Autumn International Squads

nipps

Backs: H Adams (Bulls), M Bosman (Cheetahs), J de Jongh (Western Province), F du Preez (Bulls), J Fourie (Lions), B Habana (Bulls), F Hougaard (Bulls), A Jacobs (Sharks), Z Kirchner (Bulls), O Ndungane (Sharks), J Nokwe (Cheetahs), W Olivier (Bulls), R Pienaar (Sharks), JP Pietersen (Sharks), E Rose (Lions), M Steyn (Bulls), R Viljoen (Griquas).


Forwards: J Smit (Sharks, capt), V Matfield (Bulls), A Bekker (Western Province), B Botha (Bulls), H Brussow (Cheetahs), S Burger (Western Province), B du Plessis (Sharks), J du Plessis (Sharks), A Hargreaves (Sharks), A Johnson (Cheetahs), R Kankowski (Sharks), B Maku (Bulls), T Mtawarira (Sharks), D Potgieter (Bulls), C Ralepelle (Bulls), D Raubenheimer (Griquas), D Rossouw (Bulls), P Spies (Bulls), G Steenkamp (Bulls), H van der Merwe (Lions).


there are 9 new uncapped players included in this 37-man squad:


Bulls quartet Heini Adams, Francois Hougaard, Bandise Maku and Dewald Potgieter are amongst the new faces, alongside Juan de Jongh from Western Province, the Sharks' Alistair Hargreaves, Ashley Johnson of the Cheetahs and Griquas pair Davon Raubenheimer and Riaan Viljoen.

plus a recall for Cheetahs centre Meyer Bosman and Lions forward Heinke van der Merwe.

a strong squad, in particular the forwards. also loss of de villiers and frans steyn because they are playing in europe.

Amabokke

nipps wrote: »

Backs: H Adams (Bulls), M Bosman (Cheetahs), J de Jongh (Western Province), F du Preez (Bulls), J Fourie (Lions), B Habana (Bulls), F Hougaard (Bulls), A Jacobs (Sharks), Z Kirchner (Bulls), O Ndungane (Sharks), J Nokwe (Cheetahs), W Olivier (Bulls), R Pienaar (Sharks), JP Pietersen (Sharks), E Rose (Lions), M Steyn (Bulls), R Viljoen (Griquas).


Forwards: J Smit (Sharks, capt), V Matfield (Bulls), A Bekker (Western Province), B Botha (Bulls), H Brussow (Cheetahs), S Burger (Western Province), B du Plessis (Sharks), J du Plessis (Sharks), A Hargreaves (Sharks), A Johnson (Cheetahs), R Kankowski (Sharks), B Maku (Bulls), T Mtawarira (Sharks), D Potgieter (Bulls), C Ralepelle (Bulls), D Raubenheimer (Griquas), D Rossouw (Bulls), P Spies (Bulls), G Steenkamp (Bulls), H van der Merwe (Lions).


there are 9 new uncapped players included in this 37-man squad:


Bulls quartet Heini Adams, Francois Hougaard, Bandise Maku and Dewald Potgieter are amongst the new faces, alongside Juan de Jongh from Western Province, the Sharks' Alistair Hargreaves, Ashley Johnson of the Cheetahs and Griquas pair Davon Raubenheimer and Riaan Viljoen.

plus a recall for Cheetahs centre Meyer Bosman and Lions forward Heinke van der Merwe.

a strong squad, in particular the forwards. also loss of de villiers and frans steyn because they are playing in europe.

Quotas.

Very strong bok team indeed. I can see them whiping the French, Irish and the rest of what Europe has to offer.

jank

I can see Wales and Ireland beating the boks!

fifth

I think we're in with a chance of beating the Boks.

duckysauce

Amabokke wrote: »

Quotas.

