South Africa v Ireland (Sat/Sun)

[morepork]

Have the Boks got a counter to Ireland's 5:3 bench split?

Turn on all their traffic lights and flood the pitch with 50 water carriers/medics.

[Which Tyler]

Still want to see Fiji go 8:0 bench split.
With at least 5 of them looking perfectly at home in the backs of necessary

[Buggaluggs]

Sooooo. Game kicks off at 14:00 CS Time America. Gold, for me right? I have a wedding at 15:00. Apparently the game of the RWC so far is not a solid reason to not attend.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Ok, so assuming Dupont is out for the quarters after last night, and assuming Foster doesn't keep setting new precedents of shiteness with the ABs and we don't shit the bed against Italy. Do both Ireland and South Africa want to win this? Or is a Dupontless France a more enticing quarter making a loss the preferred result?

Good point actually. I think it puts rather less on this game than otherwise would be the case.

[paddy no 11]

I'd prefer nz to France (no offence lads)

[Son of Mathonwy]

Still want to see Fiji go 8:0 bench split.
With at least 5 of them looking perfectly at home in the backs of necessary

Back row, back line, same thing with these guys.

[16th man]

Ok, so assuming Dupont is out for the quarters after last night, and assuming Foster doesn't keep setting new precedents of shiteness with the ABs and we don't shit the bed against Italy. Do both Ireland and South Africa want to win this? Or is a Dupontless France a more enticing quarter making a loss the preferred result?

If I had the Irish or South African pack, then I'd still prefer playing a misfiring ABs over the French with home advantage.

It's not like they're falling back on someone average at 9 either. Okay it's not the best player in the world, but it's still going to be someone capable of delivering on the game plan.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Ok, so assuming Dupont is out for the quarters after last night, and assuming Foster doesn't keep setting new precedents of shiteness with the ABs and we don't shit the bed against Italy. Do both Ireland and South Africa want to win this? Or is a Dupontless France a more enticing quarter making a loss the preferred result?

If I had the Irish or South African pack, then I'd still prefer playing a misfiring ABs over the French with home advantage.

It's not like they're falling back on someone average at 9 either. Okay it's not the best player in the world, but it's still going to be someone capable of delivering on the game plan.

I think assuming the ABs continue to misfire is a fool's errand. It's not that long ago people were lauding one of the best 30 minutes of test rugby ever. I'm assuming we're going to get our opponents
well be at or near their best. On that basis, no Dupont is massive. Able to deliver on the game plan is some way sort of him. The back up is very good but had nowhere near his ceiling. With Dupont Ireland could play at our very best and still lose against France. Without him, I think if we deliver our best performance we win.

[UKHamlet]

Have the Boks got a counter to Ireland's 5:3 bench split?

I was hoping they'd field 8 backs, thereby initiating a new era of rugby union.

[Donny osmond]

This is clearly going to be brutal, epic, compulsive viewing.... but will it be attractive rugby or 'one for the purists' as crap meat-head based rugby is euphemistically known.

[morepork]

Both teams have backs that can do the damage. They'll use them at least twice.

[paddy no 11]

I'm optimistic of a good game

[morepork]

Wayhey...backline action straight off the bat!

[Mr Mwenda]

Cracking start. Ominous in the lineout for the men in green though.

[morepork]

Rush defence solution...?

[Mr Mwenda]

All the talk about the boks' bench split but Ireland's backline is basically full of people who could play flanker. Both teams are closest to the end point of non specialist positions really.

[morepork]

DeAllende just wrecking defenders.

[morepork]

Just excellent in your face pressure from Ireland.

[16th man]

PSDT starting to look cumbersome and slow compared to the Irish.

Must be a worry for the boks that they aren't on top before they are going to have to put the part time hooker in.

[Sandydragon]

That was a massive tackle on Estebet. Huge pressure relief

[Mr Mwenda]

What a game. Sumptuous rugby.

[morepork]

Sexton being a bit of a chunt there.

[16th man]

Does Jesse Kriel ever bend his waist to tackle?

[morepork]

Does Jesse Kriel ever bend his waist to tackle?

Only to bump muthas off.

[16th man]

Here we go. Makeshift hooker on