Springboks vs England, squad announcements and matchday thread.

[Biltong]

First topic message reminder :

I will update as more information is released.

Springbok team announced for the first test vs England.

15 Zane Kirchner, caps 14
14 JP Pietersen, caps 42
13 Jean de Villiers (captain), caps 72
12 Frans Steyn, caps 47
11 Bryan Habana, caps 74
10 Morné Steyn, caps 34
9 Francois Hougaard, caps 15
8 Pierre Spies, caps 47
7 Willem Alberts, caps 9
6 Marcell Coetzee, caps 0
5 Juandré Kruger, caps 0
4 Eben Etzebeth, caps 0
3 Jannie du Plessis, caps 30
2 Bismarck du Plessis, caps 42
1 Beast Mtawarira, caps 32

Replacements:
16 Adriaan Strauss, caps 9
17 Coenie Oosthuizen, caps 0
18 Flip van der Merwe, caps 11
19 Keegan Daniel, caps 1
20 Ruan Pienaar, caps 51
21 Pat Lambie, caps 11
22 Wynand Olivier, caps 34

I am surprised and happy to see Eben etzebeth in the starting XV and Strauss on the bench, Meyer has gone for a 4-3 split on the bench which is interesting. The pack has 160 combined caps with 4 debutants, the back line has a combined cap of 302 caps.

I am actually rather impressed with Meyer's selections. The English may see this pack as vulnerable and inexperienced, but I think it is a rather exciting pack. full of mobility and physicality.

England Team:

15 Mike Brown, caps 3
14 Chris Ashton, caps 23
13 Manusamoa Tuilagi, caps 10
12 Brad Barritt, caps 5
11 Ben Foden, caps 26
10 Owen Farrell, caps 5
9 Ben Youngs, caps 17
8 Ben Morgan, caps 5
7 Chris Robshaw (C), caps 6
6 Tom Johnson, 0 caps
5 Geoff Parling, 2 caps
4 Mouritz Botha, 6 caps
3 Dan Cole, 25 caps
2 Dylan Hartley, 34 caps
1 Joe Marler, 0 caps


Replacements:
16 Lee Mears, 38 caps
17 Paul Doran Jones, 3 caps
18 Tom Palmer, 37 caps
19 Phil Dowson, 5 caps
20 Lee Dickson, 0 caps
21 Toby Flood, 46 caps
22 Jonathan Joseph, 0 caps

[ChequeredJersey]

For the first time under Lancaster, I like our bench. Better if Dickson started and Youngs could come on with Flood or of Care were there but we can really change the tempo with that bench

[Biltong]

I wonder if GG is around he may retract his report so I can get the real thing back.

[alcoombe]

Cripe, I remember that match. Worst I ever saw.
First time I ever heard of Gurthro.
Last time I ever wanted to see the half man - half monster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYQKVOArWdU&feature=related

OOps, not sure how THAT got in there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFrtQuXxsKo

That video makes me think where are our bullies? Once upon a time we had the likes of Dallaglio, Johnson & Grewcock. We haven't had that sort of nasty in our pack since.

[ChequeredJersey]

Marler? Hartley?

[jamesandimac]

Jersey you're right that it's about balance and being complete players and the players you talk about can play anywhere in the backrow (McCaw and Burger) however they excel in there proper positions and it's there that they are considered world class. To be the best you have to have that alround skill set, as I said, but have to excel in your position. Take croft as an example, he's a great line out forward and a great open field runner, but will he ever be considered a world class 6? Does he really put himself around like a 6 should? And what impact does this have on the rest of the backrow?

[sugarNspikes]

Ooooh!

Looking forward to this one.

Best of luck to both sides

Obviously with England to come on on top, please

[ChequeredJersey]

Fair enough. I'd like to see Haskell involved again. I think a squad needs at least 5-6 really good backrows, ideally:

A physical 6,
A specialist 8
A ruck-merchant
A tackle-merchant
At least one allrounder
Maybe a big-play- making flair player

Of these each position needs to be covered at least twice comfortably and 3 times at a stretch. It allows you to have strength in depth AND mix up how you play. Obviously there is a first choice back row but the option to change a player to suit a matchup is vital

[alcoombe]

Not in the same league. Marler is a bit like Sheridan, a good physical player, but he doesn't have that belligerent heart that would make him a bully. Hartley's confrontationalism is a myth, if it was once there it has now been almost fully reined in, which to be honest is better for his play.