Very strong bok team indeed. I can see them whiping the French, Irish and the rest of what Europe has to offer.

lacking confidence at the mo:p

nipps

wales have announced team to play all-blacks:

backs: J Hook (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues).

forwards: G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), P James (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport-Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

subs: H Bennett (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), M Roberts (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), T James (Cardiff Blues).

a strong team which we are mostly familiar with, ospreys prop paul james handed second cap, six years after making debut. gareth cooper to start at scrum-half, with phillips and peel unavailable. james hook at fullback as lee byrne is also injured.

thomond2006

nipps wrote: »

wales have announced team to play all-blacks:

backs: J Hook (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues).

forwards: G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), P James (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport-Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

subs: H Bennett (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), M Roberts (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), T James (Cardiff Blues).

a strong team which we are mostly familiar with, ospreys prop paul james handed second cap, six years after making debut. gareth cooper to start at scrum-half, with phillips and peel unavailable. james hook at fullback as lee byrne is also injured.

Paul James at TH is a big surprise, they had a specialist TH in Craig Mitchell in the squad and also could have switched Jenkins there.

Gareth Cooper has been poor this season, Roberts is a talented youngster who should have got the nod.

Amazing that Gough is not in the AI squad at all.

toomevara

thomond2006 wrote: »

Paul James at TH is a big surprise

+1, He's a natural loose head, no?

thomond2006

toomevara wrote: »

+1, He's a natural loose head, no?

Yes, he's only played 2 games at TH for his region according to BBC.

Podge_irl

Surely moving Jenkins to TH and bringing in the next best loosehead would have been the better option? Not that I think they'll beat the ABs no matter what team they put out.

little173

Very tough for Wales to play AB's first up, they will be very rusty, some of their Key players, Roberts etc., have not had much rugby under their belt and not that much prep time.

Having said that, Cardiff is a pretty difficult place to win.

thomond2006

Welsh wing Mark Jones will miss the AIs after an injury in training.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8338928.stm

Amabokke

First rounds and...

Wales might just upset the ABs (I hope!)

Bok Quotas....4th Choice vs Leicester, boks will win by 10

Aussies will beat the very very poor poms

thomond2006

Which players are the "Quotas" Amabokke?

Amabokke

thomond2006 wrote: »

Which players are the "Quotas" Amabokke?

Earl Rose, Riaan Viljoe (non quota), Davon Raubenheimer, Bandise Maku and Chiliboy Ralepelle who will captain the side on Friday. Maku and Ralepelle were never the first-choice hookers in the Bulls’ victorious Currie Cup campaign. Cheetahs wing Lionel Mapoe was excluded and he was the form player of the currie cup.

Rose was rubbish against the Lions and he just don't have what it takes.

I'll let Chiliboy in because of his cool name.

thomond2006

Pierre Spies out of entire tour! :eek:

http://www.rugby365.com/all_news/sa/news/2027500.htm

What will the SA back row be now with Spies and Smith both out?

Burger, Brussow, Kankowski perhaps?



Re: previous post

Yeah, Earl Rose is pure muck and nothing more.

I have seen Mapoe in the CC final and thought he looked good. Should be in the boks squad for sure.

chupacabra

thomond2006 wrote: »

Pierre Spies out of entire tour! :eek:

http://www.rugby365.com/all_news/sa/news/2027500.htm

What will the SA back row be now with Spies and Smith both out?

Burger, Brussow, Kankowski perhaps?

Yeah, no great loss is Spies. Kankowski is as good as him if not better in many facets. Id like to see Dewald in there somewhere, he is such an explosive player. Hopefully they bring Stegmann up as cover for Spies.

thomond2006

Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter will share the Scottish captaincy for the AIs:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/scottish/8339221.stm

Robinson obviously feels Blair has lost his form (he was poor on the Lions Tour) if he is allowing Cusiter share his captaincy.

twinytwo

Amabokke wrote: »

Quotas.

Very strong bok team indeed. I can see them whiping the French, Irish and the rest of what Europe has to offer.

I wouldnt be getting too far ahead of myself... If france play decent rugby it will be a fight .. they are never easy to beat in paris.... And SA has never played in croke park before... it will be an experience. Ireland has the players to match SA.. plus we have the ace that is O driscoll.. a whiping i think not. the only factor that SA has under their belt is that it is coming to the end of their season

little173

thomond2006 wrote: »

Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter will share the Scottish captaincy for the AIs:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/scottish/8339221.stm

Robinson obviously feels Blair has lost his form (he was poor on the Lions Tour) if he is allowing Cusiter share his captaincy.

Just dont like the idea of shared captaincy at all, smacks of undecision and weakness to me and they both play in the same position as well!

