Springbok EOYT Squad

[Lee Grant]

I don't know what Ireland fans think of their team but it doesn't impress me.

They're showing the effects of an aging team in a few positions.

2nd rowers POC and DOC were in the team too long for their successors to develop. Ryan is a decent enough player but he's no Paulie and before this year had started in only one test as a lock. The other 2nd rower, McCarthy, is really a 6 who can play lock. He's 194 cms tall and at 30 years old has started in only one test - as a flanker.

With DOC no longer a starting player and Paulie injured, I think Springbok Etzebeth will have a blinder by comparison with Ryan and McCarthy.

Of the other starting forwards: at least LHP Healey and THP Ross are playing well; however in the backrow SOB is going to be missed.

But on the bench Ireland have THP Michael Bent. This bloke has just flown over from NZ and the Ireland management haven't seen him play yet. Michael who? The Michael who couldn't get a start for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby this year and sat on the bench 6 times instead - that Michael.

I haven't seen scrummie Conor Murray every week for Munster this season but he's had a couple of shockers in those games I was able to watch. At least Sexton is in top form at stand off.

It's no bad thing that Earls is subbing for the injured BOD: the more tests he gets there before the great man retires, the better, but winger Zebo (1 cap) subbing for Kearney at fullback would not give me confidence. Did I not see Bowe playing fullback recently? Could they not have used him there and Zebo on the wing - or McFadden at 13 and Earls at fullback?

I think it's going to get ugly.
.

 

[Mank]

I think it's going to get ugly.

Well, your argument is strong, but after many years of very sub par NH performances I'm cynical.

 

[Blue]

Well that was shit.
We have gone way backwards since RC. This is one of the weakest Irisher teams in a long time and we played like a turd against them.
The game plan remains totally one dimensional and the likes of Lambie is playing like a robot. Clearly under instruction. Now watch Meyer drop him.
Ironically our two best players were Pienaar and Louw, the Kentucky Fried chicken express. Ruan Pienaar is starting to look better and better and F Louw was great value. Cluck cluck.
We have real issues if CJ v Linde is a starting prop...hopefully vd Merwe's came will be enough the earn him the gig.
Taute does NOT look comfortable in 13 at all.
Seems like Strauss was captaining. He was the one in the second half making all the calls and walking back to Lambie to talk to him. I did not see JdV open his mouth for 80 mins. ???? for me over his captaincy.
Allow Lambie to play flat, which is what he does well.
Vermeluen was disappointing. This was his kind of game and he didn't look effective.
Changes:
Move Taute to 15 and start JdJ and Rule.
Hougaard to bench.
Start Coetzee and move Alberts to 8.
Get Meyer a brain transplant.

 

[FrankLind]

Was Eben Etzebeth playing the hard man routine again? I just looked at some photos slideshow of the match at rugbyheaven - or was there nothing in it?

 

[Brisbok]

Was Eben Etzebeth playing the hard man routine again

As a number 4 lock, that's his role.

 

[Blue]

Was Eben Etzebeth playing the hard man routine again? I just looked at some photos slideshow of the match at rugbyheaven - or was there nothing in it?

He doesn't strike me as having to play it. He just does it.

Not sure what you're referring to.

Edit: I see the pic you're referring to. Irisher forwards got a bit niggle in the second half because they were having the arse handed to them so I guess he was just reminding them.

 

[Mank]

He doesn't strike me as having to play it. He just does it.

Not sure what you're referring to.

Edit: I see the pic you're referring to. Irisher forwards got a bit niggle in the second half because they were having the arse handed to them so I guess he was just reminding them.

The Irish #4 from that pic played very well, and was causing trouble when he could. No way is Etzebeth going to back down, and nor should he. Always niggle when the Irish play, Australians should know this as well as anybody.

Always niggle when the Springboks play too I guess, and so there was bound to be a few scuffles.

 

[Mank]

Well that was shit.
We have gone way backwards since RC. This is one of the weakest Irisher teams in a long time and we played like a turd against them.
The game plan remains totally one dimensional and the likes of Lambie is playing like a robot. Clearly under instruction. Now watch Meyer drop him.
Ironically our two best players were Pienaar and Louw, the Kentucky Fried chicken express. Ruan Pienaar is starting to look better and better and F Louw was great value. Cluck cluck.

Pienaar for me was MoM, not just Springbok MoM.

Lambie had some very poor kicks, and just didn't look comfortable in the role / game plan. However, he was better in the second half when the forwards started performing and winning some of the collisions, which is always the case for a flyhalf, you rely on a platform.