What we need is at least one bully in the locks and one in the backrow.

[niwatts]

Sky are going the Dubstep and Tron like graphics look for this game.

[rodders]

Come on Ulster....cough....sorry I mean SA.......

SUFTUM

[Cari]

Good grief! That anthem's a bit extreme...

[anotherworldofpain]

The television producing on this game is make me cringe! That graphics were terrible emabarrassing and the anthems singing is like X-Factor contestants.

[pbuk0]

I am getting a bit nervous... heart says England but I think Boks to win by 9...

However Looking forward to seeing Marler on debut and how Cole does against the Beast. Also interested to see the new back 3 for England....

[Cari]

This anthem's a bit long isn't it?

[Biltong]

Well without sounding biased here, but thoe were the two best renditions today.

[Cymroglan]

He had a good voice

[niwatts]

The sight of Walsh with the whistle always uneases me.

[EnglishReign]

Christ, is this rugby or a karaoke show?

[anotherworldofpain]

Terrible start for England.

[Cari]

Well without sounding biased here, but thoe were the two best renditions today.

I agree. The Irish one was butchered and the Welsh one.... *shudder*

We could've done with Steve Walsh today

[jamesandimac]

I agree and I think England are getting near this:

A physical 6, Haskell, Johnson, Clark
A specialist 8, Morgan, Crane
A ruck-merchant, Armitage,
A tackle-merchant , Robshaw
At least one allrounder, Robshaw, Wood, Dowson
Maybe a big-play- making flair player Croft

I'm only including the more developed players getting regular game time and I appreciate there are more young guns on the horizon. The back rows got depth, just needs selecting correctly. It's the second row I worry about.

[rodders]

Vintage Habana!

[rodders]

Two poor sides......

[Biltong]

Stupid flippe errors by Sa and Walsh just loves blowing his whistle

[anotherworldofpain]

Wales would have been blown out of the game if the referee was blow up the penalty for off the feet like Walsh here so far this game.

[anotherworldofpain]

Biltong will be ask for Bryce Lawrence substitute referee soon. ;D

[niwatts]

Good kick to settle the nerves.

Why does Farrell always seem to tape his head up these days?

[Cari]

In case his ears fall off?

I've got South African commentary. They're not bad actually. Not as one eyed as some.

[rodders]

Great run by Alberts but the Boks look a bit clueless with the ball so far.....

[captainrapido]

Advantage Steve? Know what that means?

[rodders]

Bloody hell what was that from Farrell?

[ChequeredJersey]

Advantage Steve? Know what that means?

No, he doesn't

[rodders]

Jeebus the breakdown is mayhem at the minute!

[EnglishReign]

Eh? Long advantage!

[Rory_Gallagher]

Alberts is having a HUGE game here so far.

[anotherworldofpain]

I thought it would be game of rugby but is more about kick the ball and fumble around on the ground.

[ChequeredJersey]

I love Robshaw

[captainrapido]

I think Stu Barnes fancies the South African backrow...

[ChequeredJersey]

Like a big Golden Retriever

[ChequeredJersey]

I make it a rule to ignore everything Stu Barnes ever says

[yappysnap]

Farrel is kicking Poopie, get Flood on pronto!

And no one is offering themself for Youngs yet, he's got zero options at every ruck

[captainrapido]

TIP TACKLE FROM STEYN! RED CARD!

[yappysnap]

Brown's going well.

[yappysnap]

Why kick it straight back Foden?!

[rodders]

Alberts is having a HUGE game here so far.

In fairness its easier to look good when there's no offside, or indeed any, rules at the breakdown.....

[nathan]

what the hell was that from farrell?

[anotherworldofpain]

Why England's back line have no shape? They just group around the back of a ruck like young children rugby then pass the ball pointless to each other behind the gaining line and shuffle sideways then kick it away.

It's awful.

[yappysnap]

Farrel

Can you even pass?!

[EnglishReign]

Seriously, get Farrell off. Should never have started.

[Cari]

Oh dear. Sounds like Farrell's having a bad day at the office

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