RWC final 19 - England v SA Match Thread - 02-11-2019 - Kick Off 09:00am

[Guest]

First topic message reminder :

The big one. The Rugby World Cup Final.

ENGLAND

Elliot Daly; Anthony Watson, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Billy Vunipola

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Marler, Dan Cole, George Kruis, Mark Wilson, Ben Spencer, Henry Slade, Jonathan Joseph

SOUTH AFRICA

Le Roux; Kolbe, Am, De Allende, Mapimpi; Pollard, De Klerk; Mtawarira, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.

Replacements: Marx, Kitschoff, Koch, Snyman, Mostert, Louw, H Jantjies, Steyn

Venue: International Stadium, Yokohama
Referee: Jerome Garces
AR1: Romain Poite
AR2: Ben O'Keefe
TMO: Ben Skeen

Head to Head

42 Played 42
15 Won 25
25 Lost 15
2 Drawn 2

Recent Form

16 June 2012
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
36 – 27 to South Africa

23 June 2012
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium,
Port Elizabeth
14 – 14 draw

24 November 2012
Twickenham, London
15 – 16 to South Africa

15 November 2014
Twickenham, London
28 – 31 to South Africa

12 November 2016
Twickenham, London
37 – 21 to England

9 June 2018
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
42 – 39 to South Africa

16 June 2018
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
23 – 12 to South Africa

23 June 2018
Newlands, Cape Town
10 – 25 to England

3 November 2018
Twickenham, London
12 – 11 to England

[Guest]

Durr, I said all were away for us

As are all world cups where NZ aren't the hosts. Ireland beat NZ away from home, on neutral soil, like a RWC. Whatever point you're making is irrelevant. But, this is literaly irrelevant to topic - which is England v SA. So let's actually agree to leave it...yes...?

[Taylorman]

yeah, nah, we’ll move on, that’s all trivia and opinion now. Old news. Right now, Ireland are in trouble. New, non SH coach.

Sexton and Murray having a mare of a tournament, getting too old, all the things you gave as reasons for their success, all now reasons for their demise. Big challenges ahead. Wales look more promising when the injured return, though I don’t know how Pivac will go.

[Guest]

Everyone looking good to play and no late withdrawals as far as I can tell, nothing's come out. Looks like England have got them all fit and on the field.

Also, perhaps too close to the game to discuss this - one for afterwards - but a lot of negative press around SA in the last few weeks - back home as much as anything. First Etzebeth, and then the 'bomb squad' controversy with Mapimpi. Lots of chat about how this will be good for SA - suppose Biltong is our own reference point here, but just wondering what the situation is actually like, and how SA winning might change things.

[Taylorman]

Durr, I said all were away for us

As are all world cups where NZ aren't the hosts. Ireland beat NZ away from home, on neutral soil, like a RWC. Whatever point you're making is irrelevant. But, this is literaly irrelevant to topic - which is England v SA. So let's actually agree to leave it...yes...?

Yes true, Chicago was every bit as yearned after as a World Cup quarter final for Ireland. Geez you’re a crack up. I think I’d be safe to say they would reverse those results in a second if they could.

Not long now. Cmon bokke!

[Rugby Fan]

Are we there yet?

[Taylorman]

Are we there yet?

Where you watching from RF? Didn’t get final tickets? I believe kiwis were offloading them for ten times the value

[Old Man]

Everyone looking good to play and no late withdrawals as far as I can tell, nothing's come out. Looks like England have got them all fit and on the field.

Also, perhaps too close to the game to discuss this - one for afterwards - but a lot of negative press around SA in the last few weeks - back home as much as anything. First Etzebeth, and then the 'bomb squad' controversy with Mapimpi. Lots of chat about how this will be good for SA - suppose Biltong is our own reference point here, but just wondering what the situation is actually like, and how SA winning might change things.

None of that matters today, the human rights commission has been embarrassed by their representative and he has been reprimanded and may not incite any further racial hate talk, the human rights commission re-iterated Eben is innocent until proven guilty.

The Mapimpi/bomb squad again someone inciting racial tension, the same as the Gauteng Education MEC who hastily criticised a South African supporter about havong an old SA flag around his shoulders, suggesting. this is deviding the nation and inciting racial tension, then had to apologise for being wrong.

