SF v SA

[Banquo]

No Underhill in 23 yet a past it Billy - go figure?

once again, when did Underhill last play? Genuine q

When did Billy last have any carrying impact? ….other than carrying an outsize BMI Sugar Baby has really Frank Spencered up the No.8 selection for this competition and seems a bit too “nice” to drop anyone. I was no fan of the Grumpy Turnip’s counterproductive mind games but he was prepared to be ruthless on selection if needed.

any chance you could actually answer a question?
Bot

[p/d]

Like him or love him, Rassie is a crafty sod, a strong motivator for his team and an effective coach. Don't be surprised if he has something novel up his sleeve for this game, such as running the ball much more than expected, and from deep positions. SA would be daft not to optimize the attacking threat of their outstanding wings. Also - deAllende and Kriel are proving to be a bit of a handful in the centre. DDA is an established force but Kriel seems to have reinvented himself, adding power, determination and dog to his gas, both in attack and defence.

Always rated Kriel- that's a great combo imo. Not a second playmaker amongst them

(I posted this in 2016 (mikey will love it) 'and if Kriel and De Allende can sort their defence they could be a great pair of centres')

Re. backs : I don't think there is an English back from 9-15 who is better than his SA counterpart. Even Libbok, who can be flaky (but is becoming less so), shades it over the laboured Faz for his attacking attitude, gas, flair and natural skills.

This isn't helping my already wavering confidence

[p/d]

once again, when did Underhill last play? Genuine q

When did Billy last have any carrying impact? ….other than carrying an outsize BMI Sugar Baby has really Frank Spencered up the No.8 selection for this competition and seems a bit too “nice” to drop anyone. I was no fan of the Grumpy Turnip’s counterproductive mind games but he was prepared to be ruthless on selection if needed.

any chance you could actually answer a question?
Bot

March 2023

Lack of rugby Underhill against BV on bench.................still a bloody tough call.

What has Ludlum done wrong this WC. I would have him down as having the 'dog' we need v SA. But hey -ho, as proven many times, wtf do I know.

[Fungineer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67154379

England: Steward; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Farrell (capt), Mitchell; Marler, George, Cole, Itoje, Martin, Lawes, Curry, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Genge, Sinckler, Chessum, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Lawrence.


Changes
Steward into the first XV, Smith drops out entirely
Marler starts in place of Genge
Martin comes in for Chessum

No Underhill in 23 yet a past it Billy - go figure?

once again, when did Underhill last play? Genuine q

He played 73 mins against Northampton on 30/9 and 40 mins against Exeter on 7/10 - both in the Premiership Rugby Cup. Scored one try but can't find stats on things like tackles, turnovers etc.

[jngf]

Billy will come in with an impact wielding bid daddy splat which will send the bok pack realing all the way back into the med! … one can but hope

[jngf]

Billy will come on at 55 mins with an impact wielding Big Daddy splat which will send the bok pack realing all the way back into the Med! … one can but hope

[jngf]

The coolade drinking persists in the rugby press with London Evening Standard now trying ( with an element of extremely wishful thinking ) to depict Ben Earl as some sort of world class wrecking ball laviathon - don’t get me wrong I love what Earl brings to this side, especially his explosive pace, but don’t try to kid on he’s Tom Willis rather than an openside manfully trying to cover 8 due to selection blunders…

[Banquo]

When did Billy last have any carrying impact? ….other than carrying an outsize BMI Sugar Baby has really Frank Spencered up the No.8 selection for this competition and seems a bit too “nice” to drop anyone. I was no fan of the Grumpy Turnip’s counterproductive mind games but he was prepared to be ruthless on selection if needed.

any chance you could actually answer a question?
Bot

March 2023

Lack of rugby Underhill against BV on bench.................still a bloody tough call.

What has Ludlum done wrong this WC. I would have him down as having the 'dog' we need v SA. But hey -ho, as proven many times, wtf do I know.

LudlAm and yes, stole my follow up line;)

[Banquo]

No Underhill in 23 yet a past it Billy - go figure?

once again, when did Underhill last play? Genuine q

He played 73 mins against Northampton on 30/9 and 40 mins against Exeter on 7/10 - both in the Premiership Rugby Cup. Scored one try but can't find stats on things like tackles, turnovers etc.

that deffo has him ready for a world cup semi....

[p/d]

any chance you could actually answer a question?
Bot

March 2023

Lack of rugby Underhill against BV on bench.................still a bloody tough call.

What has Ludlum done wrong this WC. I would have him down as having the 'dog' we need v SA. But hey -ho, as proven many times, wtf do I know.

LudlAm and yes, stole my follow up line;)

Bollox!! Can’t believe I left the ‘A’ on the table. and to rub salt into the wound I really don’t know what the optional emojis depict

[Beasties]

Yep, they played a tactical blinder 2nd half v France. I thought their subbing was mad, but proved to be a turning point, as well as changing their game.

