RWC: SAF v JAP (Brighton Stadium) Pool B

[Dewald Nel]

Really? I can't see SA getting out of the group now. This wasn't a one off, something isn't right with SA at the moment. This last year has stank for them. If they had a fantastic year and had a shock here against Japan I'd be backing them to bounce back but all is not well with them.

I can see them going the way of Ireland in 2007 and having a group stage exit. It won't be a reflection of the quality of the team, it will be a reflection of broader issues within the camp and the SARU as a whole, possibly even higher than that with the political mess that's going on.

You are probably right. I'm not holding my breath.

But I'm sure as hell gonna enjoy this world cup personally, and that includes supporting the Boks, come hell or highwater. I will be shouting as hard this Saturday as I did last Saturday.

 

[Rugbynutter39]

If Japan beat Scotland tomorrow then they should top the pool. Samoa and USA are both serviceable teams but nowhere near the standard Japan showed against the Boks. Japan appear to have stepped up a gear from their Pacific Nations form.

Personally I think Japan will deal with Scotland.

The way Japan played against SA was just so unexpected as their recent form going into this was 2 last warm up games where lost game against USA and winning against Georgia 13-10

That is where one wonders it was just an anomoly where they mentally were on song for the big occaision and played the right game plan which was unfortunate for the Boks.

Time will tell......hope it is more than a one hit wonder for Japanese but lets wait and see as will soon find out I guess

 

[Groucho]

The way Japan played against SA was just so unexpected as their recent form going into this was 2 last warm up games where lost game against USA and winning against Georgia 13-10

That is where one wonders it was just an anomoly where they mentally were on song for the big occaision and played the right game plan which was unfortunate for the Boks.

Time will tell..hope it is more than a one hit wonder for Japanese but lets wait and see as will soon find out I guess

Rugbynutter, I think it was more than just a gameplan. They executed perfectly. Playing with sufficient passion can sometimes be a variable. Playing with accuracy should be able to be repeated over and over again. Their second-last try was superbly skilled. I don't personally put much stock in warm-up games. You never know what's going on in the background, such as brutal training regimes.

 

[Omar Comin']

You never know what's going on in the background, such as brutal training regimes.

According to Craig Wing from an interview in the SMH: "We've been in camp since April because the Japanese competition doesn't start until after the World Cup and I've never had such a fully booked out training schedule. There were times when we train three or four times a day and on some days we started at 6am and that's by design. It's the Japanese culture. During our camp we didn't get days off, you got half days off here and there. I don't know too many Aussie teams where the guys would cop that but the Japanese do it without complaint."

I've heard they didn't back off on the training until the last couple of weeks.

 

[Groucho]

According to Craig Wing from an interview in the SMH: "We've been in camp since April because the Japanese competition doesn't start until after the World Cup and I've never had such a fully booked out training schedule. There were times when we train three or four times a day and on some days we started at 6am and that's by design. It's the Japanese culture. During our camp we didn't get days off, you got half days off here and there. I don't know too many Aussie teams where the guys would cop that but the Japanese do it without complaint."

I've heard they didn't back off on the training until the last couple of weeks.

I really hope they knock off Scotland. I actually like the Scots but seeing Japan potentially top the pool would be marvelous.

 

[Groucho]

The other thing about Japan is that they're an honorary Southern Hemisphere team. Our ninjas in the NH.

 

[dru]

We'll start talking in terms of hemispheres if Japan keeps playing like that. Go get the Scots, boys.

 

[Dewald Nel]

Since there's no SA-Samoa thread yet:


Only 100 minutes to go. Let's see what happens.

 

[qwerty51]

My guess

1. Trevor Nyakane
2. Schalk Brits
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Lood de Jager
5. Eben Etzebeth
6. Francois Louw
7. Willem Alberts
8. Duane Vermeulen (c)
9. Rudy Paige
10. Morne Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Damian de Allende
13. Jesse Kriel
14. JP Pietersen
15. Willie le Roux

16. Bismarck Du Plessis
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Coenie Oosthuizen
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit
20. Schalk Burger
21. Fourie du Preez
22. Handre Pollard
23. Jean de Villiers

 

[Dewald Nel]

My guess

1. Trevor Nyakane
2. Schalk Brits
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Lood de Jager
5. Eben Etzebeth
6. Francois Louw
7. Willem Alberts
8. Duane Vermeulen (c)
9. Rudy Paige
10. Morne Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Damian de Allende
13. Jesse Kriel
14. JP Pietersen
15. Willie le Roux

16. Bismarck Du Plessis
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Coenie Oosthuizen
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit
20. Schalk Burger
21. Fourie du Preez
22. Handre Pollard
23. Jean de Villiers

The so-called "journalist" now infers on Facebook that something was said by some players against Matfield and de Villiers, so they were axed. So my guess is De Villiers and Matfield would both be there.

Apparently the biggest shocks are at midfield and lock.

Pure conjecture, but I'm guessing de Villiers at 12, Kirchner at 13, and Vermeulen at lock.

Otherwise the above tweet is nothing but sensationalism and trying to drive traffic to his rugby site.

If it's something like Du Toit at lock and Pietersen at centre then this fraud should have his bloody journalistic license taken from him.

 

[qwerty51]

Hmm so not much as changed because Matfield and JdV were probably the two worst players vs Japan. They've got to go.

 

[PaarlBok]

Heard through the wineyards (after visiting the wine cellars) the Bok team will be: Willie, Habana, JdV, Allende, JPP, Pollard, FdP, Duanne, Schalk, Flo, Etsebeth, Matfield, Jannie, Bismarckt, Beast.

Probably the best we'll get out of the squad.

 

[Viking]

Well Vermuluan if fit, along with Etzebeth will make a notable difference in the forwards. Those guys are world XV players.

I would be happy if de Allende gets a shot, that guy is exciting to watch.

Keeping JdV is a poor call.

 

[Dewald Nel]

Heard through the wineyards (after visiting the wine cellars) the Bok team will be: Willie, Habana, JdV, Allende, JPP, Pollard, FdP, Duanne, Schalk, Flo, Etsebeth, Matfield, Jannie, Bismarckt, Beast.

Probably the best we'll get out of the squad.

And the country. The reality is we don't have better available. Our best team finished 7th in Super rugby. If we thought we can make a world cup winning effort out of that, we were delusional.

I never expected us to go past the semi-final before the tournament started. It's time we're honest with where we're at.

But doesn't mean my support is dwindling. Just being realistic.

 

[PaarlBok]

Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jean de Villiers (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Subs: 16 Schalk Brits,17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jesse Kriel.

 

[Cardiffblue]

The other thing about Japan is that they're an honorary Southern Hemisphere team. Our ninjas in the NH.

I see. So the Nh doesn't start at the equator or include pacific islands or Argentina

 

[Highlander35]

Nah. States and Canucks are Southern Hemisphere too. All those rich, and up and coming nations are SH, and so are the Pacific Islands. The NH is real boring, it's just the 6 Nations and couple of former soviet states.

 

[Groucho]

I see. So the Nh doesn't start at the equator or include pacific islands or Argentina

Well, um, yeah... the northern hemisphere starts at the equator, and Japan is in it. There's no fooling you!

 

[the plastic paddy]

Well, um, yeah. the northern hemisphere starts at the equator, and Japan is in it. There's no fooling you!

England is firmly in the NH but you won't find many people up here outside of England who support anyone but their opponents whoever they are playing.

 

[Groucho]

England is firmly in the NH but you won't find many people up here outside of England who support anyone but their opponents whoever they are playing.

Now you've lost me completely.