The Rugby Championship - 2022

02-08-2022 12:45pm #1

Starting this coming weekend.

SA have named their side to face the All Blacks:

Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Faf du Klerk, Trevor Nyakane, Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Siya Kolisi (c), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese.

Reps: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Salmaan Moerat, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Willie le Roux.

6-2 split on the bench is interesting, also Marx getting the nod ahead of Mbonambi. Moerat would be making only his second cap off the bench.

Does Jaden Hendrikse cover 10? Would be interesting to see how they'd cope with an early injury to either Pollard or a centre, given the composition they've gone for. I suppose Damian Willemse's versatility is what they're relying on.

Shehal · 02-08-2022 1:11pm

How Jaden Hendrikse gets games for SA is a mystery to me, I know he's young but any game I watch him play for the Sharks he looked hopeless.

Damian Williemse is a converted 10 so he would be the obvious back up at 10.

sydthebeat · 02-08-2022 1:22pm

Le roux also has fly half experience from his early days, but willemse would be the obvious first option if Pollard had to go off

03-08-2022 4:48pm

Really hope NZ can do a job. If SA beat them comfortably, it will belittle our series win like how France trouncing NZ belittled our November victory.

Dubinusa · 03-08-2022 11:51pm

I hope S.A murder them!

AbusesToilets · 04-08-2022 2:23am

I think NZ will win it comfortably. SA haven't looked impressive at all this season

Dubinusa · 04-08-2022 1:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119426388#Comment_119426388

True! But SA are more than capable!

04-08-2022 1:43pm

Kiwi side named now:

Interesting to see the changes in the tight 5; obviously Barrett into second row is injury enforced, but Taukei'aho in at hooker, and two new props on the bench (Lomax played for the Maori against us).

Tupaea in the 23 shirt feels like a strange call to me, and thought he was poor against Ireland.

stephen_n · 05-08-2022 12:40pm

Seems like endless tinkering and no real sense of what his best 15/23 should be. Backrow is still a problem, trying to shoehorn Cane in.

EarWig · 06-08-2022 8:29am

Ian Foster told to resign if All Blacks lose in South Africa

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/exclusive-ian-foster-told-to-resign-if-all-blacks-lose-in-south-africa/7YTXQWBULWIPGWV3VDIHRYA2PI/

This must be the most hotly anticipated pair of matches in a long time. And the South Africans are just the team to want to dispatch them.

Even when playing badly they have the knack of winning. NZ will have to play like they did in the first Irish test to win here. I'd have it one each.

TheRona · 06-08-2022 1:10pm

Crazy to think SA have only beaten NZ a few times in the last decade. Hard to say if they're favourites going into this, they made Wales look good.

06-08-2022 1:20pm

it seems the NZ public are not confident. NZ bookies have SA favourites, only the third time the opposition has been favoured by the bookies in NZ in 340 AB matches since 1994

(at least that was the case when the newspapers went to print)

Paul Smeenus · 06-08-2022 1:22pm

https://www.the42.ie/michael-hooper-mental-health-5834728-Aug2022/

Fair play to Hoop. Really glad to see a player as respected and talented as him stand up and do this.

a2deden · 06-08-2022 3:09pm

Boooo i want to hear the haka

Burkie1203 · 06-08-2022 3:12pm

Ouch....

A-Train · 06-08-2022 3:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119437655#Comment_119437655

A rough start to say the least for SA.

Jacovs · 06-08-2022 3:14pm

The problem with the 6-2 split, if one of your backs get injured after 43 seconds you only have 1 back left for the rest of the game.

On his home field too, poor Faf.

Inquitus · 06-08-2022 3:16pm

Faf flew into 2 tackles there with little regard for his well-being, guess he was fired up on his home ground.

TheRona · 06-08-2022 3:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119437672#Comment_119437672

Yeah, in some ways it's not surprising. Needed to be a bit more controlled.

FrancieBrady · 06-08-2022 3:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119437666#Comment_119437666

Out cold. Terrible tackling style.

TheRona · 06-08-2022 3:22pm

SA clearing out players beyond the ruck.

About 3 forward passes in that one phase as well.

razorblunt · 06-08-2022 3:24pm

Gardner shouting “use” when the Boks mauling is walking forward, continues to shout it twice more. It can’t be both, Angus.

