RWC: South Africa v Italy (Pool B)

[Billy Webb]

@pakman said in RWC: South Africa v Italy (Pool B):

Play small fellas and keep ball in play. Bok gym bunnies will expire after 50 minutes?

Thought the gym bunnies actually looked pretty good fitness-wise
Probably one of the fitter Bok sides we've had for a while.

The Italians looked knackered.
Easy 50 points waiting for the All Blacks B-team.

[Billy Webb]

@MiketheSnow said in RWC: South Africa v Italy (Pool B):

DVM could have died

It takes a lot more than that to damage Thormeulen.

And besides - he's not Irish

[mofitzy_]

@Billy-Webb
Speaking of, Parisse just overtook BOD on caps, to become the NH most-capped player at 142. McCaw is on 148 so Parisse could end up the most capped player of all time if he stays fit.

[Billy Webb]

@mofitzy_ said in RWC: South Africa v Italy (Pool B):

@Billy-Webb
Speaking of, Parisse just overtook BOD on caps, to become the NH most-capped player at 142. McCaw is on 148 so Parisse could end up the most capped player of all time if he stays fit.

And stops getting out-jumped for the high ball by a 5-foot-nothing winger

But congrats to him. Awesome longevity in a collision sport.

[Billy Tell]

Another joke decision: that was 2 RCs all day long.

I hope they get the book thrown at them.

[mofitzy_]

@Billy-Tell
Will they have any props left?

[Billy Tell]

@mofitzy_ said in RWC: South Africa v Italy (Pool B):

@Billy-Tell
Will they have any props left?

Good point. Not sure if allowed to replace banned props?? Could be golden oldies for us?

[Smuts]

@Billy-Webb Just watched the first half, having missed it earlier. Put the second into some kind of perspective. The first half was brutal. Exactly what I want from the Bok munters. Lood and Bongi put their hands up for starting positions in a big way.

Not a lot of teams will be able to live with that kind of approach from the bok forwards. I am apprehensive for the Canadian forwards.

Willie was also much improved in the first half, pity about the second...

[Bovidae]

@mofitzy_ said in RWC: South Africa v Italy (Pool B):

Speaking of, Parisse just overtook BOD on caps, to become the NH most-capped player at 142. McCaw is on 148 so Parisse could end up the most capped player of all time if he stays fit.

Parisse also has the undesirable record of the most test loses. But you have to congratulate him for his longevity.

[booboo]

@Bones said in RWC: South Africa v Italy (Pool B):

@Stargazer said in RWC: South Africa v Italy (Pool B):

@Billy-Webb So you need one LH and one TH to have contested scrums? Two LH's isn't enough (one playing out of position)?

Correct. Hence why teams have to have a dedicated replacement for both sides for a few years now...

I did wonder how we got away with it using 3 x THs the other night.

Despite Ofa and Moli (and Ta'avao I think) all able to play both sides I thought you had to nominate who was LH and who was TH.

So we used our nominated LH replacement to replace our nominated TH replacement. Wasn't sure that was allowable.

I recall the Chiefs dodging a failing scrum against the Canes, and Rennie getting snappy after being questioned, by declaring they only had their nominated LH left on the bench who couldn't play TH (even though he could).

[Snowy]

@booboo "Prior to the match, each team must advise the appropriate match official of their front-row players and possible front-row replacements and which position(s) in the front row they can play. Only these players may play in the front row when the scrum is contested and only in their designated position(s)."

The "s" in the "position(s)" is probably relevant.

As well as this:
"It is a team’s responsibility to ensure that all front-row players and front-row replacements are suitably trained and experienced."

So my understanding is that if a guy has shown that he can play either side (or even hooker) you can do it.

[Rapido]

Only watched the first half. I was impressed with SAF in that time, and 49-3 seems a thrashing.

But, have just watched the 1014 weekend preview show, where I learned Italy have lost all (20 games) 6 Nations games this cycle, and with an average score of 15-40. Wow.

[antipodean]

Can't help but feel what's holding Italy back is that the majority of their players play for Italian clubs.

Apparently the forwards on the bench, according to one of the commentators, all came from the one club.

[Bovidae]

@antipodean said in RWC: South Africa v Italy (Pool B):

Can't help but feel what's holding Italy back is that the majority of their players play for Italian clubs.

Apparently the forwards on the bench, according to one of the commentators, all came from the one club.

All the best domestic Italian players are from either Bennetton or Zebre as they play in the Pro14 so are playing at a higher standard than the Italian Top12. Looking at their RWC squad there are only 5 players who play outside of Italy (1 in France, 4 in England).