Springboks v All Blacks II: still work to be done

[Lizard]

I'm a bit fired up about this one now. I've just watched a doco (quite good it was, too) about the 1996 first series win in SA. We are still a fair way off getting a winning record against the Springboks in South Africa (played 47, won 21, lost 25, drawn 1) and that five match shortfall is a big one - we've never won more than three in a row in the Republic.

Our record in Durban is particularly poor - played 8, lost 5, won 3. The only worse venues are Rustenburg (0 from 1) and Port Elizabeth (0 from 5).

Anyway, the team is out. Talking points include a start for Matt Todd, pushing A. Savea to the bench. Ardie is curiously joined by Liam Squire leaving no room for specialist lock cover, which seems a bit daft against SA. ALB deservedly gets a second start at centre alongside Crotty, bringing the mid-field roulette game to an end (for now, at least) with a combination that I'm wagering no one predicted before the season started, or even before the RC kicked off. Naholo finally gets back on the park giving J. Savea a complete rest, while Sopoaga and Moala cover the backs.

1. Joe Moody (18)
2. Dane Coles (44)
3. Owen Franks (85)
4. Brodie Retallick (55)
5. Samuel Whitelock (80)
6. Jerome Kaino (72)
7. Matt Todd (4)
8. Kieran Read - captain (92)
9. TJ Perenara (24)
10. Beauden Barrett (44)
11. Waisake Naholo (7)
12. Ryan Crotty (22)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (4)
14. Israel Dagg (56)
15. Ben Smith (56)

16. Codie Taylor (9)
17. Wyatt Crockett (53)
18. Charlie Faumuina (40)
19. Liam Squire (4)
20. Ardie Savea (7)
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (22)
22. Lima Sopoaga (4)
23. George Moala (2)

[cashead]

Springboks have been named.

Rudy Paige and Jesse Kriel both sit this one out due to injury (Paige is concussed, Kriel's got a bung groin), forcing a backline shift, which sees de Jongh move out a spot for de Allende. Hougaard hops over to 14, and Habana goes back to his more familiar left wing. Other than that, the team is unchanged from the one that beat Australia last weekend.

1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Adriaan Strauss (C)
3. Vincent Koch
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Pieter-Steph du Toit
6. Francois Louw
7. Oupa Mohoje
8. Warren Whiteley
9. Faf de Klerk
10. Morne Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Damian de Allende
13. Juan de Jongh
14. Francois Hougaard
15. Pat Lambie

16.. Bongi Mbonambi
17. Steven Kitshoff
18. Julian Redelinghuys
19. Lood de Jager
20. Willem Alberts
21.Jaco Kriel
22. Lionel Mapoe
23. Willie le Roux

[morepork]

Morne Steyn....

kick kick kick.

[morepork]

The stadium is just going off over there.

[morepork]

That went back, Jack.

[morepork]

Bad one Todd.

[morepork]

Garces is going have to keep a tight leash on this.

[morepork]

Nosferatu you beauty

[morepork]

Today we need our centres.

[morepork]

ABs looking a bit squiffy under all this pressure.

[morepork]

why did BH not try and stand him up?

[morepork]

controversial. Try ABs.

[16th man]

Howler by the TMO there.

[Lizard]

All Blacks are maybe a bit to eager to pull the trigger without doing enough ground work. A few chances have gone begging.

On the other hand, the Boks seem determined to play this whole game from outside the All Blacks 22.

I hope there's more in the margin than one crap call from the TMO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[morepork]

SA giving away far to much cheap possession.

[morepork]

BB afterburners special...

[morepork]

ALB has shades of Kahui about him in a black shirt.

[morepork]

Fuck off. Beautiful.

[morepork]

Jim Carey off at 10 for the Boks.

[cashead]

Why take Steyn off now? His boot has kept the Boks within touch today.

[morepork]

Mullet offload beauty.

[Len]

The Black machine......

[morepork]

More please.

[cashead]

Springboks are mentally broken today. They've been beaten in more ways than one.

[morepork]

Chur