Ioane then tackled past the ruck and out of the field of play infront of the AR. Nothing given.

fitz · 06-08-2022 3:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119437719#Comment_119437719

Gardner is a really frustrating ref.

TheRona · 06-08-2022 3:37pm

Marx never supporting his weight, just flopped on top of the ruck.

Jacovs · 06-08-2022 3:47pm

NZ scrum hasnt showed up.

corny · 06-08-2022 3:56pm

For a country never short of talent, it's strange just how poor the NZ props actually are. Ta'avao is nowhere near international level. He's exhausted already and hasn't a clue what he's doing in the defensive line. Bower really isn't much better.

NZ hanging in there. The Boks won't sustain this intensity for the full game.

AbusesToilets · 06-08-2022 3:57pm

NZ look very laboured and slow in their attacking shapes

fitz · 06-08-2022 4:04pm

Can see a red card being produced at some point the way SA are flying into tackles.

Did anyone else spot a NZ player on his back after a tackle kicking a SA player over him in the ribs? Was about 10 minutes ago, I thought the TMO was going to flag it, but could be a citing. It looked terrible.

NZ holding on against the intensity of SA...still don't look great on attack, but I think part of that is down to SA tackling like lunatics, and doing their best to smother NZ. Reckon NZ might have this if the game loosens up in the second half.

OldRio · 06-08-2022 4:06pm

A couple of great turnovers by Marx.

RichieRich_89 · 06-08-2022 4:06pm

Ooh, Motshidisi Mohono's on.

FrancieBrady · 06-08-2022 4:08pm

All Black confidence shot to bits.

TheRona · 06-08-2022 4:19pm

All Blacks looking aimless. SA the better of the two sides, but hardly impressive.

06-08-2022 4:20pm

All Blacks seem in total disarray

06-08-2022 4:29pm

Foster has 30 minutes.

Clegg · 06-08-2022 4:38pm

New Zealands discipline is appalling. Conceding so many offside penalties, and even for encroaching at the lineout.

Clegg · 06-08-2022 4:40pm

First action of Frizzell when he comes in is to concede a penalty.

Good enough for the woman beating dickhead.

fitz · 06-08-2022 4:40pm

I really dislike that SA medic chasing the play around, seems like she's chatting at the officials too. Shouldn't be allowed imo.

ShatterProof · 06-08-2022 4:44pm

NZ are awful and have dragged SA down to their level.

fitz · 06-08-2022 4:49pm

So much stupidity from NZ. Foster will (rightly) take heat, but the players need to take a lot of the blame here.

I'm not sure I realized how much damage we did - they look a broken team.

AbusesToilets · 06-08-2022 4:52pm

shocked at how bereft of ability NZ have to structure attacks. SA are pretty average tbh, their rush defense is good, and the set piece, but no great shakes in attack.

Inquitus · 06-08-2022 4:53pm

SA have just bullied NZ all game long, despite the modest scoreline it's been no contest so far.

AbusesToilets · 06-08-2022 4:54pm

welp, that's got to be a red

Jacovs · 06-08-2022 4:55pm

Gonna be red for SA unfortunately.

Medics having a busy night. Hope Barrett is okay there.

A-Train · 06-08-2022 4:55pm

Red all day

fitz · 06-08-2022 4:55pm

That's appalling.

TheRona · 06-08-2022 4:55pm

That is ridiculously dangerous play. The warning sign was in the first half when he did the same to Jordie but got away with it because he threw up a token arm.

AbusesToilets · 06-08-2022 4:56pm

pretty dirty shot by the SA winger

Clegg · 06-08-2022 4:56pm

New Zealand are even worse than they were against us. There's no dummy runners, miss passes or any sort of innovation. They're going phase after phase up the middle, without making any metres, then kicking the ball away aimlessly.

TheRona · 06-08-2022 4:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119438079#Comment_119438079

It's just terrible rugby all around. SA are not even bothering to use their backs, they're getting plenty of joy from kicking it.

Thank God for Ireland and France playing decent attacking patterns lately.

06-08-2022 5:01pm

Clear and obvious penalty to the Kiwi's there with a tackle off the ball but goes the other way

fitz · 06-08-2022 5:01pm

Harsh call there, decoy runner gets driven into the carrier...

The Rugby Championship - 2022

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