Springboks v British & Irish Lions II
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Guessing that means Wyn Jones is still injured.
LCD lucky to start. Murray doesn't deserve to be ahead of Price. And Daly doesn't deserve a bench spot.
Adams and Williams very unfortunate to miss out again, given their form.
But Gatland is a very good coach, no decision is made without a good reason.
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@bones said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
That's a stronger looking side.
Gone for a change of emphasis I feel. A bit more defensively minded, maybe expecting a tighter game? Hard to argue too much with any of the selections though I’d like to have seen Simmonds on the bench in place of Faletau as I think he brings a different dimension. Might be the double effect of my England and Exeter bias though.
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Behind a paywall, so
Stuart Hogg; Anthony Watson, Chris Harris, Robbie Henshaw; Duhan van der Merwe; Dan Biggar, Conor Murray; Mako Vunipola, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tadhg Furlong, Maro Itoje, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Jack Conan.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Rory Sutherland, Kyle Sinckler, Tadhg Beirne, Taulupe Faletau, Ali Price, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly
Swopping Murray for Price is a little strange. Price was apparently picked for his fast service, but it was his kicking in the second half that was really good. Is Murray going to be better at kicking than Price was last weekend?
Daly on the bench over Williams is a little strange as well. Daly was terrible last weekend so I am not sure what he brings that you wouldn't get from Williams.
What is up with Biggar? There were rumors about concussion issues and something about his knee, has he been cleared or are we going to see a late change this week again?
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Swopping Murray for Price is a little strange. Price was apparently picked for his fast service, but it was his kicking in the second half that was really good. Is Murray going to be better at kicking than Price was last weekend?
Daly on the bench over Williams is a little strange as well. Daly was terrible last weekend so I am not sure what he brings that you wouldn't get from Williams.
What is up with Biggar? There were rumors about concussion issues and something about his knee, has he been cleared or are we going to see a late change this week again?
Re Biggar, I’d assume they’re giving him every chance to make it. L has gone back a bit, Smith is pretty green and Russel is coming back from injury. So makes sense. Late call coming up. If he does miss out, the bench spot behind Farrell will be interesting.
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Re Biggar, I’d assume they’re giving him every chance to make it. L has gone back a bit, Smith is pretty green and Russel is coming back from injury. So makes sense. Late call coming up. If he does miss out, the bench spot behind Farrell will be interesting.
@catogrande assuming Biggar and Fynn are out then it has be Smith doesn't it (unless Daly has played ten before).
If they are unsure about Biggar it might explain Daly on the bench as he covers the centres if Farrel is starting.
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@catogrande assuming Biggar and Fynn are out then it has be Smith doesn't it (unless Daly has played ten before).
If they are unsure about Biggar it might explain Daly on the bench as he covers the centres if Farrel is starting.
@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande assuming Biggar and Fynn are out then it has be Smith doesn't it (unless Daly has played ten before).
If they are unsure about Biggar it might explain Daly on the bench as he covers the centres if Farrel is starting.
Hogg to 10
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Mako or Sutherland, knife edge
Think SA will pick units, so Faletau instead of Watson no drama
If you're going to play box kick from 9, then organ grinder instead of monkey makes sense
Harris deserves his chance
Didn't need to change the back 3
Price makes sense
Farrell makes sense and no alternative really
Daly lucky
I would have had Adams on the bench, but Zoom took care of that
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Mako or Sutherland, knife edge
Think SA will pick units, so Faletau instead of Watson no drama
If you're going to play box kick from 9, then organ grinder instead of monkey makes sense
Harris deserves his chance
Didn't need to change the back 3
Price makes sense
Farrell makes sense and no alternative really
Daly lucky
I would have had Adams on the bench, but Zoom took care of that
@mikethesnow said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
Mako or Sutherland, knife edge
Think SA will pick units, so Faletau instead of Watson no drama
If you're going to play box kick from 9, then organ grinder instead of monkey makes sense
Harris deserves his chance
Didn't need to change the back 3
Price makes sense
Farrell makes sense and no alternative really
Daly lucky
I would have had Adams on the bench, but Zoom took care of that
If I were South Africa I’d practise kick offs to 9’s inboard side. Kicking to Lion’s left just let Price return into SA half for scrum put in itr penalty FOUR times.