Like him or love him, Rassie is a crafty sod, a strong motivator for his team and an effective coach. Don't be surprised if he has something novel up his sleeve for this game, such as running the ball much more than expected, and from deep positions. SA would be daft not to optimize the attacking threat of their outstanding wings. Also - deAllende and Kriel are proving to be a bit of a handful in the centre. DDA is an established force but Kriel seems to have reinvented himself, adding power, determination and dog to his gas, both in attack and defence.

Always rated Kriel- that's a great combo imo. Not a second playmaker amongst them

(I posted this in 2016 (mikey will love it) 'and if Kriel and De Allende can sort their defence they could be a great pair of centres')

Where did the Kriel is shite thing come from? Always rated him myself.

[Beasties]

Yep. You will be playing their coach as well as squad. I'm not sure Suspended Belief has a cunning plan over and above paint by numbers. Prepared to be wrong but.

Yep, they played a tactical blinder 2nd half v France. I thought their subbing was mad, but proved to be a turning point, as well as changing their game.

Like him or love him, Rassie is a crafty sod, a strong motivator for his team and an effective coach. Don't be surprised if he has something novel up his sleeve for this game, such as running the ball much more than expected, and from deep positions. SA would be daft not to optimize the attacking threat of their outstanding wings. Also - deAllende and Kriel are proving to be a bit of a handful in the centre. DDA is an established force but Kriel seems to have reinvented himself, adding power, determination and dog to his gas, both in attack and defence.

Was it a tactical masterstroke or was it just that the French got ground down and started to struggle to come up with ideas against fresh blood that kept their foot on the neck?

[Beasties]

Like him or love him, Rassie is a crafty sod, a strong motivator for his team and an effective coach. Don't be surprised if he has something novel up his sleeve for this game, such as running the ball much more than expected, and from deep positions. SA would be daft not to optimize the attacking threat of their outstanding wings. Also - deAllende and Kriel are proving to be a bit of a handful in the centre. DDA is an established force but Kriel seems to have reinvented himself, adding power, determination and dog to his gas, both in attack and defence.

Always rated Kriel- that's a great combo imo. Not a second playmaker amongst them

(I posted this in 2016 (mikey will love it) 'and if Kriel and De Allende can sort their defence they could be a great pair of centres')

Re. backs : I don't think there is an English back from 9-15 who is better than his SA counterpart. Even Libbok, who can be flaky (but is becoming less so), shades it over the laboured Faz for his attacking attitude, gas, flair and natural skills.

You didn’t have to go past attacking attitude. You only have to hammer the nail in so far before you’re just banging wood.

[p/d]

The 25-year-old back row says England's coaching staff have come up with a gameplan to defy the odds and take the side into a second successive World Cup final.

"I am not going to tell you what it is but it is a really exciting plan for us, one that plays to our strengths in terms of the team we have selected," Earl told BBC Radio 5 Live.

[FKAS]

Yep, they played a tactical blinder 2nd half v France. I thought their subbing was mad, but proved to be a turning point, as well as changing their game.

Like him or love him, Rassie is a crafty sod, a strong motivator for his team and an effective coach. Don't be surprised if he has something novel up his sleeve for this game, such as running the ball much more than expected, and from deep positions. SA would be daft not to optimize the attacking threat of their outstanding wings. Also - deAllende and Kriel are proving to be a bit of a handful in the centre. DDA is an established force but Kriel seems to have reinvented himself, adding power, determination and dog to his gas, both in attack and defence.

Always rated Kriel- that's a great combo imo. Not a second playmaker amongst them

(I posted this in 2016 (mikey will love it) 'and if Kriel and De Allende can sort their defence they could be a great pair of centres')

Yeah I never understood why Kriel used to get a bad rap from some of the SA press and fans. He's been good this tournament.

Willemse providing the secondary playmaker from fullback certainly gives them plenty of options.

Agree on the change of tactics just after half time by Rassie and Co. Inspired stuff, if it hadn't have come off there would have been a load of questions heading his way, particularly subbing his captain and team talisman for the replacement hooker (obviously Fourie is more than handy at openside but even so).

[Puja]

The 25-year-old back row says England's coaching staff have come up with a gameplan to defy the odds and take the side into a second successive World Cup final.

"I am not going to tell you what it is but it is a really exciting plan for us, one that plays to our strengths in terms of the team we have selected," Earl told BBC Radio 5 Live.

[jngf]

Always rated Kriel- that's a great combo imo. Not a second playmaker amongst them

(I posted this in 2016 (mikey will love it) 'and if Kriel and De Allende can sort their defence they could be a great pair of centres')

Re. backs : I don't think there is an English back from 9-15 who is better than his SA counterpart. Even Libbok, who can be flaky (but is becoming less so), shades it over the laboured Faz for his attacking attitude, gas, flair and natural skills.

