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Rugby Championship 2025 : South Africa v Australia Round 2

TSR

Steve Williams (59)
We persist with him. I get that people want more from him but personally I fhink he’s progressing fine and we don’t have anyone behind him knocking the door down.

And I know this isn’t the opinion of everyone but I think Ikitau is going great at 12. Maybe he’s still a better 13 but gee he seems to touch the ball a lot more at 12 and his involvements are normally quality.
 

Yoda

Colin Windon (37)
JOC (James O'Connor) (James O'Connor) had a disappointing game off the tee but reasonable otherwise. Certainly a step up over other options used over the past couple of years.

Both Tate and Kellaway were off the boil. Tate's decision making was poor most of the game while AK (Andrew Kellaway) (Andrew Kellaway) made too many mistakes.

Strong performances by Hooper, Ikitau, Jorgensen, Valetini and Frost. Corey Toole had a promising debut.

In the end the missed conversions and penalty goals were expensive.
BR. You think so regarding JOC (James O'Connor)? He played well in the second half last week but I thought his pass to Kellaway under pressure was poor and those missed kicks were crucial in the end. The amount of criticism Lolesio or Donaldson would have copped if they closed out the game like would have been exponential! Worst 10's ever and other such rubbish. I like that we have James available though but it's funny what critics see. They will need him to stick around I suspect with Donno and Joe's man, Lynagh still out. Will his English contract let him? Argies beat the AB's too which makes for an interesting series. Corey Toole surprised me on debut. Great game. Well done to him.
 

Cauliflower Ear

Allen Oxlade (6)
The big question that comes up from this trip to SA is. What do we do about JAs? He was mostly a passenger out there in both games. I keep looking for improvement, but the best game he's played was against the poms.
I think any outside centre is going to struggle in Schmidt's system. We play super simple and direct through the forward pack.

Him playing 15 for the tahs didn't help his development at outside either, only his 9th game playing there. If he gets selected against the Puma's I will expect to have a larger impact and find more space. Him and Ikitau just need time.

ABs just lost to the Los Pumas. TRC is on!
 

Yoda

Colin Windon (37)
I know I should be happy that we are competing in games like that - but I gotta say I’m still disappointed. Game was there for the taking.

Unfortunately just a few too many errors at key times and goal kicking again our Achilles heel. I also thought O’Connor could have peeled of a bit more on a number of his kicks for line - especially where we made the choice to turn down 3. I thought Kellaway did well but feel like we missed a bit of the impact that Wright has been providing from the back.

Plenty of good performances and lots to be encouraged by - don’t mean to be the downer - but gee it would’ve been nice to grab that one and it was definitely very winnable.

Well done to Toole - very promising debut.

Anyway - onwards and upwards - looking forward to the Argentinian games. This team seems to be building nicely. Hopefully none of the injuries are too bad although Wright dodnt
Agree totally.
 

Uh huh

Johnnie Wallace (23)
No complaints about the result, the Wallabies stayed in touch with the game through stubborn defence, strong exits and counter attack. The Springboks definitely created more scoring opportunities.

Not having a whinge about refereeing, because I'm sure there were decisions our way that I didn't notice, but there was one moment that really felt like it stopped the swing in momentum and changed the game. After Toole's excellent break and (less excellent) chip kick, he went to clean out the tackler on Kellaway, and Reinach deliberately ran behind the ruck from a blatantly offside position and shoulder charged him to prevent him from securing the ball. The Wallabies then lost possession, right in front of the posts.

That really felt like a turning point, and it's the sort of thing that's so obvious on replay, I would like to see some consistency in whether these kinds of infringements are picked up.
 

Linerunner2023

Charlie Fox (21)
I’m actually glad the wallabies were gutted and mcreight was devastetad saying it was a chance missed
This is the mindset we now need we can and should be anyway
Not the old oh we got close so that’s a moral win

im glad they feel this way it shows growth and that they bellieve they can and should win

With so many players missing we have great squad depth and also 3 outside backs off in the first half

its going to be an interesting rugby champs with NZ loosing as well
 

molman

John Thornett (49)
What a shame. The boys played with a lot of heart. Many individually good performances in a real mud pit. That game really was anyones to win. I don't really feel like I saw a lot from South Africa in may ways. We overall played well and the difference was just the small things. A missed conversion or penalty. A small unforced error.

I suspect if Toole had gone over we would have won that. I was surprised Tane didn't step up to kick some of those final kicks, not that he's as consistent a kicker as say a Donaldson. O'Connor looked to cop a fair akward land on that leg earlier in the game which I wonder if it was causing him some grief.

Also, I've got nothing against him, but I just find Doleman refereed games hard to enjoy.
 

Marbig

Fred Wood (13)
He played well in the second half last week but I thought his pass to Kellaway under pressure was poor and those missed kicks were crucial in the end.
Needs to make those kicks, but wholeheartedly disagree on the pass to Kellaway. He did very well to draw in the man and give Kellaway space and time and you clearly see him take a look which causes the drop. Entirely on him, the pass was the right option.
 

molman

John Thornett (49)
I think they will look back on that game and wonder how it got away. It’s one we should have won. Tough breaks losing Whitey and Wright early, and then Sua'ali'i.
Hope we have a full contingent for the next round
I agree. But what I am liking is that it's not the end of the world and the next player is stepping up to do a job and everything doesn't start to fall apart. I don't think any player is playing poorly at the moment.

I hope both come up ok. Poor Whitey, less of a tackle and more of a Judo throw into the ground.
 

stillmissit

Jim Lenehan (48)
We persist with him. I get that people want more from him but personally I fhink he’s progressing fine and we don’t have anyone behind him knocking the door down.

And I know this isn’t the opinion of everyone but I think Ikitau is going great at 12. Maybe he’s still a better 13 but gee he seems to touch the ball a lot more at 12 and his involvements are normally quality.
Ikitau, is a very great player for us and must be there for as many games as we can get him. Critical for the RWC.
 

TSR

Steve Williams (59)
Paisami then probably Stewart. Unless they decided to move Sua’ali’i in one and play Daugunu or Flook at 13.

I think Paisami is better than he’s often given credit for, but he’s still a clear step down from Ikiatau IMO.
 

stillmissit

Jim Lenehan (48)
I agree. He's one of the first on the team sheet for me, but I also want to know who our next man up is should Ikitau ever be injured and not available.
It ain't obvious as Iketau has been uninjured for a while. Paisami is the obvious one but I'm not a big fan. I would put Dangunau in at 13 but can you move JAS to 12? Flook is a guy I think has headroom but not seen enough of him lately due to injury.
 
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