The Hurt Locker: Ireland v South Africa. Saturday 23rd September. Stade DeFrance

Whats achieving something in your opinion?

If we don't beat Scotland well, we deserve to come home. No business proceeding to the QF's.

A still from the video posted a while ago should let you enjoy it. Ball was down well before the elbow.

The art of war

There's some kind of narrative forming about SA getting Ireland later and they'll beat them, it'll be different next time etc.

I am thinking the opposite, we could beat them by 10-15 next time, to me it looked like we were the rustier team coming into peak form and they were the waning team, trying to carry their peak for a few more games. I think timing suits Ireland better, we will be fully battle hardened by the knockouts.

Whatever about timing peaks, SA will wonder where their improvement comes from. Obviously a solid kicker helps, but they sacrifice something significant in their attack bringing in Pollard. A bigger issue for Rassie is that the SA pack did not do a number on Ireland and the bomb squad fell flat. Maybe they can up their intensity but Ireland can do that too, and counter more effectively. Ireland's discipline held tight while SA were definitely getting into card territory at some pints in that match. Add a functional lineout, and maybe taking points off the tee earlier in the match while going for the corner later on, and Ireland for me have more headroom.

It was interesting that we barely challenged their lineout, only two jumps from memory? I'd say POC and Farrell will be very happy at how well we defended the maul. Could stand us in good stead if we gave England in the semi.

Absolutely agree that the Irish front row is better. Hooker is close but the Irish props are way better. Disagree about the second row. All 3 AB locks are better than Henderson, if Barrett can stay on the field he has been one of the best in the world this season. And Rettallick in form is one of the best. Loose forwards, only Savea would make the Irish trio. Maybe Frizzel at his best.

Of the 6 halfbacks in the 2 squads, Smith is easily the best but Ireland has better depth. Mouaga hasn't really delivered at test level in a big match so Sexton gets the nod there. Agree on 12. Theres not much between Jordie and Bundee. The rest of the backline I think is in NZ's favour, partly due to pace.

As you say, it will be won up front and Ireland definitely have the edge there. Though I wouldn't be too confident on scrum dominance as the Irish scrum has been minced a few times recently. Overall Ireland are definitely favourites for a match with NZ.

There's loads of erroneous errors in there as well.

I didn't even see what Bundee did at that maul until it was pointed out in that video. We are so lucky he got away with it.

Anyway I can't do things like that but you say marginal calls and I pointed out a few of them that were blown up, very marginal offside, if they were even offside, calls and not near the ball. The invisible Irish hand that touched the ball to give South Africa a lineout which at the end of the day after a penalty gave South Africa the chance to have that final maul.

There's enough big and obvious errors by the referee in that video to prove he was awful. And if I could do a video like that it'd be nearly twice as long after I added all the calls made that favoured South Africa.

And if you seen my post I clearly said his calls didn't favour one side or the other. It wasn't about that, he was just awful.

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Rassie was involved in the making of that. 😁

Thing is there's enough erroneous errors in that video to show how bad the referee was. And as I keep saying its a very biased video showing very little of the mistakes made where South Africa were fouling and got away with it or anything that he got wrong that favoured South Africa.

I assume that all teams - especially the top ones know the refs ‘ likes and dislikes’ - what they will let go and not let go- and therefor ‘play the ref’. SA were better at this than Irl were. When one team wants to play ‘clean ‘ rugby and the opposition will play ‘as close to the edge’ as possible, the clean team is at a clear disadvantage.

in GAA terms some teams constantly throw the ball to another player as against hand passing it because the ref will more than likely call play back for a free. Some teams exploit this to the n th degree.

Keenan with yet another brilliant performance. If he could have got to the line here it would have been a sensational try from Ireland. Maybe even the best Irish RWC try!

Retallick and whitelock would be fine if they were in a great pack but they are not and they are being asked to do to much.

I assume that you are being sarcastic because to me; De Groot, Lomax and Cane starting for the ABs shows just how weak their pack is.

Interesting analysis - I agree there was questionable engagements from both sides , it was like the ref and especially the TMO was advised let a lot of stuff slip - a lot of cheap shots on players, late contact and obstruction. I dont think I have seen a game in the last 10 years with so little TMO involvement.