to that replacment front row ooooffff!!!

 

[Welsh Exile]

Is that official?

Murray i cannot understand, i still think he hasnt taken a contested high ball this autumn FFS. Other 2 wingers deserve their start. Is Rogers injured? Hatrick to dumped?

Deaves dumped as well?

Happy Sheedys goint to get a crack, looking forward to see the lock partnership.

Not looking forward to that replacment front row ooooffff!!!

Rogers is injured sadly.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Is that official?

Murray i cannot understand, i still think he hasnt taken a contested high ball this autumn FFS. Other 2 wingers deserve their start. Is Rogers injured? Hatrick to dumped?

Deaves dumped as well?

Happy Sheedys goint to get a crack, looking forward to see the lock partnership.

Not looking forward to that replacment front row ooooffff!!!

The whole bench is poor apart from Morse who is the best player in the world.

 

[saulan]

Since this is the second stringers, I thought it would be interesting to look at the last time these two teams played together with their second string sides. That was 2018 in the US, where Wales won 22-20. The squads were the following:

Wales: Hallam Amos; Tom Prydie, George North, Owen Watkin, Steff Evans; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, Dillon Lewis; Cory Hill, Bradley Davies; Seb Davies, Ellis Jenkins (capt), Ross Moriarty.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Aled Davies, Rhys Patchell, Hadleigh Parkes.

South Africa: Curwin Bosch; Travis Ismaiel, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Elton Jantjies, Ivan van Zyl; Ox Nche, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Wilco Louw, Jason Jenkins, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Kwagga Smith, Oupa Mohoje, Dan du Preez

Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Steven Kitshoff, Thomas du Toit, Marvin Orie, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Embrose Papier, Robert du Preez, Warrick Gelant

For South Africa, the following made their debuts:
Travis Ismaiel
Makazole Mapimpi *
Andre Esterhuizen *
Ivan van Zyl
Kwagga Smith *
Jason Jenkins
Ox Nche *
Akker van der Merwe
Thomas du Toit *
Marvin Orie *
Sikhumbuzo Notshe
Embrose Papier
Robert du Preez

I've starred the ones that went onto be big names for the Springboks and have won World Cups. RDP and Akker went across to be crowd favourites at Sale (definitely RDP, I think Akker was well liked). Then a couple things didn't really work out (Ismaiel, van Zyl, Jenkins, Papier, Notshe - Although I feel bad for Notshe, feel like he was on the significant rise in 2020 just before Covid and then injury plus the Covid break took the wind out of his sails).

Would be interested to hear what's happened with the Welsh players from that game.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Would be interested to hear what's happened with the Welsh players from that game.

Look, you're a good dude but I have neither the time, nor enough hard drugs, to do what you ask. Sorry. You're going to have to hope Harry or @dullonien respond to your request.

 

[Welsh Exile]

No Deaves means I’m back into being TANDY OUT

 

[dirty harry]

Strangely a lot ofnguys who couldnt quite cut int rugby, and others who had careers cut short in their prime. Notable ones:


George North - 2018 was his last real season, concission issues hampered his career, never the same from 27 or so

Gareth Anscombe - didnt make 2019, took the mantle from Biggar and helped win 2021 6N. Left for Japan returned old and slow but still was better than anything Wales had lol.

Tomos Williams - wales stalwart, unlucky Lion this year, became welsh talisman.

Nicky Smith - continued to be club legend, failing to make int level

Cory Hill, 2013 lions legend, decided to smash up a rando womans house, fled to Japan.

Bradley Davies - kept tripping over his bottom lip, so retired.

Ellis Jenkins (capt) filthy Saffers ruined his carreer by injuring him in that game i think? Never recovered.

Ross Moriarty - mismanaged and hampered at Dragons former lion got over loooked and left for France.

Adam Beard - went from strength to strength, involved with everything good wales have done since 2018, single handedly won them the 2021 6N title, became a lion but sadly not even he could hold up a Welsh decline

Aaron Wainwright - exploded onto the scene, never developed as a 6 or 8. Became a good defending, atgletic ball carrier, but shuffled between both position depending if Falatua was fit or not.

Rhys Patchell - failed at a few cluns, tried super rugby, wasnt trusted to kick a vall, so followed manys path in if you cant do, teach, and became Wales kicking coach hahaha

Hadleigh Parkes - did a Jake Ball, got caps, earnt money then left for a better life.

Of these North, Tomos and Beard will be remembered by welsh fans, the rest were either decent stop gaps, and talent that failed for numerous reasons.

The rest of the squad were clubmen and limited players.

Of this squad, 4 started the RWC semi against SA with 4 more off the bench i think, the game we should have won lol.

The big difference between 2018 squad and this saturdays is 2018 may have not been a 1st Wales team, but they had caps.

