Springboks v All Blacks II: Redemption?

[Lizard]

The All Blacks will be preparing for a backlash from an embarrassed Springbok side. I think this will be a closer game and will be important for the All Blacks to play the full 80 minutes and not switch off if they build an early lead. Shag has named something approaching his strongest available side. There might be some questions marks over 6 and loose forward cover, mid-field and cover and having 2 small guys in the back 3.

1. Kane Hames (4)
2. Dane Coles (53)
3. Nepo Laulala (8)
4. Samuel Whitelock (91)
5. Scott Barrett (12)
6. Liam Squire (11)
7. Sam Cane (48)
8. Kieran Read (105) - Captain
9. Aaron Smith (66)
10. Beauden Barrett (58)
11. Rieko Ioane (8)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (41)
13. Ryan Crotty (30)
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder (10)
15. Damian McKenzie (7)

16. Codie Taylor (24)
17. Wyatt Crockett (66)
18. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (9)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (13)
20. Matt Todd (9)
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (26)
22. Lima Sopoaga (11)
23. David Havili (1)

Coetzee has rung some changes. Beast is unavailable for family reasons, meaning Kitshoff will lose his record as the most capped test player with no starts to his name. P-SdT has been named on the flank (at 7 but presumably will play the blindside role) to add some timber to the shaky line out.

1. Steven Kitshoff
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Ruan Dreyer
4. Eben Etzebeth (captain)
5. Lood de Jager
6. Siya Kolisi
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
8. Francois Louw
9. Ross Cronje
10. Elton Jantjies
11. Courtnall Skosan
12. Jan Serfontein
13. Jesse Kriel
14. Dillyn Leyds
15. Andries Coetzee

16. Chiliboy Ralepelle
17. Trevor Nyakane
18. Wilco Louw
19. Franco Mostert
20. Jean-Luc du Preez
21. Rudy Paige
22. Handre Pollard
23. Damian de Allende

[Puja]

My overbearing memory of du Toit on the flank is watching him get embarrassed by Youngs with the same dummy twice in a row to concede tries in the 2016 AIs. Has he improved or will he still be a big, tall liability in defence?

Puja

[Lizard]

It’s pretty weird reading a Bok teamsheet and really not being scared about anyone from 1 to 8. Etzebeth is the best player in there but I think giving him the captaincy actually takes away his edge.

[scuzzaman]

I can't see the All Blacks wanting to give anything away here. The NH AI's are not that far away and there's no way any of this team want to be left behind.

I predict a torrid time for the Boks. I expect them to fight back, but I also expect them to take another hammering. Obviously not as bad as the last one, that was kinda special, but still a significant one.

[Lizard]

All Blacks failing to finish 3 times now.

[morepork]

Some average final touches.

Get ALB on.

[morepork]

Piss.

[Lizard]

Doesn’t like playing advantage much, does he?

[morepork]

What was that lecture about?

[Lizard]

Doing it all day, ref.

[morepork]

That's the third time SBW has been turned over.

[Lizard]

No centre on the bench, right?

[Lizard]

Making plenty of play, but so many errors.

[morepork]

Nice face plant. Pity about the ball.

[morepork]

Jesus christ. Are they painting a picture?

[Lizard]

Marshall talking shit. You don’t need control if you put downward pressure.

[Lizard]

Another one goes begging.

[morepork]

Luckily the Bok kicking is pretty average. MacKenzie and co will make something stick if given enough chances.

[Lizard]

All Blacks also putting very few into rucks, allowing suffocating defence.

[morepork]

Bok tight 5 are getting under our skin a bit.

[Lizard]

SBW getting under my skin.

[morepork]

You see, I just don't get the sense of this much risk at the end of the half. SBW is handing them chances.

[morepork]

Guess who's hurt his shoulder?

[Lizard]

Interesting bench strategy from Shag.

[Lizard]

What are the possession stats for the 2nd half?