We have real issues if CJ v Linde is a starting prop.hopefully vd Merwe's came will be enough the earn him the gig.
Taute does NOT look comfortable in 13 at all.
Seems like Strauss was captaining. He was the one in the second half making all the calls and walking back to Lambie to talk to him. I did not see JdV open his mouth for 80 mins. ???? for me over his captaincy.
Allow Lambie to play flat, which is what he does well.
Vermeluen was disappointing. This was his kind of game and he didn't look effective.
Changes:
Move Taute to 15 and start JdJ and Rule.
Hougaard to bench.
Start Coetzee and move Alberts to 8.
Get Meyer a brain transplant.

Why would you move Hougaard to the bench? He does well enough with what very limited opportunities he gets. At this point, in test match rugby, starting with so many inexperienced players is asking for trouble, and hard as it is to believe, we could do even worse than last night.

 

[Bardon]

I thought Ireland were terrible yesterday especially in the 2nd half. 1st half we weren't so bad and managed to eke out a lead but never really threaten the try line. There's still a lot of work to be done to get the back line firing. We should have use the 6Ns to bring players through this year and instead Kidney stuck with the same old squad to go for ranking for the WC and it back fired. Real possibility of us being outside the top 8 now.

Michael Bent looked OK when he came on he did well in the scrum but I wouldn't say that he deserved to walk into the team having not been watched by any of the Ireland coaches. There are some useful props coming through at the provinces and they would have been worth a shot ahead of him.

Also Shane Horgan was doing punditry for RTÉ prior to the game and he said that his inclusion had created a lot of unrest in the squad. Kidney has been telling players that they will be picked on form but with the Bent situation that went out the window. There's a big problem now with regard to trust between the players and Kidney. I wouldn't be surprised if next years 6Ns is his last with us. Have a lot of respect for him and what he's achieved but since we won the grand slam in 2009 we've gone backwards at a rate of knots.

Our back play continues to disappoint with so much talent available and so many young guys crying out to be selected. But the tactics are the worrying part. So many time in the first half SA were able to leave huge space on the wings while defending because our attack was so narrow. Any breaks we got were from players taking it up themselves.

If Kidney does go I'm not sure who'll replace him. Conor O'Shea would be my pick but I think it might be too early for him as he probably feels he's got unfinished business at Quins. There are some other good Irish coaches coming through in the Pro12 but none would be seen as having earned a shot at the national job yet. So maybe we'll have to look for a foreign coach but if we do I'd like to see someone like Foley involved so that we're building for a possible succession.

One bright spot for Ireland was Henderson getting a run off the bench as I really do rate the guy and I think he'll be a big player for us in the coming years.

With regard to SA they weren't too impressive either. Game was very stop start and there was a lot of niggle. But they did the business in the 2nd half and never really looked like losing once they got ahead. Lambie was disappointing but I don't think he was done any favours with how SA were playing. It was good to see that Pienaar is starting to get the recognition he deserves as the guy has been outstanding for Ulster and probably the best scrum half over the last year in the NH if not the world.

 

[Straussfull]

This match was very physical and I really enjoyed the aggression shown by both sides, particularly in the first half. It wasn't ever going to be free flowing and I think that the entertainment value was in the tension of a close, forward orientated match. In a straight battle between two packs it became clear that SA were the more cohesive unit, with the more talented individuals. That being said this was a plucky performance by the Irish, Ryan, McCarthy and O'Mahony all looked very comfortable with discomfort!

As a former scrum half I can appreciate how difficult this game would have been for Murray and Sexton, the latter showed great assurance in difficult conditions. Murray was decent, with one poor decision to box kick close to the opposition 22 sticking out in my memory. I have a lot of time for him as I believe he has many of the natural attributes of a very good 9. Let us not forget that it wasn't long ago that Sexton showed many of the same inconsistencies of a young and talented decision maker. Sexton is really a top player now in my own personal opinion, he shows brilliant leadership, decision making and a good set of basic skills.

Overall I would like too see the lads approach the Argentina match with the same vigor and honesty. The method in the first half appeared appropriate, Ireland capitalised on some poor discipline from SA who didn't start the match with the same mental focus as they finished it. If I were to give an opinion of why Ireland lost this match (or how SA won), it would perhaps be related to SA dominating the Irish pack in the first twenty minutes of the second half. This, aligned with a strong kick chase game, allowed the Boks to secure strong territory and stifled the Irish back line which struggled under the pressure of a retreating pack.