Judgement Day

little173 wrote: »

Very tough for Wales to play AB's first up, they will be very rusty, some of their Key players, Roberts etc., have not had much rugby under their belt and not that much prep time.

Having said that, Cardiff is a pretty difficult place to win.

Cardiff is not a difficult place for the All Blacks to win and on their last visit on 22nd November 2008 they ran out 29-9 winners, previously on the 25th November 2006 they ran out 45-10 winners! The All Blacks are going to run over all opposition on this tour and Wales will be right up there with Italy as a team that they will be worried about. It is 56 years since Wales last win (13-8) against the All Blacks and the captain of that team, Bleddyn Williams is now 88!

danthefan

England 22 for the weekend. Someone want to sort a team out of it?

Forwards: D Bell (Bath), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), C Lawes (Northampton), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath).

Backs: M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), A Erinle (Biarritz), S Geraghty (Northampton), A Goode (Brive), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), J Wilkinson (Toulon).

Podge_irl

danthefan wrote: »

England 22 for the weekend. Someone want to sort a team out of it?

Forwards: D Bell (Bath), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), C Lawes (Northampton), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath).

Backs: M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), A Erinle (Biarritz), S Geraghty (Northampton), A Goode (Brive), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), J Wilkinson (Toulon).

I have no earthly idea what Johnson is gonna do. I thought Hartley was out injured? On a personal level, its great to see Thompson back - no idea what he's like as a rugby player these days.

Bell
Thompson
Payne
Borthwick
Deacon
Croft
Moody
Crane
Hodgson
Wilkinson
Cueto
Geraghty
Hipkiss
Banahan
Monye

Hartley
Wilson
Lawes
Haskell
Goode
Care
Erinle


Complete and utter guess, cause I don't know several of those players very well. I may even have several in the wrong positions. They really are missing a lot of well known and experienced people.

Stev_o

Podge_irl wrote: »

I have no earthly idea what Johnson is gonna do. I thought Hartley was out injured? On a personal level, its great to see Thompson back - no idea what he's like as a rugby player these days.

Bell
Thompson
Payne
Borthwick
Deacon
Croft
Moody
Crane
Hodgson
Wilkinson
Cueto
Geraghty
Hipkiss
Banahan
Monye

Hartley
Wilson
Lawes
Haskell
Goode
Care
Erinle


Complete and utter guess, cause I don't know several of those players very well. They really are missing a lot of well known and experienced people.

When's the last time Englands pack has looked so utterly thin on paper. Mean Deacon and Moody should be nowhere near the international scene at the moment. A Deacon and Borthwick combo is probably the single worst lock pairing ever devised in the international scene .

Back line will look great though no matter what it seems.

little173

danthefan wrote: »

England 22 for the weekend. Someone want to sort a team out of it?

Forwards: D Bell (Bath), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), J Crane (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), C Lawes (Northampton), L Moody (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath).

Backs: M Banahan (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), A Erinle (Biarritz), S Geraghty (Northampton), A Goode (Brive), D Hipkiss (Leicester), P Hodgson (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), J Wilkinson (Toulon).

Bell
Hartley
Payne
Borthwick
Lawes
Moody
Croft
Haskell
Care
Wilko
Moyne
Geraghty
Hipkiss
Banahan
Cueto

Stev_o

If Wilko decides to have a go please god make it as good as this

chupacabra

What of these rumors that NZ are going to debut a brand new Haka for the welsh game? Should be interesting.

danthefan

Hartley will be ahead of Thompson anyway, definitely.

Podge_irl

danthefan wrote: »

Hartley will be ahead of Thompson anyway, definitely.

Yeah, probably. I was under the impression Hartley was injured and perchance he isn't 100%, which might mean he only goes on the bench.

What of these rumors that NZ are going to debut a brand new Haka for the welsh game? Should be interesting.

Great, the seemingly annual uproar over the Haka in Wales awaits. I'm not sure who to hate more over the whole thing - Wales or NZ. It would help Wales' cause if they didn't get continually humiliated in the games.

little173

Podge_irl wrote: »

Yeah, probably. I was under the impression Hartley was injured and perchance he isn't 100%, which might mean he only goes on the bench.