Wales 2018 were building nicely toward 2019, Gats was developing depth, and an extension to his gameplan, the squad had around 900 caps. The other key difference was grunt, Wales had actual ball carriers, Moriarty, Davies, North, Parkes, Wainright, Elias, all packed punch.

This weekend, less than half the caps, 4 coaches since 2020, no coherence in style, or gamplan, limited players with big weaknesses who have been exploited at int level, and Wainright (possible Plumtree) only ball carrying options.

This is a backline devoid in size, power, and ability off the ball!

 

[Duct Tape]

They are doing it for the filthy lucre.

Is anyone really not in it for the filthy lucre?

 

[ChicagoKid]

Is that official?

Murray i cannot understand, i still think he hasnt taken a contested high ball this autumn FFS. Other 2 wingers deserve their start. Is Rogers injured? Hatrick to dumped?

Deaves dumped as well?

Happy Sheedys goint to get a crack, looking forward to see the lock partnership.

Not looking forward to that replacment front row ooooffff!!!

I watch a lot of rugby. Too much according to my family.

I genuinely recognize 1 name on the bench.

 

[dirty harry]

I watch a lot of rugby. Too much according to my family.

I genuinely recognize 1 name on the bench.

Id hope you recognise more than one, both Morse and Thomas have played in recent weeks. But as a courtesy:

Brodie Coghlan - Dragons hooker. Newport lad, similar mould to a lot of Newport lads, bang average lol. Has had a decent start to the season, expect him to try to be lively around the park but struggle set peice.

Danny Southworth - Cardiff prop. Exeter lad failed there, signed for Cardiff on the cheap (as most of their forwards have). Ok start to the season, again lively, due to being a former back rower but scrummagings a question.

Chris Coleman - Same as Coghlan, Newport boy, limited but tries very hard.

James Ratti - As above, Ospreys boy, failed there, then failed at Cardiff so shipped back west. Not enough grunt for lock, not mobile enough for back row, clubman.

Morgan Morse - Depends who you ask, could be talented youngster, skipped this years u20s for Ospreys 1st team action, or future of Welsh rugby. Imagine Pollock, but with some modesty and dignity. Needs time to develop, but could be long term answer to 8.

Reuben Morgan-Williams - the other part of the Ospreys half back pairing, except hes somehow an inexperinced, still full of errors 27 year old. Plays like hes 21, some really good stuff, then stupidity.

Callum Sheedy - super talented, confident ball in hand, can run, create, and his range of kicking out of hand is superb, he just has 1 flaw... hes ****! Cant kick at goal, cant defend as hes basically a hobbit. He needs a Semi Radrada at 12 to cover him in drfence, and give him a passing out when under pressure.

Ben Thomas - Can do it all, ball player, kicker, defender, agile, quick, can make great decisions... but can only do 1 of them per game. Should have converted to 10 about 6 seasons ago. Decent at club level when things move slower.

Its not a great bench if im being honest, and will struggle.

 

[wombles]

SOUTH AFRICA: Damian Willemse, Ethan Hooker, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Jean Kleyn, Ruan Nortje, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Zachary Porthen, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Eben Etzebeth, Marco van Staden, Ben-Jason Dixon, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach.

Ummm....ouch!

 

[Scotty]

SOUTH AFRICA: Damian Willemse, Ethan Hooker, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Jean Kleyn, Ruan Nortje, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Zachary Porthen, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Eben Etzebeth, Marco van Staden, Ben-Jason Dixon, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach.

Ummm....ouch!

Is that a 7/1 ? Huge fan of Reinach, with Kwagga Smith and Etzebeth to comes on in the second half...

Ummm...ouch!

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

That centre combo is just plain mean.

What is a defence even supposed to do if they have all of Jasper Wiese, Esterhuizen, and de Allende running hard lines at them off the back of a lineout? You can’t double shot all 3 of them.

Anyway, Wales by 50.

 

[Welsh Exile]

That centre combo is just plain mean.

What is a defence even supposed to do if they have all of Jasper Wiese, Esterhuizen, and de Allende running hard lines at them off the back of a lineout? You can't double shot all 3 of them.

Anyway, Wales by 50.

They're lucky Deaves isn't playing otherwise it could get embarrassing for them. As it stands they have a half chance with Mann playing.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Tandy Out

“I think Manny (Alex Mann) has been outstanding throughout this campaign. He will adapt and he's played seven already. I think when he did play seven he was outstanding.

"It is not diminishing Harri's performance but we feel the balance of the back-row is good with Waino (Aaron Wainwright) coming back in.

There's a bit of freshness and some experience there too. It's more about the way Manny played whether it be six or seven.

"Deavesy has been brilliant in the environment and matched up physically against the All Blacks, which is excellent.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Manny, Waino, Deavesy

 

[Welsh Exile]

There's only 1 Manny and that's Pacquiao. To name Mann that is a disgrace and if I was Pacquiao I'd be filing a lawsuit for brand damage.

 

[dirty harry]

******* Welsh coaching standards!!!!