South Africa 49-3 Fiji

Here we go. Second game of the day. Teams:

South Africa: 15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Odwa Ndungane, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Francois Louw, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Juan de Jongh.

Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Gabirieli Lovobalavu, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Waisea Luveniyali, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 1 Campese Ma'afu,2 Sunia Koto, 3 Deacon Manu (capt), 4 Leone Nakarawa, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 7 Akapusi Qera, 8 Sakiusa Matadigo.
Replacements: 16 Talemaitoga Tuapati, 17 Waisea Nailago, 18 Netani Talei, 19 Sisa Koyamaibole, 20 Vitori Buatava, 21 Nicky Little, 22 Ravai Fatiaki.


Predictions? The Fijians probably don't have the quality of the Samoans, nor the tactical nous, but they can play, and they will look to play against what looked like a pretty pedestrian Bok side. Cannot even fathom a SA side putting in two substandard performances in a row; that they played so much worse than Wales, and still won, has to give them belief. Need to kick on now if they want to be serious contenders for winning the thing, because, let's remind ourselves, they are still world champions.

Fiji nearly tipped them last world cup as well so theyll have that as motivation though if SA play anywhere near theyre abilities they'll walk it.

I do have an uneasy feeling about SA in that I don't know where they sit at the moment. They just feel like a team waiting to get dealt to given the right conditions but I don't think that will be tonight.

I'll take a punt here

Take a bite of my toast, and a slurp of tea first........ now lets see!

Ok SA will be looking to crank it up, and they would have been putting the hours in on the training field. Botha back in the fold has gotta breed confidence, and Fourie/Steyn in the midfield could create havoc.

SA by 15pts

If I remember it right Fiji got a couple of tries quickly, which put them within touch, but then South Africa comfortably pulled ahead. Tonga nearly did them in the group but that was against a 'weakened' side (although when the cavalry came on it made little difference). I think if they had had a lucky bounce of the ball at the end Tonga would have won.

Good link to keep up to the minute with more stats than you could possibly want:

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/rugbytracker/match=10934/index.html

i can see Fiji going ahead as they throw everything at it, they will have seen Wales take SA on up front and feel that they are equal to the bok forwards... but SA will settle and win comfortably.

Anthems. FOR FIJI, EVER FIJI! They look up for it. Let's see how much the Boks fancy it after the Cibi!

Ymlaen Fiji!

Morning everyone. Set to go now!

Not sure I like this counting down to kick off from the crowd. Is this common in NZ? I know it's a rugby league thing, but that's counting down to the end. Any link?

Overhead catch two handed on the turn and to his side. Poetry!

SIT DOWN FDP!

Stadium clock?

Botha is a 2@.

The Fijian is saying "iz it coz I iz black?"

OOO, Steyn misses. Must be the ball...

Toby Flood argues that the balls are too new and no time to kick them in properly.

Come on Pw@!

Absolutely brilliant from the Fijian 11 there, to jump and catch and to be away all in one movement. Already the ball skills of the Fijians are making SA look poor, but a loose game will play in Brussouw's hands; Wales nullified him by choking them. Let's see how effective the opposite approach is.

Not straight!

That penalty was coming. In the three preceding rucks, the Fijians were there first, and each could have gone Fiji's way for the player not releasing. Great discipline from the Fijians to not go diving in once the first three weren't given. Well played.

Seem to be taking a leaf out of Wales' book in terms of keeping it tight. Feel they needed to move it wide several phases earlier though; they were making ground at first, then they wasted all momentum, and moved it wide once they were static and had been lined up by SA's defence. But of decision making there; needed someone to just make the call and go for it.

Francois Steyn going for goal from 70 metres!?! Never...

Have to score if they get up there, 3, 5, whatever.

Oh my...60 metre penalty...with 10 metres to spare! 3-0 to the Saffers. Shows that Fiji will need to take their chances as Glas said, because they will keep the board ticking over all day.

Offside by Fiji. Penalty inside the 22...and SA kick to the corner! Bit of a surprise.

Lineout works well, Steenkamp up to the line, pick and go. And knocked on just over the line! Right decision to go for goal? Doesn't look like it. Have to be clinical if they're going to make decisions like that, especially as Fiji can get 5 pointers from wherever they are on the pitch.

Fijian set piece has massively improved (it was absolutely dire 4 years ago)

That's more like it!

Incredibly impressed with the Fiji physicality. Quite rightly level. Don't think I've ever seen so many Saffers being handed off.

They're horrifically fierce clearing out the rucks. A Fijian side with a reasonable set piece and semi-organised

The other chip! WTF! It was a boot ahead! Manu showing Scarlet learnt skills.

Blatent knock on in the ruck there. They almost Flip it up anyway, but it's on the board.

Glas a du wrote:The other chip! WTF! It was a boot ahead! Manu showing Scarlet learnt skills.

Erm, like the missed tackle.

SA are looking good.

Fiji will have to throw everything into this to win it.

Please do.

Well if you are going to go high, do it on style say I.

Fijian discipline gone phut, high tackles started. They are going to get smashed.

Doesn't help that Poite is reffing them out of the match.

Really poor refereeing in my opinion. However, credit to SA. They deserve the score.

Yes SA doing what they are best at.
Theyve dulled some very good fiji attacks and have pressured on with good tries themselves.
More of the same second half.

Fiji I reckon will be opening up from the start of the 2nd half.

Could be a disastrous decsion.

Thought the Steyn/Fourie midfield would be decisive

Fourie looks good. Typical outside centre, just runs hard and scores tries. Same SA really; two tries from mistakes, two tries taken without hesitation.

Massive SA defence. Great lines of defence by the Boks

miaow

In all respect to your play last week, this a totally different Boks performance

SA really starting to look a decent team now.

Not struggling to contain Fiji. But still making silly mistakes far too often.

Fiji Namibia game did not prepare them for this one South Africa's game last week was far better preparation to play another physical side.

flyhalffactory wrote:miaow

In all respect to your play last week, this a totally different Boks performance

I'd agree with that, but is it the fact that SA were allowed to play themselves into this game, whereas against Wales, the performance and discipline from Wales meant that SA looked poor because of this? It's difficult to say. Were SA just poor, or were they poor best Wales were good. Regardless, this is still a very good team, and one, prior to the WC, I made favourties to win it, and I stand by that, even if certain logic dictates they shouldn't win it.

Referee has been very harsh on Fiji and incredibly lenient on SA since the first SA try.

You cant compare the two performances because Fiji's scrum is weak.

ooooh Fiji, how I so wished you'd been awarded that try!

very good SA performance,m they're really bossing the breakdown here, something Wales didn't allow them to do, and you can see waht a difference it's making to their game.

miaow wrote:

flyhalffactory wrote:miaow

In all respect to your play last week, this a totally different Boks performance

I'd agree with that, but is it the fact that SA were allowed to play themselves into this game, whereas against Wales, the performance and discipline from Wales meant that SA looked poor because of this? It's difficult to say. Were SA just poor, or were they poor best Wales were good. Regardless, this is still a very good team, and one, prior to the WC, I made favourties to win it, and I stand by that, even if certain logic dictates they shouldn't win it.

With all due respect SA are playing completely different opposition. Wales Gav SA a hell of a game. Fiji have struggled.