Great, the seemingly annual uproar over the Haka in Wales awaits. I'm not sure who to hate more over the whole thing - Wales or NZ. It would help Wales' cause if they didn't get continually humiliated in the games.

Yes it really is tedious every year, just let them do the haka and get on with it.

Judgement Day

Stev_o wrote: »

If Wilko decides to have a go please god make it as good as this

I watched this one live and what a try he just leaves them grasping at air. I only pray he doesn't get injured but he has held up very well for Toulon this season. If he plays against the All Blacks I would even be tempted to have a punt on England no matter what forwards are playing.

thomond2006

little173 wrote: »

Bell
Hartley
Payne
Borthwick
Lawes
Moody
Croft
Haskell
Care
Wilko
Moyne
Geraghty
Hipkiss
Banahan
Cueto

In this XV, only Wilkinson (and maybe Hartley) would get into the Ireland team.

England start against Australia though, who are all over the shop and missing their 1st choice centre partnership (Barnes and Mortlock).

That England teamsheet is poor but they could easily beat the Wallabies.

I can't wait for Wilkinson Mark II vs Giteau.

duckysauce

Stev_o wrote: »

If Wilko decides to have a go please god make it as good as this

hes a legend amazing , hope he plays in the nations matches

Goodluck2me

thomond2006 wrote: »

In this XV, only Wilkinson (and maybe Hartley) would get into the Ireland team.

I think care would, as would Monye.

Podge_irl

Goodluck2me wrote: »

I think care would, as would Monye.

Really? TOL is a better scrum-half - he's certainly a far more intelligent scrum half. As for Monye, he's a good player but I don't know where he'd fit in. He'd be 50/50 with Fitzgerald (much like on the Lions tour), but there is no way he'd displace Bowe or Kearney. I think Geraghty would probably get in mind.

thomond2006

Goodluck2me wrote: »

I think care would, as would Monye.

TOL > Care and Monye is a headless chicken, no way would he get ahead of Bowe or Fitz or Earls.

thomond2006

England team to face Australia:

U Monye (Harlequins); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), D Hipkiss (Leicester), S Geraghty (Northampton), M Banahan (Bath); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester).

Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Bell (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), P Hodgson (London Irish), A Goode (Brive), A Erinle (Biarritz).

I can't for the life of me understand Thompson ahead of Hartley.

Deacon ahead of Lawes is a crazy one too.

Australia by 10+

smurphy29

Awful team, but given the injuries they have it has to be expected. Steve Thompson ahead of Hartley is a bit of a shocker. The half-backs are pretty good, the rest is very ordinary. The second row is just awful.

I see Duncan Bell can only make the bench in spite of being Stephen Jones' 'player to thrill this autumn'! I laughed heartily when I read that on sunday...

little173

smurphy29 wrote: »

Awful team, but given the injuries they have it has to be expected. Steve Thompson ahead of Hartley is a bit of a shocker. The half-backs are pretty good, the rest is very ordinary. The second row is just awful.

I see Duncan Bell can only make the bench in spite of being Stephen Jones' 'player to thrill this autumn'! I laughed heartily when I read that on sunday...

Oh yes, Stephen Jones, the worst rugby writer of all time, I remember when they did a pre lions team around May, at the Times, he chose Shanklin ahead of BOD. Guscott and Dallaglio just laughed at him. He has somewhere between Zero and chuff all credibility.

andrewdcs

Stephen Jones hates Ireland and New Zealand for some reason. He's so pompous and arrogant and invariably plain wrong he makes my skin crawl just thinking about him. :eek: TBH I suspect that's his game, pulling in readership through opprobrium. He's straight out of the Victorian Gentlemen's club, wringing his hands about the colonies and lack of standards.

anonymous_joe

thomond2006 wrote: »

In this XV, only Wilkinson (and maybe Hartley) would get into the Ireland team.

England start against Australia though, who are all over the shop and missing their 1st choice centre partnership (Barnes and Mortlock).

That England teamsheet is poor but they could easily beat the Wallabies.

I can't wait for Wilkinson Mark II vs Giteau.

Erm? Their entire backrow is savage.

About their eleventh choice front row, and an unknown quality at second row, and three potentially world-class back three players...

