QF1: South Africa v Wales, 17 October

mikey_dragon wrote:I'm not so sure. SA's back row are big and good enough to smash Tips off the breakdown. If anything, I'd start Lydiate, Tips and Warburton.

Biltong wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

fa0019 wrote:Too much to ask for Wales IMO.

How come? SA lost to Japan in the first round from coming in off the back of what was possibly their worst showing in the rugby championship. Are they that good? I don't think so.

Given the coach puts the right team on the pitch with the right captain they are a hell of a lot better than what yoou think.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:I'm not so sure. SA's back row are big and good enough to smash Tips off the breakdown. If anything, I'd start Lydiate, Tips and Warburton.

Our scrum has struggled all tournament so if you intended dropping Faletau as well then we would be well and truly fecked as the work he has done behind our beaten pack has been outstanding.

fa0019 wrote:

Steffan wrote:I think it will be a partisan crowd against Wales as well

You will have all the Saffers there plus the English supporters who got corporate tickets in advance or some who bought them thinking England would be there cheering against Wales

We can handle that though

Because the springboks are the darlings of world rugby and everyone loves them right????

I know people like to engineer siege mentalities but trying to think a bok team will get anything but support beyond a bokke is having a laugh.

After England the boks are easily the most hated team in world rugby... albeit quite a few notches down from England.

Biltong wrote:Sorry guys, but I thought this bit was quite funny.

"“Out of the southern hemisphere teams, we’ve got the best record against them recently. There’s no denying they’ll bring a varied game and it will be a huge task. We’ll go into the game as underdogs,” said Biggar.


Yep, that one win does prove his point.

Griff wrote:

Biltong wrote:Sorry guys, but I thought this bit was quite funny.

"“Out of the southern hemisphere teams, we’ve got the best record against them recently. There’s no denying they’ll bring a varied game and it will be a huge task. We’ll go into the game as underdogs,” said Biggar.


Yep, that one win does prove his point.

But it does prove his point. SA is the ONLY tri nations team we've beaten recently! Not sure what's wrong with his comment. Maybe I'm reading it wrong

Biltong wrote:

Griff wrote:

Biltong wrote:Sorry guys, but I thought this bit was quite funny.

"“Out of the southern hemisphere teams, we’ve got the best record against them recently. There’s no denying they’ll bring a varied game and it will be a huge task. We’ll go into the game as underdogs,” said Biggar.


Yep, that one win does prove his point.

But it does prove his point. SA is the ONLY tri nations team we've beaten recently! Not sure what's wrong with his comment. Maybe I'm reading it wrong

Nothing wrong with it at all, it is factually correct, the reason why I thought it was funny is because of the one win.

Biltong wrote:Sorry guys, but I thought this bit was quite funny.

"“Out of the southern hemisphere teams, we’ve got the best record against them recently. There’s no denying they’ll bring a varied game and it will be a huge task. We’ll go into the game as underdogs,” said Biggar.


Yep, that one win does prove his point.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

Biltong wrote:Sorry guys, but I thought this bit was quite funny.

"“Out of the southern hemisphere teams, we’ve got the best record against them recently. There’s no denying they’ll bring a varied game and it will be a huge task. We’ll go into the game as underdogs,” said Biggar.


Yep, that one win does prove his point.

Ha! Would somebody please drag Biggar away from the mic and let him do his chopsing on the pitch.

Cardiff Dave wrote:Jaw at 15 anyone?

Biltong wrote:Mikeydragon, wind yourself in, it was just a bit of humor, not everyhting has to be a wum or taken seriously .

Steffan wrote:I knew Mikey wasn't really offended. He is of course a Dragons supporter where a sense of humour is a must

Biltong wrote:

Griff wrote:

Biltong wrote:Sorry guys, but I thought this bit was quite funny.

"“Out of the southern hemisphere teams, we’ve got the best record against them recently. There’s no denying they’ll bring a varied game and it will be a huge task. We’ll go into the game as underdogs,” said Biggar.


Yep, that one win does prove his point.

But it does prove his point. SA is the ONLY tri nations team we've beaten recently! Not sure what's wrong with his comment. Maybe I'm reading it wrong

Nothing wrong with it at all, it is factually correct, the reason why I thought it was funny is because of the one win.

Steffan wrote:I knew Mikey wasn't really offended. He is of course a Dragons supporter where a sense of humour is a must

mikey_dragon wrote:

Steffan wrote:I knew Mikey wasn't really offended. He is of course a Dragons supporter where a sense of humour is a must

There we go. It's nice to be able to go and support a top flight team. When opposition fans come to Rodney Parade we prefer to humour them, rather than spit at them which is what I'm told take place at Sardis Road .

Liam wrote:I'd go:

James
Baldwin
Lee
Charteris
AWJ
Lydiate
Warbs
Faletau
Davies
Bigger
North
Roberts
T.morgan
M.morgan
Anscombe

Owens, Jenkins, francis, Davies, tips, Williams, preistland, hook

Big calls with the two Morgan's, but I thought Tyler Morgan offered more of a natural 13 threat going forward vs Fiji and I would prefer him there than hook. Cuthbert just cannot play for me, so I'd throw Mathew Morgan on the wing for that bit of X factor and also for his kicking ability which I think will be important vs South Africa. Of course both Morgan's offer less defensive protection but I feel we'll need more creativity in the backs as just matching South Africa up front won't win us the game alone.

Fanster wrote:I'm not sure a fully fit Wales 22 would fear SA too much, their resuts over the last 12 months are incredible by their standards, their small unit play has been poor in this RWC, and they have very little threat outside of 12.

However with a potential backline Wales may put out it's asking way too much of the pack, who have been superb thus far, to do enough of a job for Wales to win.

