Rugby Championship 2025: South Africa v Australia

[Blue]

Interesting:
- Siya at 8
- Libbok at 10
- Esterhuizen at 12
- 5/3 split with no Pollard or Sacha on the bench but I expect Esterhuizen to move to the blindside at some point and Willemse to play 12.

Kolbe and de Allende both injured but should be available next week.

Anyhow. That will do me.

 

[Blue]

So the pack ending the game could look like this:
Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Bongi Mbonambi, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Etsebeth, Franco Mostert, du Toit, Esterhuizen, Kwagga Smith

Very mobile.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

That's a very formidable Bok team

 

[Sword of Justice]

Should be an easy win for the real green and gold (Australia). Lots of washed up Boks. Marx is a Bismarck wannabe and is a bench player for a reason.

 

[Blue]

Should be an easy win for the real green and gold (Australia). Lots of washed up Boks. Marx is a Bismarck wannabe and is a bench player for a reason.

I'll make sure to pass that on to Rassie.

 

[Shiggins]

Are Boks fans the worse? Great team gets names and they are calling it a C team.

 

[Blue]

Are Boks fans the worse? Great team gets names and they are calling it a C team.

Where? I haven't seen that at all.

 

[Sword of Justice]

I'll make sure to pass that on to Rassie.

And can you also tell him Siya just doesn’t have what’s needed at 8?

 

[upthereds#!]

Rassie says if we go 6-2, so will they, bringing in Snyman.

I suspect both teams will.

 

[Dctarget]

Are Boks fans the worse? Great team gets names and they are calling it a C team.

I like our resident Bokke fans on here

 

[Major Tom]

Boks fans, like South Africans, either the best people you know or the worst. No in between.

 

[James Ryan]

Assuming Tupou, Valetini and Skelton are playing I think we can match that team physically. My forward pack would be:

1. Slipper
2. Pollard
3. Tupou
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson

16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Bell
18. Nonggorr
19. Salakai-Loto
20. Hooper
21. Tizzano

 

[Major Tom]

Assuming Tupou, Valetini and Skelton are playing I think we can match that team physically. My forward pack would be:

1. Slipper
2. Pollard
3. Tupou
4. Frost
5. Skelton
6. Valetini
7. McReight
8. Wilson

16. Paenga-Amosa
17. Bell
18. Nonggorr
19. Salakai-Loto
20. Hooper
21. Tizzano

If you have Hooper on the bench you do not need Tizzano.
Gleeson a better use of the bench spot if we're going 6-2 IMO.

 

[Tomthumb]

Interesting:
- Siya at 8
- Libbok at 10
- Esterhuizen at 12
- 5/3 split with no Pollard or Sacha on the bench but I expect Esterhuizen to move to the blindside at some point and Willemse to play 12.

Kolbe and de Allende both injured but should be available next week.

Anyhow. That will do me.

Haha please do

 

[Blue]

And can you also tell him Siya just doesn’t have what’s needed at 8?

Already told him to ignore that fact that he has played there for the Sharks for 2 seasons and before that at Racing.

 

[Blue]

Boks fans, like South Africans, either the best people you know or the worst. No in between.

Nah we're all fluffybunnys. It's inbred.

 

[Blue]

Haha please do

Absolutely hope he does.

This is the reason he is comfortable to play Siya at 8. Esterh. will fill the role that the 8 usually does in trucking it up from kickoffs and the back field. His ability to bend the line makes him well suited. At 1.94 and 115 kg, with pace. I'll take that all day.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

no Pollard

You reckon him and Faf have done their dash? Or is this more powder dry Rassie craftiness to build depth and those 2 are still his top dogs?

 

[Blue]

You reckon him and Faf have done their dash? Or is this more powder dry Rassie craftiness to build depth and those 2 are still his top dogs?

I think it is the end for Faf unless there are injuries. Williams will be first choice for a long time to come and they like vd Berg speed to the ruck.

I think with Pollard he is keeping the power dry. Pollard is 31 nad has been in excellent form at Leicester and looks very sharp. No way he will be discarded anytime soon. Surprised to see people writing him off.

 

[Wilson]

You reckon him and Faf have done their dash? Or is this more powder dry Rassie craftiness to build depth and those 2 are still his top dogs?

Pollard still has plenty to offer and I'm sure Rassie sees him as a fairly safe pair of hands he can keep in the background in case plan A and B go tits up.

Faf on the other hand might be just about done - he'll be ~35 at the world cup and that's a hard ask for a nippy scrum half. But given it's an already 35 year old Reinach playing ahead of him I could be well wide of the mark.