England vs South Africa - Sunday 3rd May

[Puja]

Or Saturday 23rd November 2002, if you prefer.

England: Robinson, Cohen, Greenwood, Tindall, Christophers, Wilkinson, Dawson, Leonard, Thompson, Vickery, Johnson, Kay, Moody, Back, Hill. Replacements: Regan, Morris, Grewcock, Dallaglio, Gomarsall, Healey, Stimpson.

South Africa: Greeff, Paulse, Fleck, James, Lombard, Pretorius, Conradie, Roux, Dalton, Carstens, Labuschagne, A. Venter, Krige, Wannenburg, van Niekerk. Replacements: van Biljon, C. van der Linde, Wentzel, Uys, Jordaan, Jacobs, Russell.

Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)


Anyone who is confused: http://rugbyrebels.co/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4512

https://discordapp.com/

Basically allows me to stream my laptop screen to you lot. You just need to download the program and I'll put a link and password to the stream on here (once I've got round to setting it up).

Here should be the link to the stream: https://discord.gg/uaxBxbP

If you all check it to make sure that it works okay - you should be able to log in now, it's just there'll be nothing happening till Sunday at 7.30pm.

[Puja]

Simpson-Daniel out with what turns out to be glandular fever. Terrible luck after such a promising opening two caps. Likely will keep him out through the 6N too and turns him from a guaranteed traveller to the RWC into a doubtful one.

Chance for Phil Christophers and his incredible step though. It might only go one way, but it's still a hell of a weapon.

South Africa are going to be angry - they've lost to Scotland and France already and this is their last chance to play us before the game in the RWC pool stages. They're gonna want to put down a marker.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

It might only go one way,
Puja

Backwards?

[Puja]

It might only go one way,
Puja

Backwards?

Hey, Christophers's step off his right is genuinely impressive. He can do it at speed and basically teleports 3ft to his left. I'd imagine he'll make a few international defenders look stupid when they see him for the first time.

Of course, he has no other moves in his locker whatsoever, so the second time they see him might be a bit more awkward...

Puja

[Digby]

I wonder if asked to name the 22 in advance how long I'd have been guessing before getting the name Morris on the bench twice during this series?

[Puja]

I wonder if asked to name the 22 in advance how long I'd have been guessing before getting the name Morris on the bench twice during this series?

I know right? Unused sub last week - they let Leonard do the 80 rather than trust Morris to come on.

Puja

[loudnconfident]

South Africa are going to be angry - they've lost to Scotland and France already and this is their last chance to play us before the game in the RWC pool stages. They're gonna want to put down a marker.

Puja

Doubt SA'll be that wound up. I predict a close game, SA showing their skills rather than brawn.

England to win a close one, ~5 points clear at the final whistle.

[Digby]

There cannot be many games where the SA test side have looked to rely on their skills. Always an oddity of SA rugby when their club rugby, perhaps just the conditions played in, makes such emphasis of skills

[Banquo]

Bet the young saffer team will be very nervous and uber wound up for this

[Mr Mwenda]

Their captain is a level headed bloke, he'll keep the boks in line. Fun fact, he and Dawson are great friends and the latter is trying get his mate to come to Saints. You heard it here first.

[Mellsblue]

Fun fact, he and Dawson are great friends and the latter is trying get his mate to come to Saints. You heard it here first.

Shouldn't this be in the transfer news, rumours etc fred?

[Puja]

Frankly, I just hope we score some tries. The Kiwis and Aussies are giving us shit about them outscoring us on tries and even the Scots managed to get over the line against this SA side. 2 or 3 tries would be just the thing to shut up the SH posters.

Puja

[jngf]

Remember Lewis Moody going well at 6 - Lewis Ludlum can offer a similar style at 6 now.

[Puja]

Ah, balls! Forgot about this.

Gentle reminder to any of our senile citizens that the game is on tonight at 7.30pm.

Puja

[Puja]

Right, highlights from 2016-19 about to go live, with kickoff of the main event coming at 7.30pm. Be here: https://discord.gg/uaxBxbP or be some sort of right-angled equilateral quadrangle.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

You forget how handsome Barnes was.

[loudnconfident]

Many thx (again). Just made it for KO - had to gulp the last one in the Eel Pie

[Puja]

No problem - glad for an excuse to watch some rugby with people!

What was with that spear-throwing? Almost apologetic. No wonder that never caught on as a tradition!

Puja

[Puja]

First high tackle. Followed by the second and a late tackle on Wilkinson. Then an elbow in the face of Robinson. Stay classy South Africa.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Phil Christophers’ career in microcosm.

[Puja]

Phil Christophers’ career in microcosm.

To be fair, I thought he regathered that before it hit the ground.


Aaaand, as I type that, he just lost it in contact again.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Some tasty shoe pie there. Made me giggle.

[Mellsblue]

Great tap tackle from Dawson there.

[Puja]

Jesus, the elbows landed on Hill there. I'd always had it in my head that SA fell apart as the game went on, but there's been half a dozen cheap and nasty shots already. They've just come out here to hurt people.

Puja

[Puja]

And Paddy O'Brian's piped up with "We're having niggle from both sides," after Fleck strikes Cohen in the face. Proper Donald Trump style.

People might complain about the TMO, but this kind of shit wouldn't happen nowadays.

Puja