Just kick the other way!
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@catogrande assuming Biggar and Fynn are out then it has be Smith doesn't it (unless Daly has played ten before).
If they are unsure about Biggar it might explain Daly on the bench as he covers the centres if Farrel is starting.
@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande assuming Biggar and Fynn are out then it has be Smith doesn't it (unless Daly has played ten before).
If they are unsure about Biggar it might explain Daly on the bench as he covers the centres if Farrel is starting.
Finn Russell has resumed training this week so in theory could be in the mix, but that would be a risky call.
Daly on the bench does make sense (would make better sense if he'd played well last week but..). He covers centre and wing well enough and according to Eddie Jones, full back as well, so he is a good bench option regardless of Biggar's fitness. With him and Farrell (starting or bench) you've covered everything from 10 out.
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@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande assuming Biggar and Fynn are out then it has be Smith doesn't it (unless Daly has played ten before).
If they are unsure about Biggar it might explain Daly on the bench as he covers the centres if Farrel is starting.
Finn Russell has resumed training this week so in theory could be in the mix, but that would be a risky call.
Daly on the bench does make sense (would make better sense if he'd played well last week but..). He covers centre and wing well enough and according to Eddie Jones, full back as well, so he is a good bench option regardless of Biggar's fitness. With him and Farrell (starting or bench) you've covered everything from 10 out.
@catogrande yeah, but assuming Harris goes down in the first minute, doesn't Biggar - Farrel - Henshaw make more sense than Biggar - Henshaw - Daly?
Again assuming Biggar is out and Smith is on the bench it become Farrel - Henshaw - Daly vs Smith - Farrel - Henshaw. In that scenario Daly starts making sense.
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@catogrande yeah, but assuming Harris goes down in the first minute, doesn't Biggar - Farrel - Henshaw make more sense than Biggar - Henshaw - Daly?
Again assuming Biggar is out and Smith is on the bench it become Farrel - Henshaw - Daly vs Smith - Farrel - Henshaw. In that scenario Daly starts making sense.
@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande yeah, but assuming Harris goes down in the first minute, doesn't Biggar - Farrel - Henshaw make more sense than Biggar - Henshaw - Daly?
Certainly does if Daly keeps up last weeks form! And I’d guess that’s what would happen. The issue is if Biggar goes down, or Watson/VDM.
Again assuming Biggar is out and Smith is on the bench it become Farrel - Henshaw - Daly vs Smith - Farrel - Henshaw. In that scenario Daly starts making sense.
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@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande yeah, but assuming Harris goes down in the first minute, doesn't Biggar - Farrel - Henshaw make more sense than Biggar - Henshaw - Daly?
Certainly does if Daly keeps up last weeks form! And I’d guess that’s what would happen. The issue is if Biggar goes down, or Watson/VDM.
Again assuming Biggar is out and Smith is on the bench it become Farrel - Henshaw - Daly vs Smith - Farrel - Henshaw. In that scenario Daly starts making sense.
@catogrande said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@sidbarret said in Springboks v British & Irish Lions II:
@catogrande yeah, but assuming Harris goes down in the first minute, doesn't Biggar - Farrel - Henshaw make more sense than Biggar - Henshaw - Daly?
Certainly does if Daly keeps up last weeks form! And I’d guess that’s what would happen. The issue is if Biggar goes down, or Watson/VDM.
If VDM, Daly to 11. Then can later swap St. Owen for Biggar, Henshaw or Harris?
Again assuming Biggar is out and Smith is on the bench it become Farrel - Henshaw - Daly vs Smith - Farrel - Henshaw. In that scenario Daly starts making sense.
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I don't understand Daly being there, it can only be that unlike Williams or Adams he can purportedly cover centre. But with Farrell on the bench to cover 12, and Farrell and Hogg both covering 10, I'd far prefer to see Williams in for Daly.
Then again, I'd far rather see Williams start ahead off Hogg. Better defensively, particularly under the high ball, and Hogg didn't really show anything going forward last week.
