RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015

chicken n chips wrote:

TNaicker wrote: As tragic as the loss to Japan was, doesn't the result open up the possibility of SA finishing second in their group (much will hinge on result of SA, Samoa and Scotland matches against each other) and thus not playing NZ if they both get to the semi-final...when draw for World Cup was done, I found it hard to believe that most of the SH teams seemed likely to face each other if results went as expected whilst NH teams seemed to face each other...

NZ and Argentina in same group, SA and Samoa in same group...SA seemed likely to face Australia in quarter-final (if Australia finish second in their group - depends on result of match against England) and NZ in semi-final...with NH team likely to make it to the final by avoiding all of NZ, Aus and SA save for pool match between Aus and Eng...now those expectations seem to be on their head with SA loss to Japan...

Going to be an interesting tournament and even more so if SA finish second in their group...as matchups for knock-out matches change quite a bit...

Interesting, maybe if SA finish 2nd they will meet England in the quarter final providing England win their pool.

@cnc...yes..and Australia (if they finish second in the England group) will play Samoa / Scotland (whoever tops the group) in QF with winner facing NZ in SF...whilst SA would move to other half of draw...the expectation of SA/NZ SF presumed that both SA and NZ would win their groups (can still happen) and their respective QF's against other group runners up but that is no longer a certainty...possible but not a certainty...and highly dependent on Samoa / Scotland and SA matches to follow...bonus points could prove crucial in final tally and group placings...

Just hope that France beat Ireland so that they avoid the ABs in the quarter final.

Franco Mostert should of been included in the Springboks squad, he had a brilliant super rugby campaign and has continued through the curry cup....o sorry he plays for the Lions no chance of that happening....

Over the weekend, I was thinking about the so called spine of our team...

At hooker, we have Bismarck who is moving on the play in France and keeping out Adriaan Strauss who has a lot more energy as a player

At lock, we have Victor who is 38 and moving on to play in France and keeping out one of Eben or Lood who have a lot more energy as players...Victor not the same without Bakkies...

At eightman, we have injuries to Duane and Willem...

At scrumhalf, we have Ruan so slow in moving the ball that snails and tortoises can overtake him in a rush to get to the ball...and the incumbent in Fourie is so crocked that he has to be wrapped in cotton wool when he does get onto the field to enable him to get to the venue for the next match...

At flyhalf, we don't know what to do...promises made to Morne but Pat the form player that never gets to play with Fourie so we will never know how good he is with better service and a little more time to play with...cue replacements on Saturday...Fourie du Preez comes on to replace Ruan and immediately Pat is replaced by Handre so we will never know how good Pat is if favoured combination is Fourie and Handre...

In midfield, we have a potentially great pairing being split to accommodate a crocked captain...who should know it is time to step aside for those that are currently better players than him...

At full back, we don't know what to do...promises made to Zane so the one player who can bring some spark to the game has to sit on the bench...

It frustrates me that the icons of the past, who have had their time in the sun...players like Bismarck, Jannie, Beast, Victor, Fourie, Morne, Jean, JP, Bryan, etc could be so selfish...even if the coach wants you, you know when your time is up and time to step aside...I salute Bakkies for walking away...

And without pace, we will not have space and this team has so many crocked players that they are just not quick enough to move the ball along to give our outside backs the space with which to do anything...

We may still get lucky but, like @cnc, I will begrudge our winning this World Cup...

Without a doubt if Bakkies were still playing Meyer would have selected him. Mind you if Naas Botha felt like a game then Meyer would play him as well.

gregbucks wrote: Franco Mostert should of been included in the Springboks squad, he had a brilliant super rugby campaign and has continued through the curry cup....o sorry he plays for the Lions no chance of that happening....

