RWC 2015 Semi Final 1 - NZ vs RSA Twickenham
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tragic
John Solomon (38)
tragic
John Solomon (38)
Given that we have had more success against SAF than the ABs lately I should be supporting the South Africans in this one.
But I wont be.
Somehow winning a RWC without defeating the ABs along the way seems a bit hollow.
They've been clearly the standout team for the last four years.
If we make it past the argies in the semi I want to see us take on the best in the world in the final and win. Not let someone else do the hard yards.
But I wont be.
Somehow winning a RWC without defeating the ABs along the way seems a bit hollow.
They've been clearly the standout team for the last four years.
If we make it past the argies in the semi I want to see us take on the best in the world in the final and win. Not let someone else do the hard yards.
Dewald Nel
Cyril Towers (30)
tragic
John Solomon (38)
Note the pointed use of the word "if" in my post. Very nervous about this one.
But you're playing before us so I'll just have to hope the cards fall that way.
If we bow out then I don't really care which of the SH teams wins. If it's you guys then at least you can say you knocked off the best in the world to get there and deserve the mantle of world champs.
Dewald Nel
Cyril Towers (30)
My bad.
Same as you - just glad England aren't in it anymore.
IF we go all the way to the final, I don't care who we face in the final, as you'd have to beat anyone to win it.
Regarding the semi, I've played it over and over in my head since Sunday. I haven't come up with a logical way that we'll beat the All Blacks yet which doesn't involve either us playing out of our skins, or the All Blacks playing like France.
By the way, this is making the week drag like fuck. The excitement is barely containable.
I like to watch
David Codey (61)
We will be taking on the best in the Final,
The semi determines which team that is.
Yeah it would be sweeter beating the AB's in the final,but if they are not good enough to make the final,it doesn't cheapen a final win in any way in my book!
Dewald Nel
Cyril Towers (30)
Exactly. Same as 2007. France beat the All Blacks, England beat Australia and France. We beat England. Twice.
Those who say we're not deserving, are just looking for excuses. It's nobody else's fault they lost to those teams.
PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
Aussie & Kiwis reminded us for 4 years about our luck.
PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
South Africa:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez (captain), 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Victor Matfield, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein
15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez (captain), 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Victor Matfield, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein
Dewald Nel
Cyril Towers (30)
waiopehu oldboy
George Smith (75)
Some meaningless but interesting stats for NZ v SA H2H:
RWC: SA 2 (1995 Final, 1999 playoff for 3rd), NZ 1 (2003 QF)
Since 1992: NZ 37-15, 1 draw (NZ 70.75%)
All-time: NZ 52-35, 3 draws (NZ 59.44%)
RWC: SA 2 (1995 Final, 1999 playoff for 3rd), NZ 1 (2003 QF)
Since 1992: NZ 37-15, 1 draw (NZ 70.75%)
All-time: NZ 52-35, 3 draws (NZ 59.44%)
Hugh Jarse
Rocky Elsom (76)
If Australia can't win the RWC, then I want the Saffers to win.
That way Japan can legitimately claim that the World Champion has never beaten the Brave Blossoms - ever.
"Japanese Rugby - 100% record of beating the 3 x World Champion Springboks"
That way Japan can legitimately claim that the World Champion has never beaten the Brave Blossoms - ever.
"Japanese Rugby - 100% record of beating the 3 x World Champion Springboks"
disco
Chilla Wilson (44)
I saw a lot of positives from the Saffas 2nd half and their two beasts Bismarc & Dwayne Vermeulen really started to get more ball when they needed to score points. I was a bit surprised to see Bismarc come off when he did as he really started to look dangerous with ball in hand.
Vermeulen looked to be getting back to his 2013/14 form in that 2nd half & always has a big game against the All Blacks.
I loved the comment from the Scottish commentator when Willem Alberts come on. "There is a lot of big creatures on the field for South Africa now".
Vermeulen looked to be getting back to his 2013/14 form in that 2nd half & always has a big game against the All Blacks.
I loved the comment from the Scottish commentator when Willem Alberts come on. "There is a lot of big creatures on the field for South Africa now".
dru
David Wilson (68)
This game shows how odd things happen with the RWC draw. Much more than concerns over the "pool of death".
On pretty much any ranking system RSA v NZ is a bigger match than Aus v Arg.
I'm pretty much a predictable Aussie so prefer the NZ game to the RSA game. But then the little Aussie mongrel in me just can't help but be in awe of RSA. I'm a genuine neutral in this game.
I'll be enjoying this one, at least as much as I can as I get stressed waiting for the Pumas!
On pretty much any ranking system RSA v NZ is a bigger match than Aus v Arg.
I'm pretty much a predictable Aussie so prefer the NZ game to the RSA game. But then the little Aussie mongrel in me just can't help but be in awe of RSA. I'm a genuine neutral in this game.