It is unfortunate that we as Irish fans now find ourselves with such a poor run of results, the only way forward I believe is to approach the next test with the same intensity. If so it may allow parity with the Argentine pack and provide greater scope for an improved back line performance. Come on Ireland!

 

[PaarlBok]

The Bokke werent that bad. We made some basic mistakes with passes that dont stick, exct. Wayne Barnes just seem to penalise a lot in the first half and did not allow the game to flow at all. Our defense was much better compare to the past. meyer must not change a lot and let the player combos to develope. Much less high kick and charge which itself is an improvement. Regarding Ysterbeth, well he kept us init with his lineouts poaching and had the Iere line outs in tatters. Once he left we did not compete anymore, Barnes dont recodnise scew throwing at all. Heinke was massive in the scrums and CJ vd Linde as poor as usual. We missed the Beast.

 

[It is what it is]

South Africa have found their cheap shot replacement for Bakkies Botha.....Jannie du Plessis.
Check out his dog acts against Ireland.
His speciality is to run in and drop his shoulder into an unprotected player prone or caught on the ground.
Watch him get Sexton around the 15 min mark, and another Irish player way off the ball over their try line when RSA scored under the posts in the 2nd half.
He gets there so late he'll clean up an opponent on the way to their team bus soon.
He's been doing it all season in Super Rugby and hopefully someone squares him up.

 

[PaarlBok]

South Africa have found their cheap shot replacement for Bakkies Botha...Jannie du Plessis.
Check out his dog acts against Ireland.
His speciality is to run in and drop his shoulder into an unprotected player prone or caught on the ground.
Watch him get Sexton around the 15 min mark, and another Irish player way off the ball over their try line when RSA scored under the posts in the 2nd half.
He gets there so late he'll clean up an opponent on the way to their team bus soon.
He's been doing it all season in Super Rugby and hopefully someone squares him up.

You watch way to much rugby.

 

[Blue]

South Africa have found their cheap shot replacement for Bakkies Botha...Jannie du Plessis.
Check out his dog acts against Ireland.
His speciality is to run in and drop his shoulder into an unprotected player prone or caught on the ground.
Watch him get Sexton around the 15 min mark, and another Irish player way off the ball over their try line when RSA scored under the posts in the 2nd half.
He gets there so late he'll clean up an opponent on the way to their team bus soon.
He's been doing it all season in Super Rugby and hopefully someone squares him up.

Slow day?

 

[PaarlBok]

Bok Team for Skotte
Position Name Province Test Caps
15 Zane Kirchner Vodacom Blue Bulls 22
14 JP Pietersen The Sharks 46
13 Juan de Jongh DHL Western Province 12
12 Jean de Villiers (captain) DHL Western Province 82
11 Francois Hougaard Vodacom Blue Bulls 25
10 Pat Lambie The Sharks 18
9 Ruan Pienaar Ulster, Northern Ireland 61
8 Duane Vermeulen DHL Western Province 5
7 Willem Alberts The Sharks 18
6 Francois Louw Bath, England 15
5 Juandré Kruger Vodacom Blue Bulls 6
4 Eben Etzebeth DHL Western Province 9
3 Jannie du Plessis The Sharks 40
2 Adriaan Strauss (vice-captain) Toyota FS Cheetahs 19
1 Gurthrö Steenkamp Toulouse, France 38
Replacements
16 Schalk Brits Saracens, England 3
17 Heinke van der Merwe Leinster, Ireland 2
18 CJ van der Linde MTN Golden Lions 74
19 Flip van der Merwe Vodacom Blue Bulls 21
20 Marcell Coetzee The Sharks 10
21 Morné Steyn Vodacom Blue Bulls 41
22 Jaco Taute MTN Golden Lions 3
23 Lwazi Mvovo The Sharks 7

 

[Blue]

Kirchner: Meh.
JdJ: Yeah!
Steenkamp; Yeah!
M Steyn still on bench and no Jantjes: Bums, balls and buggery.

 

[PiXeL_Ninja]

So what scoreline we looking for here as a successful outing? 4+ tries?

 

[PaarlBok]

Kirchner: Meh.

 

[PaarlBok]

So what scoreline we looking for here as a successful outing? 4+ tries?

1 point win against the skirt wearers will be enough for me. Just want to see the Bokke play more with ball in hand and phases rugby.

 

[PiXeL_Ninja]

1 point win against the skirt wearers will be enough for me. Just want to see the Bokke play more with ball in hand and phases rugby.

Statistically, South Africa has spent the most time in Opposition 22 for the 2012 season.

I want ACCURACY in FINISHING. That is what is letting us down.