SA vs England 3rd test: Build up, announcements and match thread.

by **Biltong** Wed 20 Jun 2012, 11:08 am

First topic message reminder :

England

A Goode; C Ashton, J Joseph, M Tuilagi, B Foden; T Flood, D Care; A Corbisiero, D Hartley (capt), D Cole, T Palmer, G Parling, T Johnson, J Haskell, T Waldrom.

Replacements : L Mears, J Marler, M Botha, P Dowson, L Dickson, O Farrell, B Barritt.

Lancaster said: “I am really pleased for Alex [Goode]. He has worked hard in training and has been pushing Mike Brown and Ben Foden close so we are looking forward to him bringing his footballing skills to this Test. Danny Care likewise has bided his time in a very competitive position, knuckled down and deserves his chance, as has James Haskell, who has played this season for the Highlanders at No 7.

“We felt that the pack got some momentum in the second half last week so we have gone for Alex [Corbisiero] and Tom [Palmer], but I am sure Joe Marler and Mo Botha can make an impact from the bench.

“The guys did the shirt proud in Potchefstroom on Tuesday and I have no doubt that the 22 involved on Saturday will rise to this final challenge as we look to end this almost 12-month season on a high.”

South Africa

Gio Aplon, JP Pietersen, Jean de Villiers, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger, Marcell Coetzee, Jaques Potgieter, Pierre Spies

Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Werner Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Ryan Kankowski, Ruan Pienaar, Elton Jantjies, Bjorn Basson

Looking at this team it loses a lot of physicality.

Comparing a first choice backrow of Schalk Burger, Juan smith and Willem Alberts to Jaque Potgieter, Marcell Coetzee and Pierre Spies it is clear that South Africa will have to play wider and take less contact in the ruck situation, if not England will easily be able to dominate the contest at the breakdown.

Looking at the midfield combination of Frans Steyn and Jean de Villiers compared to Wynand Olivier and Jean de Villiers it will be far inferior due to no creativity at all between the two midfielders, but also no kicking out of hand and defensively Olivier is weak.

Aplon at the back does add some creativity at 15, yet even though he is as gutsy as hell at 75 kg, he will be targeted by big runners.

All in all this will be a litmus test for this Bok team. One I sincerely hope they pass.

Problem is looking at the players out of this match be it injuries weddings etc. not having Coenie Oosthuizen, Andries Bekker, Willem Alberts, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Frans Steyn and Patrick Lambie makes this a decidedly easier test for England.

by Guest Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:18 pm

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:
Red_Dragon_Spirit wrote:hmmm.. I don't agree, can only compare like for like imo..

3-3

Youre right, its not fair to compare england against a shower of poo like ireland

Oh come on now, play nice

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:18 pm

Walsh had his hand in his pocket then

by Guest Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:18 pm

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:19 pm

Red_Dragon_Spirit wrote:
Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:
Red_Dragon_Spirit wrote:hmmm.. I don't agree, can only compare like for like imo..

3-3

Youre right, its not fair to compare england against a shower of poo like ireland

Oh come on now, play nice

Someone shouldve asked the all blacks to do that Wink

by EnglishReign Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:19 pm

Decent start, Farrell had better start playing.

by timhen Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:20 pm

Hood83 wrote:Farrell on...sigh...here we go.

To be fair, Flood didn't make the most assured of starts with ball in hand or with the boot.

by timhen Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:22 pm

We need players tracking Tuilagi if we want to make the most of his runs.

by Guest Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:22 pm

kick to touch, hmmmnn brave ?

by Hood83 Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:22 pm

timhen wrote:
Hood83 wrote:Farrell on...sigh...here we go.

To be fair, Flood didn't make the most assured of starts with ball in hand or with the boot.

Fair point

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:22 pm

Hmm think they shouldve took the 3 there, farrells strength is his kicking. The plus with him coming on was that floods kicking looked off

by Hood83 Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:23 pm

Ridiculous decision. Easy with hindsight I know but just plain stupid

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:23 pm

England are definatley the better side so far in this game...SA just havent got going at all...wheres all the agression?

by Guest Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:25 pm

silly from haskell

by Hood83 Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:25 pm

Farrell already reminding me why he isn't anywhere near this level yet. jeffwinger - thoughts?

by Hood83 Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:26 pm

Red_Dragon_Spirit wrote:silly from haskell

Silly but Farrell was penalised

by EnglishReign Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:26 pm

Great start from OF

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:26 pm

Looking at the reply farrells chip through was a bad decision too

by Knackeredknees Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:27 pm

Hood83 wrote:Farrell already reminding me why he isn't anywhere near this level yet. jeffwinger - thoughts?

Why that hood? Not like he's the only player today to take out the scrum half?

by timhen Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:27 pm

Hood83 wrote:
timhen wrote:
Hood83 wrote:Farrell on...sigh...here we go.

To be fair, Flood didn't make the most assured of starts with ball in hand or with the boot.

Fair point

Looks like you were right though.

by Guest Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:27 pm

Hood83 wrote:
Red_Dragon_Spirit wrote:silly from haskell

Silly but Farrell was penalised

Which made what haskell did even more silly, and pointless!

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:31 pm

OF the new danny cipriani ?

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:33 pm

How good is Cole at the breakdown?

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:34 pm

Oh my Sa have woken up , a lot more phyiscal now.
Englands go forward has pretty much dissapeard. Those 8 points let go early on are hurting already

by nathan Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:36 pm

who didnt role away then?