PhatPiggins

andrewdcs wrote: »

Stephen Jones hates Ireland and New Zealand for some reason. He's so pompous and arrogant and invariably plain wrong he makes my skin crawl just thinking about him. :eek: TBH I suspect that's his game, pulling in readership through opprobrium. He's straight out of the Victorian Gentlemen's club, wringing his hands about the colonies and lack of standards.

Dont take it personally Andrew, that bigot hates everything thats not English. Strange seeing as he is Welsh(though they're not quick in claiming him)

Stev_o

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Erm? Their entire backrow is savage.

About their eleventh choice front row, and an unknown quality at second row, and three potentially world-class back three players...

They ll be unkown in matches aswell, the single worst lock pairing ever devised.

little173

thomond2006 wrote: »

England team to face Australia:

U Monye (Harlequins); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), D Hipkiss (Leicester), S Geraghty (Northampton), M Banahan (Bath); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester).

Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Bell (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), P Hodgson (London Irish), A Goode (Brive), A Erinle (Biarritz).

I can't for the life of me understand Thompson ahead of Hartley.

Deacon ahead of Lawes is a crazy one too.

Australia by 10+

Yes pretty poor team but so many injuries. Ugo at FB? The Aussies have a very handy kicking game and will relish that. He has obv packed the forwards with tigers to give some continuity, but not great. I thought the Aussies looked pretty good on Saturday, they are not a bad side and should win easily enough.

anonymous_joe

Stev_o wrote: »

They ll be unkown in matches aswell, the single worst lock pairing ever devised.

Almost certainly.

Ceartgoleor

Podge_irl wrote: »

Really? TOL is a better scrum-half - he's certainly a far more intelligent scrum half.

Completely disagree here, and expect Care to prove this this season. O'Leary is a moderately good scrum half at best, good athlete and granted he is an intelligent player, but a poor pass, poor positioning play and despite his ability to make good hits in defence the reason he often needs to do so is a direct result of not being where he was meant to be to start out with.

thomond2006

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Erm? Their entire backrow is savage.

I don't agree.

Crane is an average number 8 at best and S Armitage is a lot better than Moody.

Croft is a brilliant blindside though.

Ceartgoleor

thomond2006 wrote: »

I don't agree.

Crane is an average number 8 at best and S Armitage is a lot better than Moody.

Croft is a brilliant blindside though.

I agree in criticising their backrow, Steffon Armitage is surely their best 7 on current form. Crane can be good when it suits him, but has a tendency of losing the ball in contact, going missing when the games on the line etc. Croft is a good player, but hes one of those players who doesn't really fit properly into any position imo, as he doesn't do the traditional duties of any back row role and lacks the size for the second row, yet you have to have him on the pitch, kind of like David Wallace

AdeT

smurphy29 wrote: »

Awful team, but given the injuries they have it has to be expected. Steve Thompson ahead of Hartley is a bit of a shocker. The half-backs are pretty good, the rest is very ordinary. The second row is just awful.quote]

I think Hartley's been nursing an injury through training so he may not be 100%. He's a good aggressive player to bring on an inject something to the game in the last half hour. The best England hooker at the moment i think

thomond2006

Wales wing Mark Jones out for three months.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8338928.stm

Samoa squad:

Forwards:
Census Johnston (Toulouse), Justin Va'a (Glasgow),Jeremiah Fatialofa (Counties-Manukau), Sakaria Taulafo (Tasman), Mahonri Schwalger (Sale), Andrew Williams (Apia West), Filipo Levi (Newcastle), Iosefa Tekori (Castres), Kane Thompson (Dax),Jonathon Fa'amatuainu (Bath), Ofisa Treviranus (Apia West), George Stowers (London Irish), Misioka Timoteo (Apia), Henry Tuilagi (Perpignan), Semiperive Semeane (Apia).

Backs:
Junior Poluleuligaga (Bay of Plenty), Uale Mai (Apia West), Fa'atonu Fili (Wellington), Lolo Lui (Apia), Seilala Maposua (London Irish), Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu (Bath), Gavin Williams (Clermont), Anitelea Tuilagi (Sale), Henry Fa'afili (Leeds Carnegie), Sailosi Tagicakibau (London Irish) David Lemi (Wasps), Titi Esau (Apia West).