QF4 - Match Thread - Japan v South Africa - 20/10/19 - K/O 11:15 BST

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

Thought I'd get these made nice and early for a few reasons - but one being that we're already now looking ahead to the QFs with several teams having finished their group stage, so it's all heating up for the proper knockout stuff...barring any more disruption.

Japan



Team:


South Africa



Team: Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Handré Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (C), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira.

Reps: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Frans Steyn.



Venue: Tokyo
Referee: Wayne Barnes
AR1: Ben O'Keeffe
AR2: Luke Pearce
TMO: Rowan Kitt

[Old Man]

Don't know Fly. SA have a habit of wanting to prove their physical superiority, especially when challenged in that way. They've tended to put the blinkers on and go route 1, and I think Wales can handle that better than the deft stuff

We will see, on the flipside Wales struggled to beat a 14 man French (35 + minutes) side

Change gameplan, South Africa has scored the most tries in this World Cup by far

That means diddly squat against Wales.

[BamBam]

Not against the traditional Tier 1 sides though. Spanking Namibia, Canada and Italy doesn't count for much at this stage 

Believe me, I hope you smash Wales but think they're well suited to defending your primary game

[protea438]

Not against the traditional Tier 1 sides though. Spanking Namibia, Canada and Italy doesn't count for much at this stage 

Believe me, I hope you smash Wales but think they're well suited to defending your primary game

You do know the All Blacks were in the same group

[protea438]

Don't know Fly. SA have a habit of wanting to prove their physical superiority, especially when challenged in that way. They've tended to put the blinkers on and go route 1, and I think Wales can handle that better than the deft stuff

We will see, on the flipside Wales struggled to beat a 14 man French (35 + minutes) side

Change gameplan, South Africa has scored the most tries in this World Cup by far

That means diddly squat against Wales.

It actually should

[BamBam]

Not against the traditional Tier 1 sides though. Spanking Namibia, Canada and Italy doesn't count for much at this stage 

Believe me, I hope you smash Wales but think they're well suited to defending your primary game

You do know the All Blacks were in the same group

You scored 1 try and lost against the All Black's. Is that the outcome you're aiming for?

[protea438]

Not against the traditional Tier 1 sides though. Spanking Namibia, Canada and Italy doesn't count for much at this stage 

Believe me, I hope you smash Wales but think they're well suited to defending your primary game

You do know the All Blacks were in the same group

You scored 1 try and lost against the All Black's. Is that the outcome you're aiming for?

Relax tough guy, leave that keyboard alone. I know it owes you money. I was just mentioning the 'style' of play which seems so important here

[BamBam]

Yes, and the style employed while smashing Namibia and Canada is not going to be as easy to find against Wales 

Never mind, I still hope South Africa win

[Collapse2005]

I’ve just noticed that the SA strip has a springbok face on it.

That’s just clever

Why?

Why have I just noticed or why is it clever?

Yeah why clever?

Because SA are known as the Springboks and the shirt designer has managed to incorporate that into the fabric of the shirt.

Maybe I’m easily amused but I think that’s quite a clever design

Oh on the collar?

Yeah. The collar makes the horns and the white fabric below makes the face

Ah hadnt noticed. Looks good alright

[SecretFly]

Will yis give over about the bloody collar design!  It ain't manly!


*must go have a look secretly to check it out - didn't have time to during the game) *

[Taylorman]

Me too....

[Collapse2005]

Im guessing it might be a SA v England final.

[SecretFly]

NZ v SA is my take on it.

And if thus be so, may God have mercy on the soul of these 606 environs, as the full War of Hemispheres will fully ignite and rage through the next four years

[stub]

Yep, NZ V SA most likely but Wales v Eng is the dream.

Love that clever collar by the way!

[The Great Aukster]

Congratulations to SA - deserved winners today. They were in trouble when they got sucked into playing like the Japanese, but when they realised they are a power team they won easily enough in the end.

Hard luck to the Japanese, by far the most exciting team in the competition albeit helped by their schedule and familiarity with the conditions.

[LondonTiger]

NZ v Wales my most likely final.

As to this game, a lot of focus on how much rest Eng/NZ had, less so on SA. Prior to today their last game was against Canada on 8th October, but that was their second string team. The bulk of their players had a 16 day break before this game.

[Guest]

Tough call LT. I don't see Wales winning the SF, personally.

Like Australia v Fiji - and unlike Australia for the rest of the tournament - I thought the Boks showed admirable composure under pressure, a trust in their strengths even when they were probably outplayed at times by Japan. They've barely laid a glove - far less had a glove laid on them - so far. This was arguably a tougher game for them than NZ - no, not as good quality, but more intense, more desperate. Until they pulled away to 19 (I think?) and it became a 3 score lead, there was an intensity to this game and Japan's running lines gave them all sorts of problems in the opening quarter.

But they dealt with it, and thats the point. They dealt with everything Japan brought, the situation, the fans, the emotion, and they won - convincingly in the end. Probably some issues in certain areas of the field, namely getting the ball to the outside backs in the best way possible. But this is a fine, strong, physical team, and that means so much in RWCs - at least it seems to.

What about Japan? What a team. What a country. What a group of players. I have to say this game sold me - I think this was probably their best performance of the tournament, one or two mistakes from Yu Tamura aside. No grand comeback like v Ireland, and not the glory of victory v Scotland. But some of the rugby they played - wow. Incredible. Would love to see more of that, but I think this is one of the beautiful things about RWCS - this is why it's the pinnacle, because it brings the best out of people.

In hindsight, I regret not looking in to going out there for a game or two. And would have loved for Wales to meet Japan in the SFs, but I honestly think Wales would likely have lost - I'm not sure they'd have the physical edge over them.

This is the way rugby should be played. Huge credit to Jamie Joseph and his team, but it's ignorant to call this a Kiwi success, as it would be to apply that label to Ireland or Wales. Joseph has brought out the very best traits of Japanese rugby and, through fair means or foul, created a pack that literally demolished the Springboks' scrum at times. The intensity, the running lines, the dedication, and...I don't even know, I could gush because I have no skin in the game here, but I just loved watching them play. I took my time warming to them purely because I didn't want to believe the hype prematurely, but today did it for me. What a team, what an effort.

[Mr Fishpaste]

"created a pack that literally demolished the Springboks' scrum at times"...
...Only when the Bok pack was down to 7 players....

[Guest]

A fair point, but they held their own v 8 early doors, and no one would have expected that pre tournament. Considering the Boks' weight and power, not having Kolisi there probably wasn't the whole reason - it's just a sign Japan played great rugby and didn't allow what could have been a fundamental weakness get to them until the very end. Admirable, but not quite good enough - considering the circumstances they deserve huge plaudits.

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