South Africa Wales - match thread

[Gatts]

First topic message reminder :

Well my comments today about the mighty 'W' and the performances of the minnow sides have obviously caused some controversy. I wouldn't be Gats if I didn't prod the opposition occasionally, usually just before a big game.

I for one loved watching Japan's bushido approach to tackling and Romania's scrummaging, it only served to highlight the soulless nature of the professional era when contrasted against the big teams seemingly inept but effective closing out. Namibia outplaying fiji for long periods and as for Argentina they played like warrior poets and i know all about them.
It reminded me of the good old days when giants could be slain and perhaps all these teases will finally come to fruition tonight when a new Welsh breed takes on the might of Bok experience . I am a romantic at heart, Tommo's kiss was old school class, the way we used to get under the oppo skin before tmo and yellow cards. But that era is gone, Wales played on passion alone for years and that, in my view and in hindsight, was our biggest problem. Gatland, a Kiwi and therefore fundamentally unable to get the significance of rugby in Wales, comes form a place where, clearly , rugby is life. That is a beautiful thing that we are all lucky enough to share in. I pity those that never pulled on the shirt, smelt the ralgex, bled and bought your opposite number a jug.
Gatland stumbled over the transition of Wales from a team that had to play offload catch up in the last third, to a team that is within a few hours going to play a game which may define how we progress for years to come. i know they can win but history tells us they can't.

Its now or never. No more talk. Bring on the boks and may the best team win.

[Guest]

woo points!

7-3. lovely.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Penalty Hook. SA 7 Wa 3. Anyone know where PenfroPete's seats are for this one?

[Shifty]

ah to be fair, he jumped intot he tackle, why does he keep doing that??

It;s actually an offence to do that, and you can injure yourself, I think shane does it to avoid on coming tacklers.

[scoi]

First up tackles are dire from Wales so far i've noted Adam Jones, Charteris, AWJ and Warburton fall off. Not gonna be a nice morning unless they sort that out pretty quickly

[screamingaddabs]

Can Shane Williams please stop jumping into the tackle? Great player but he's starting doing this recently and it's dangerous, for him as much as the tackler

[Guest]

Willy - certainlty looks like Paul James has tights on!

[rugbywhales]

STOP KICKING IT AWAY

[valjester]

woo we win a lineout!

Val - Bradley was off form all last season and didn't do enough in the warm ups. Charteris out performed him in those games, deservedly starting today.

Disagree with you on him being off form last season, maybe for the blues, but he was one of your best players during the six nations.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

ouch, poor play FDP should have just stepped out

[Mad for Chelsea]

SA looking a bit nervous out there, poor from Du Preez and Wales have the territory

[Guest]

good start to the game for Priestland, intelligent kick through and great chase.

Adam Jones, please stop dropping the ball!

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Short period of play but Wales do look like this could be the day that they could beat anybody all of a sudden. Blimey.

[Shifty]

STOP KICKING IT AWAY

It's working though, easier to push them back and pressurise them, the South Africa defence is awesome.

[Guest]

woo we win a lineout!

Val - Bradley was off form all last season and didn't do enough in the warm ups. Charteris out performed him in those games, deservedly starting today.

Disagree with you on him being off form last season, maybe for the blues, but he was one of your best players during the six nations.

completely disagree with that.

[Taylorman]

Pretty even so far i reckon. SA try the diff but wales are pushing forward when they have the ball.

[Cari]

Come on Wales!!!

High tackle from Pietersen. There's a surprise.

[Guest]

better from Wales, much better. Charteris doing a great job in support and clearing at the rucks.

[Mad for Chelsea]

I'd have liked Barnes to keep playing advantage a bit longer there, but Wales with the chance to get back within a point.

[GunsGerms]

Come on Wales. Playing quite well, they might sneak this.

[Gatts]

Wales have turned up, they just need to be bent over and reminded they are in a match in the first few minutes...there must be something wrong with our pre match prep

[Guest]

I thought he got that??

[Cari]

oooooooh was that over? No...it went wide. Went all over the place.

[screamingaddabs]

that went over didn't it?

[Guest]

just seen the replay! that kick went over.

[Cari]

Well James himself looked bemused as to why the flags didn't go up. It looked like it curled inwards to me, but they said wide...

[Mad for Chelsea]

nah just wide looking at the replay. Wales have settled nicely here, but can't afford to let too many points slip

[FerN]

No it didn't. How do i reply on the mobile version

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

STOP KICKING IT AWAY

It's working though, easier to push them back and pressurise them, the South Africa defence is awesome.

The last two kicks have both put the SA defenxe under a lot of pressure in their own 22 from nothing midfield positions. They are using kicking well.

[GunsGerms]

What a bomb from Steyn

[HammerofThunor]

Nice kick by Steyn. You watching in 3D? How can you tell without depth? Best placed people by far are the assistant refs

EDIT: regarding kick going over

[Cari]

Oh great take by James....they keep kicking possession away though. They need to be careful.

[Cari]

Now let's see if the kicking curse hits Steyn...

[screamingaddabs]

yeah, on the replay it looked like it was past before it came in

[Gatts]

No we need to play rugby in their third not ours

[Mad for Chelsea]

and a silly penalty given away by Lydiate, Steyn with the chance to get a bit of breathing space

[Guest]

Hammer - was waiting for that from you.

10-3 to SA.

Great take by Hooky!

[Shifty]

Wales are going to conceede an intercept if their not careful.

[Gatts]

L A T E R A L

[Cari]

Jeebz!!! I barely recognise Faletau with no hair!

Steyn not cursed then...

[GunsGerms]

SA are offside a lot. Come on refs

[Guest]

why is Shane always standing at first receiver?!

[Cari]

Come on Wales....keep going...

[FerN]

Fourie sometimes look amateurish, but atleast he looks better than the previous two games.

[lostinwales]

Is it me or are the commentators down to the usual standard

'3 times Phillips has passes out to SW and thats what we like to see' - seeing as SW has done nothing in that situation so far...

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

SA have now scored 9000 points in test rugby. 400 tests to do it according to an SA rugby site on twitter

[Cari]

I've learnt to selectively ignore the commentators.

[Guest]

S4C commentary is pretty good.

[Cari]

Why is Butch James coming on?

[Gatts]

Welcome back Wales of old....side to side....no idea kick from 10

[Guest]

eeep Georgie, you should be catching balls like that!

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