I'll be enjoying this one, at least as much as I can as I get stressed waiting for the Pumas!
So Matfield in for Steph du Toit is the only change for the Springboks?
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Sent from my HTC_PN071 using Tapatalk
Dewald Nel
Cyril Towers (30)
PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
Yes. Must be the most experience bench in rugby.
Replacements:
16. Adriaan Strauss Vodacom Bulls (52 caps, 30 points)
17. Trevor Nyakane Vodacom Bulls (21 caps, 5 points)
18. Jannie du Plessis Cell C Sharks (68 caps, 5 points)
19. Victor Matfield Vodacom Bulls (125 caps, 35 points)
20. Willem Alberts Cell C Sharks (36 caps, 35 points)
21. Ruan Pienaar Ulster (87 caps, 135 points)
22. Pat Lambie Cell C Sharks (48 caps, 131 points)
23. Jan Serfontein Vodacom Bulls (24 caps, 10 points)
Stats and facts:
•South Africa and New Zealand have played three Tests in RWC tournaments. The first was in the memorable 1995 tournament when the Springboks won the World Cup in extra time at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The final score 15-12.
•Four years later in 1999, the two rivals met in Cardiff to contest the third place play-off after New Zealand lost to France in the semi-finals while Australia won the other semi-final in extra time against the Springboks. South Africa won the bronze medal in a close-fought battle 22-18.
•The last time was in 2003 in Melbourne in the quarter-final when the All Blacks had a comfortable 29-9 win.
•Saturday’s Test match will be the 91st between the two countries. South Africa’s record against New Zealand: P: 90; W: 35; L: 52; D: 3; PF: 1 412; PA: 1 745; Win%: 39%.
•The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 701. There are 324 caps in the backline with 377 caps amongst the forwards. On the bench there are a further 461 caps.
•Bryan Habana will extend his record as the most-capped Springbok wing, with 114 caps in this position. He is the most experienced Springbok backline player with 115 caps and only Victor Matfield (125) has played in more Test matches for South Africa.
•If he scores a try, Bryan will extend his record of 64 Test tries for South Africa. Currently he is joint second on the list for most Test tries. David Campese of Australia is the other player. First on the list is Daisuke Ohata of Japan on 69 career tries.
•Bryan is the new world record holder for most Test tries as a wing. He surpassed the previous record of Daisuke Ohata of Japan (62) during the pool match against the USA.
•Bryan is the joint record holder for most career tries (15) in RWC tournaments. He can become sole record holder by scoring just one try. Jonah Lomu of New Zealand is the other player with 15 career tries. Close on Bryan’s heels is Drew Mitchell of Australia with 14 RWC career tries.
•Bryan also holds the record for most career tries (seven) by a Springbok against New Zealand.
•Bryan and JP Pietersen will be playing in their record 43rd Test as a wing combination in the starting XV.
•Handré Pollard needs three penalty goals to equal Percy Montgomery’s RWC record of 17 career penalty goals.
•Schalk Burger will play in his 78th Test as a flank, South Africa’s most capped Springbok flank. Saturday’s Test will be his 19th RWC Test, the most by a Springbok in RWC tournaments. He is also the Springbok record holder for most tries as a flank (14) as well as a forward (16).
•Bismarck du Plessis is the Springbok record holder for most tries (11) in Tests as a hooker.
•Should Ruan Pienaar be used from the bench he will become South Africa’s most capped substitute. Currently, he shares the record with Ollie le Roux on 43 Test matches as a substitute.
•Should Victor Matfield be used as a substitute he will extend his record as most capped Springbok as well as most capped Springbok against New Zealand – he has played in 26 career Tests against the All Blacks.
•The referee is Jérôme Garcès of France. He debut as an international referee was in 2010 in a match between England and the Barbarians. He served as assistant referee in four Tests during the 2011 RWC. During this tournament he was referee in three Test matches, including the South Africa/Japan Test during the first week. It will be his seventh Test involving South Africa. Of the previous six Tests, South Africa won three and lost three.
•Twickenham Stadium is the largest dedicated rugby union venue in the world, the second largest stadium in the United Kingdom and fourth largest in Europe. This is the venue for this first semi-final match of RWC 2015. Twickenham has a seating capacity of 81,605.
•South Africa have played 21 Test matches at this stadium, winning 12 and losing nine. Nineteen matches were against England. The other two were against Australia in the 1999 RWC semi-final and against Wales last Saturday.
Springbok Test match record holders at Twickenham:
•Most points: 21 by Jannie de Beer (6p, 1d) against Australia, 30 October, 1999
•Most tries: Two by Chester Williams against England, 18 November, 1995
•Most conversions: Three by Ruan Pienaar against England, 22 November, 2008
•Most penalty goals: Six by Jannie de Beer against Australia, 30 October, 1999
•Most drop goals: Four by André Pretorius against England, 25 November, 2006
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