For me the real 'unlucky Lion' is Jaco Kriel......and of course Warren Whyteley, but I agree Mostert would not have disgraced himself - but this also holds true for quite a few others in the Lions's pack - a game between the 'rest of SA' against the Springboks would really have been interesting :ohmy:

Regarding the possible play-off combinations, in terms of the Q/F's, it is rather immaterial whether we top our group or end up 2nd; chances are we will be playing either England or Australia. But the team topping our group B will (if they win their Q/F) most likely end up against NZ in the SF, while the team finishing 2nd in our group B will end up against either Ireland, France or Argentina in the SF.

After Saturday's debacle, our group is now most certainly the 'group of death' - the USA probably the most likely team to miss out on a Q/F spot.......Group A will see England and Australia progress, Group C will be won by NZ followed by Argentina and Group D lies between Ireland and France.

As a French supporter (Just putting it out there) .. SA need rain, well not NEED but need in the sense, they need to be forced to playing tight rugby and keeping it close.. Only way they'll win this World Cup or go close is by playing boring rugby can't get dragged into an open game, they'll come short and for that reason, lambie can't play at 1st receiver.. I hope they take the points too, no matter if they playing USA, get a penalty and kick it over, reset and go again! Screw bonus points, u have 80mins to score 4 tries, why try and do it in 20mins.. No use you wanna try and prove u can play a running game with grandpas..

Guys we are all missing the point here. HM is the one who chose these players, he is the one who sets out the game plan against the different opposition. HM,as I have said for years, does not have a rugby brain to be able to put a winning team on the field. He is a clueless prick. Proven by his selection of players and their results. Injuries have played a huge part in the build up to the WC, but again HM couldnt handle and sort out these problems as he is clueless.
If one looks at the Super 15 and the players that performed well during this competition, where are they ? 90 % at home. WP front row stuffed up all and sundry, best loose forwards Jaco Kriel / Marcell Coetzee (only Sharks player worth anything), scrumhalfs endless list better than those in the UK, wings all the scared wankers/has-beens in the UK, locks Minnie for Matfield although Lood and Eben would be my first choice, centers ??. So this list can go on. HM has blinkers/half-cups/cheek pieces and a nose-band on back to front cause he has no clue.
How many wake-up calls does HM and his selected players need ? WE are at the WC now not next year. Remember this team and game plan is 4 years in the making. Well fark me.....
The way forward for the WC ?? I really dont know. How can you motivate, select the right combinations, change your 20 year old game plan, give brains where it is needed in one week ?
Is there hope ? Sure, but then we need everyone to step up to the plate and lay their bodies on the line for the Green and Gold for all the remaining games. What are the chances of this happening with a team that has reached its sell buy date many moons ago ?

Meyer has taken the Springboks to an all time low. His ego has cost the team and if he got up and said ok I have messed up and resigned not on Saturday, not after coming last in the Championship but after losing to Ireland and Wales he would have had everybodys respect. N Honestly the best thing for SA Rugby is for the Boks to lose to Samoa. Then there is no way back for him and he will be sacked which will be the best result for the Boks. SA cant with this team win the WC in 6 weeks time, so whats the point of hood winking the public and telling the world that they are still on track and can still win it.

Just as well the Proteas wont have to play Japan in the cricket.

It is know obvious that HM selected 90% of his squad more than six months ago . He therefore has not taken the form of the super 15 into account on a majority of his selections.
The fact that he has taken so many players who are carrying injuries and out of form adds further support to this theory . Some of his selections - Duane Vermeulen , Fourie , Pieter Stef-du Toit and of course Jean De Villiers have played any rugby for months . How do we expect our side to achieve . If you are adamant to select experience then they need to be match fit at least . The older players selected were 4 yards behind the pace against Japan ,what s going to happen in the later stages could be a bigger embarrassment . In my very humble opinion the following players are certainly not up to international level

15 Zane Kirchner - was never
12 Jean de Villiers - past his best by a long way
10 Pat Lambie- was never
5 Victor Matfield- way past his best
3 Jannie Du Plessis- way past his best
1 Beast Mtawaira- past his best

that means we are carrying 6 passengers in our side , we will battle to beat any of the top 6 sides .

Ok It's all history what about this week
Scotland and Japs a very interesting call
Scotland to win but by how many ?