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Springbok team to face the British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium:
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 63 caps, 60 pts (12t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse) – 15 caps, 40 pts (8t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 16 caps, 15 pts (3t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 48 caps, 30 pts (6t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 15 caps, 70 pts (14t)
10 – Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 50 caps, 477pts (6t, 78c, 93p, 4d)
9 – Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) – 31 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 1 cap, 0 pts
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers) – 57 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 52 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 41 caps, 5pts (1t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 87 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 40 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 38 caps, 40 pts (8t)
1 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 49 caps, 5pts (1t)Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 35 caps, 30 pts (6t)
17 – Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 44 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 21 caps, 0 pts
19 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 46 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 0 pts
21 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 8 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 12 caps, 25 pts (5t)
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 5pts (1t)Starting side as expected with only Wiese being a bit of a change direction from last week.
The bench is a bit weird though. Nyakane is covering loose head though I can't remember him playing there in the last couple years. Koch comes in as th cover despite being poor in the warm ups. Then there are two very similar loose-forwards on the bench in Kwagga and Van Staden. Then in backs we have Willemse covering 10,12 and 15 (ten being the weakest of those positions).
Overall I don't like the bench, I am not sure of the fitness of the other players, but it looks a little slap dash to me. The 6-2 split at WC only really worked because we had 4 awesome locks and having them all in the squad was just best use of available resources, his just seems like a collection of last men standing.
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Springbok team to face the British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium:
15 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 63 caps, 60 pts (12t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse) – 15 caps, 40 pts (8t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 16 caps, 15 pts (3t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Munster) – 48 caps, 30 pts (6t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 15 caps, 70 pts (14t)
10 – Handré Pollard (vice-captain, Montpellier) – 50 caps, 477pts (6t, 78c, 93p, 4d)
9 – Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks) – 31 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 1 cap, 0 pts
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (DHL Stormers) – 57 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 52 caps, 30 pts (6t)
5 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 41 caps, 5pts (1t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) – 87 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 40 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Stormers) – 38 caps, 40 pts (8t)
1 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 49 caps, 5pts (1t)Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 35 caps, 30 pts (6t)
17 – Trevor Nyakane (Vodacom Bulls) – 44 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Saracens) – 21 caps, 0 pts
19 – Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks) – 46 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 0 pts
21 – Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo) – 8 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 – Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 12 caps, 25 pts (5t)
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 5pts (1t)Starting side as expected with only Wiese being a bit of a change direction from last week.
The bench is a bit weird though. Nyakane is covering loose head though I can't remember him playing there in the last couple years. Koch comes in as th cover despite being poor in the warm ups. Then there are two very similar loose-forwards on the bench in Kwagga and Van Staden. Then in backs we have Willemse covering 10,12 and 15 (ten being the weakest of those positions).
Overall I don't like the bench, I am not sure of the fitness of the other players, but it looks a little slap dash to me. The 6-2 split at WC only really worked because we had 4 awesome locks and having them all in the squad was just best use of available resources, his just seems like a collection of last men standing.
@sidbarret great shame Ox out, as I thought he was excellent on Saturday, and would have liked to see him starting with Malherbe.
I felt Kolisi was a bit undercooked on Saturday, but assume Kwagga wouldn’t be used as replacement for him?
Any news on Duane?
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@sidbarret great shame Ox out, as I thought he was excellent on Saturday, and would have liked to see him starting with Malherbe.
I felt Kolisi was a bit undercooked on Saturday, but assume Kwagga wouldn’t be used as replacement for him?
Any news on Duane?
@pakman Kolisi's form has been a concern since his injury all the way back in 2019 with another big injury 2020 not helping. I thought he was fine, if unspectacular, on Saturday though.
There were talk that Vermeulen might be available for the third test, but I think he is more likely to return against Argentina, which kinda sucks.
On the subject of number eights, I haven't seen anything of Wiese playing in England and he was a bit of shock selection for the squad. I would have liked to see the young WP number eight, Evan Roos being given a shot in the squad, expect him to feature later in the season.
Apparently Nche is injured, which as you note, is a pity, really liked what I saw from him over weekend.