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:36 pm

hmm only a blood replacement , im torn on that ...maybe Goode should be at 10

by nathan Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:36 pm

lineout wasnt straight

by timhen Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:36 pm

What was that? Some really silly behaviour creeping in for England now, they need to get a grip and wise up.

by nathan Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:38 pm

anyone know what happened to Flood?

by Knackeredknees Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:39 pm

Good to see Walsh being Walsh

by PJHolybloke Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:40 pm

Not a bad half from England so far, but too many errors to be a good one.

Pity Ashton isn't playing though. Whistle

by timhen Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:44 pm

We've had three different players in the FH role this half and none of them have looked right.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:46 pm

England defence has been exceptional. How has it improved so much?

by nathan Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:46 pm

SA told to widen the gap by walsh, they then close it straight away...

by EnglishReign Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:50 pm

Why do they have half time interviews down there? Must be a bit annoying.

by thebluesmancometh Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:50 pm

Havnt seen all the first half but much better from England, sea level suits them!

I've seen the last 15 mins, some big hits by England, a few creaking tackles but looking good. SA look frustrated alreay.

I really hope you guys can pick your game up to where we all know it can be, go on and beat SA.

by Knowsit17 Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:51 pm

C'mon Boks, restore a shadow of a smile to Welsh and Irish faces Smile

by nathan Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:53 pm

Knowsit17 wrote:C'mon Boks, restore a shadow of a smile to Welsh and Irish faces

surely you'd want a fellow NH team to win. I know i was cheering on Ireland/Wales.

by Knackeredknees Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:53 pm

I hope so bluesman is do hope so.

Not just for England but for all the NH

by Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:53 pm

Lets be honest once SA woke up on 20 minutes its been one way traffic. England couldve had 8 more points early on, without them I cant see them doing better than keeping the game tight....but theyll have to get some attacking threat back in their game to even do that.
I dont want to blame it on OF coming on solely but they havent had anything to offer with the ball since then...partly down to SA being much more aggressive and having much more of the ball and territory

by lostinwales Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:55 pm

Knowsit17 wrote:C'mon Boks, restore a shadow of a smile to Welsh and Irish faces

I must go find that guy in Mumbles I saw wearing an Oz shirt one time when Eng were playing Oz in an AI and ask if I can borrow it.

by timhen Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:55 pm

Too many errors from both sides. English defence has generally held up well, but discipline was poor for a while there.

by mystiroakey Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:55 pm

Knowsit if that makes u happy I feel for you. Nh winning is good for all of us because the better one team is the better we can all become. And we need to bring some ranking points back

by nathan Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:56 pm

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Lets be honest once SA woke up on 20 minutes its been one way traffic. England couldve had 8 more points early on, without them I cant see them doing better than keeping the game tight....but theyll have to get some attacking threat back in their game to even do that.
I dont want to blame it on OF coming on solely but they havent had anything to offer with the ball since then...partly down to SA being much more aggressive and having much more of the ball and territory

one way traffic, but there still only winning 9-8. If we can play like previous 2nd halfs we might be ok

by thebluesmancometh Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:56 pm

Knees

I am totally with you, come 6N and HC I'll hate the English all day long, but when we all head down south I am firmly an England fan, as I would be any home nations team.

I think people forget that the UKCC is UK wide, we are all coaching under the same umbrella so as one british team goes well the other 2 will take heart from it.

by Knackeredknees Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:56 pm

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Lets be honest once SA woke up on 20 minutes its been one way traffic. England couldve had 8 more points early on, without them I cant see them doing better than keeping the game tight....but theyll have to get some attacking threat back in their game to even do that.
dont want to blame it on OF coming on solely but they havent had anything to offer with the ball since then...partly down to SA being much more aggressive and having much more of the ball and territory

But that little fact won't stop all those desperate to put the boot into him

by EnglishReign Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:57 pm

Both teams looking a bit complacent. Whoever wants it more in this next 40 will get it.

by thebluesmancometh Sat 23 Jun 2012, 4:59 pm

I'd like to see England come out and prove a point this second half, throw everything you have at SA for the first 10 mins!!!

by stormers1 Sat 23 Jun 2012, 5:01 pm

SA needs to wake up and start playing

by Knowsit17 Sat 23 Jun 2012, 5:02 pm

surely you'd want a fellow NH team to win. I know i was cheering on Ireland/Wales.

I must go find that guy in Mumbles I saw wearing an Oz shirt one time when Eng were playing Oz in an AI and ask if I can borrow it.

Knowsit if that makes u happy I feel for you. Nh winning is good for all of us because the better one team is the better we can all become. And we need to bring some ranking points back

Ah the bites that one comment can provoke. I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of wumming Whistle

by nathan Sat 23 Jun 2012, 5:02 pm

Knackeredknees wrote:
Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Lets be honest once SA woke up on 20 minutes its been one way traffic. England couldve had 8 more points early on, without them I cant see them doing better than keeping the game tight....but theyll have to get some attacking threat back in their game to even do that.
dont want to blame it on OF coming on solely but they havent had anything to offer with the ball since then...partly down to SA being much more aggressive and having much more of the ball and territory

But that little fact won't stop all those desperate to put the boot into him

to be fair, he deserve's criticism as all players do when playing to their best. Nothing to say he won't improve though.

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Who will win and by how much?