You didn’t have to go past attacking attitude. You only have to hammer the nail in so far before you’re just banging wood.

Best leave that to Burt

[morepork]

That's the spirit lads. Self-depreciating cynicism will catch the watchful Bok off guard.

[Spiffy]

Like him or love him, Rassie is a crafty sod, a strong motivator for his team and an effective coach. Don't be surprised if he has something novel up his sleeve for this game, such as running the ball much more than expected, and from deep positions. SA would be daft not to optimize the attacking threat of their outstanding wings. Also - deAllende and Kriel are proving to be a bit of a handful in the centre. DDA is an established force but Kriel seems to have reinvented himself, adding power, determination and dog to his gas, both in attack and defence.

Always rated Kriel- that's a great combo imo. Not a second playmaker amongst them

(I posted this in 2016 (mikey will love it) 'and if Kriel and De Allende can sort their defence they could be a great pair of centres')

Where did the Kriel is shite thing come from? Always rated him myself.

Kriel was pretty impressive when he first came on the scene - fast and athletic. Then he went through a bit of a lean phase when he was not selected, or else got a few games on the wing. Then the outstanding Lukanyo Am arrived and nailed down the 13 shirt. Am's injury gave Kriel a toe hold back into the starting XV and he has grabbed it with both hands. He is probably playing his best rugby now with more maturity. He seems to have been around for a long time but is still only 29.

[Oakboy]

That's the spirit lads. Self-depreciating cynicism will catch the watchful Bok off guard.

Most of us are desperate for some glimmer of hope. Realistically, no single player from our 33 would get into SA's 23 (though punditry would make a case for Farrell). That leaves us leaning on the 'underdog' theme to make us 'mentality-monsters' and hoping that Sunny Bull can come up with a tactical master plan.


Selection is neither here nor there with who is available. The one significant glitch is Vunipola on the bench instead of Ludlam. We have nothing left to debate really.

[jngf]

That's the spirit lads. Self-depreciating cynicism will catch the watchful Bok off guard.

Most of us are desperate for some glimmer of hope. Realistically, no single player from our 33 would get into SA's 23 (though punditry would make a case for Farrell). That leaves us leaning on the 'underdog' theme to make us 'mentality-monsters' and hoping that Sunny Bull can come up with a tactical master plan.


Selection is neither here nor there with who is available. The one significant glitch is Vunipola on the bench instead of Ludlam. We have nothing left to debate really.

Maybe the starting XV should wear scary halloween masks? That would cause the boks to p**s themselves laughing so much that even Dan Cole could sneak a cheeky 5 points. Analyse that Rasse!

[Mikey Brown]

We have nothing left to debate really.

Lol.

I think that's what's so frustrating. Basically all the issues we're discussing are the ones identified right from the start. We've just been going round in circles restating our own preferences over and over.

Minor quibbles aside we at least have small victories in settling on 1) starting 2 centres 2) not having Vunipola at 8 3) Not having Youngs at 9.

[p/d]

We have nothing left to debate really.

Lol.

I think that's what's so frustrating. Basically all the issues we're discussing are the ones identified right from the start. We've just been going round in circles restating our own preferences over and over.

Minor quibbles aside we at least have small victories in settling on 1) starting 2 centres 2) not having Vunipola at 8 3) Not having Youngs at 9.

In a nutshell

We could debate the casual attire of our coaching team on match day. But I think that is only my bugbear

[Galfon]

It does feel like discussing deckchair styles/locations on the Titanic a bit, and history shows SA as Eng. main nemesis in these jaunts.
A good big one generally wins over an occasionally good little one,
and O'Keefe in unlikely to be generous, but stranger things have happened .
Points on the board however for SB in Head Coach WC Success quotient (QF 1,SF 2, F 3, Win 4);
SCW only one with dubble-bubble, and in top position:

Yr./Host/ Rd./ (Nem.)/Coach/ Pts.

87 NZ QF (Wal) M Green 1
91 Eng F (Aus) G Cooke 3
95 SA SF (New Z) J Rowell 2
99 Wal QF (SA) SCW 1
03 Aus Winner! SCW 4
07 Fra F (SA) B Ashton 3
11 NZ QF (Fra) M Johnson 1
15 Eng n/a S Lancaster 0
19 Jap F (SA) E Jones 3
23 Fra SF S Birthweight 2*

* and counting..maybe he'll be hungry for more ?

[fivepointer]

I know we havent been setting the world on fire but we are in a SF and that seemed a tall order during the warm up games. I think there has been improvement along the way. We are better than we were and have shown a degree of resilience to go unbeaten so far.

Does SB & Co deserve some credit for that and getting us to a SF?