What will be interesting is how SA will play, if they stick with the way theyve reverted to type I think it'll play into Wales hands, who have never really struggled with the physical approach, the game will be won in the wider channels, and so Habana, De Allande and Le Roux have to show some form.

Gwlad wrote:SA just lost to Japan. Amazing how quickly lessons are forgotten.

Not a WUM, just a bit of humor.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I take it Henson has recovered now?

LondonTiger wrote:Eli Walker called up.

I thought that a player who had been replaced could not be re-added to the dquad.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Eli Walker called up.

I thought that a player who had been replaced could not be re-added to the dquad.

LT,

I think it was because he was released before the tournament kicked off

Wales Online wrote:With limited time to get back up to speed with the rest of the group and confirm his fitness, Walker almost certainly won’t play any part in the quarter-final against the Springboks. But he could come into the equation if Wales progress to the semi-finals, with George North and Alex Cuthbert the only other wingers on board and North a candidate for the No 13 position, which is where he lined up in last weekend’s group decider against Australia.

Biltong wrote:

Fanster wrote:I'm not sure a fully fit Wales 22 would fear SA too much, their resuts over the last 12 months are incredible by their standards, their small unit play has been poor in this RWC, and they have very little threat outside of 12.

However with a potential backline Wales may put out it's asking way too much of the pack, who have been superb thus far, to do enough of a job for Wales to win.

What will be interesting is how SA will play, if they stick with the way theyve reverted to type I think it'll play into Wales hands, who have never really struggled with the physical approach, the game will be won in the wider channels, and so Habana, De Allande and Le Roux have to show some form.

Fanster, "revert to type" has become a bit of a cliche to be honest, I am not even sure what people mean by that anymore to be truthfull.

However to answer your question, the pack will be physical, they will stampede the Welsh like a herd of Rhinos, Fourie du Preez will be the general in controlling the territory and decide when to go deep, Pollard isn't much of a game controller, I see him more as an extra 12 who can kick to posts. The difference in this South African backline (this is where reverting to type confuses me) with Pollard, De Allende and Kriel all prone to go for the gap rather than the crash ball, the South African backline attack has evolved, no longer are they as predictable as in the past.

Add Willie le Roux to the backline and he creates more space, delays passes and offloads, and puts support runners into space. Bot JP Pietersen and Habana looks hungry again, the 9 tries scored by them, their workrate and fitness has all improved.

You need to look at the big game changers for SA, and there are quite a number of them, all reaching form again.

Vermeulen is getting back to his best, Burger as link man looks to offload more and more, Pollard knows how to break a line, De Allende and Kriel may only be playing their 6th or 7th match together but their understanding of each other in defence and attack is improving.

Lood de Jager has been immense in this world cup.

If South Africa brings their A game, I do not see how Wales will match them, insofar as Wales Matching South Africa physically, refer to the November test in 2013 when South Africa just demolished them in the physical battle.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Eli Walker called up.

I thought that a player who had been replaced could not be re-added to the dquad.

LT,

I think it was because he was released before the tournament kicked off but either way least it means all the Henson rumours were just that thank god.  I would stick Walker straight in on Saturday instead of Cuthbert

BamBam wrote:

Biltong wrote:

Fanster wrote:I'm not sure a fully fit Wales 22 would fear SA too much, their resuts over the last 12 months are incredible by their standards, their small unit play has been poor in this RWC, and they have very little threat outside of 12.

However with a potential backline Wales may put out it's asking way too much of the pack, who have been superb thus far, to do enough of a job for Wales to win.

What will be interesting is how SA will play, if they stick with the way theyve reverted to type I think it'll play into Wales hands, who have never really struggled with the physical approach, the game will be won in the wider channels, and so Habana, De Allande and Le Roux have to show some form.

Fanster, "revert to type" has become a bit of a cliche to be honest, I am not even sure what people mean by that anymore to be truthfull.

However to answer your question, the pack will be physical, they will stampede the Welsh like a herd of Rhinos, Fourie du Preez will be the general in controlling the territory and decide when to go deep, Pollard isn't much of a game controller, I see him more as an extra 12 who can kick to posts. The difference in this South African backline (this is where reverting to type confuses me) with Pollard, De Allende and Kriel all prone to go for the gap rather than the crash ball, the South African backline attack has evolved, no longer are they as predictable as in the past.

Add Willie le Roux to the backline and he creates more space, delays passes and offloads, and puts support runners into space. Bot JP Pietersen and Habana looks hungry again, the 9 tries scored by them, their workrate and fitness has all improved.

You need to look at the big game changers for SA, and there are quite a number of them, all reaching form again.

Vermeulen is getting back to his best, Burger as link man looks to offload more and more, Pollard knows how to break a line, De Allende and Kriel may only be playing their 6th or 7th match together but their understanding of each other in defence and attack is improving.

Lood de Jager has been immense in this world cup.

If South Africa brings their A game, I do not see how Wales will match them, insofar as Wales Matching South Africa physically, refer to the November test in 2013 when South Africa just demolished them in the physical battle.

Steffan wrote:I knew Mikey wasn't really offended. He is of course a Dragons supporter where a sense of humour is a must

chris_501 wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Eli Walker called up.

I thought that a player who had been replaced could not be re-added to the dquad.

LT,

I think it was because he was released before the tournament kicked off but either way least it means all the Henson rumours were just that thank god.  I would stick Walker straight in on Saturday instead of Cuthbert

I agree, I would go a back 3 of North, Walker and Anscombe.

BamBam wrote:With heart and soul Bilt

fa0019 wrote:Habana vs. Cuthbert.

uh oh!

fa0019 wrote:Habana vs. Cuthbert.

uh oh!