It is par for the cause here in SA that every little thing is scrutinised that white people do. Always trying to find ways to accuse them of racism.

But WTF cares.

The team is united.

[lostinwales]

Are we there yet?

Only 20 more Miaow and Tman posts to go

[Taylorman]

Well said, guess you’re gonna get that with what SA went through, in fact I thought it was going to be much worse, kicking all whites out of the country one not unreasonable option given the oppression was raced based.

Great to see the Boks can come through that to make yet another final. A credit to the team, and their supporters.

[Guest]

When searching for the bomb squad clip on twitter I had to sieve through a lot of hostility from SA'ns. Obviously twitter is a terrible gauge of reality, but I was a bit surprised to see it. Thanks for giving your take. I don't think any of us here really can relate to what it's like in SA unless anyone's lived there.

But yeah, game on - all that matters. Just interesting to see so many comparisons made to 1995, perhaps inevitable, and the idea of rugby, once again, transforming the country when I saw lots of anger towards the rugby team, which was a bit sad to see.

On the injury front, both Kolbe and May perhaps not fully fit. Watching that May-Barrett 'chase down' again and Barrett starts a good 10m in front of him, on the angle admittedly, but really don't think that was a case of May lacking pace. Mapimpi seems to be the finishing winger for SA, but Kolbe is clearly the spark - who might only get one opportunity today. May is definitely the finisher, but also the spark as well with his pace. Interesting match up.

[Rugby Fan]

Are we there yet?

Where you watching from RF? Didn’t get final tickets? I believe kiwis were offloading them for ten times the value

I was offered a ticket for £1,100 but declined. Guy probably would have gone lower but I'd have been on the hook to take them around Tokyo tonight as a quid pro quo, which sounded like a pain in the rear. Also, my starving family loomed large in my mind...

Ensconced instead in the same Tokyo pub I've seen the other knockout games. Packed with English...

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Having just watched some inspirational Tongans in the other version of this sport, I might be converted if England can win this format’s crown

[Taylorman]

Are we there yet?

Where you watching from RF? Didn’t get final tickets? I believe kiwis were offloading them for ten times the value

I was offered a ticket for £1,100 but declined. Guy probably would have gone lower but I'd have been on the hook to take them around Tokyo tonight as a quid pro quo, which sounded like a pain in the rear. Also, my starving family loomed large in my mind...

Ensconced instead in the same Tokyo pub I've seen the other knockout games. Packed with English...

Cool, good luck, done the same myself a few times. Went to Sydney to a test and ended up in a bar in Bondi watching it there with a pub full of kiwis

Enjoy and good luck. Think it’ll be close.

[Rugby Fan]

Having just watched some inspirational Tongans in the other version of this sport, I might be converted if England can win this format’s crown

Big boost for the Vunipolas...

[Taylorman]

Having just watched some inspirational Tongans in the other version of this sport, I might be converted if England can win this format’s crown

Yeah they’re packed full of NRL players, who did they play?

[Taylorman]

Oh...the Kangaroos? Well done Tonga. Lately the NZ based NRL players have pledged allegiance to Tonga so they’ve got a huge following here. We could have done with them too!

[Duty281]

Having just watched some inspirational Tongans in the other version of this sport, I might be converted if England can win this format’s crown

Amazing result for them, makes GB's troubles ebb away somewhat!

[Collapse2005]

Are we there yet?

Where you watching from RF? Didn’t get final tickets? I believe kiwis were offloading them for ten times the value

I was offered a ticket for £1,100 but declined. Guy probably would have gone lower but I'd have been on the hook to take them around Tokyo tonight as a quid pro quo, which sounded like a pain in the rear. Also, my starving family loomed large in my mind...

Ensconced instead in the same Tokyo pub I've seen the other knockout games. Packed with English...

Poor form charging a grand for a ticket.

[RiscaGame]

Best of luck to England.

[Collapse2005]

COME ON ENGERLAND

[Taylorman]

Looking at the squad only one was born in Tonga, most in Auckland, the rest in Oz. All play for NRL sides and some played for Oz and NZ, but a big push lately to play for a Tonga.

If the rugby sides did it the rugby landscape would be very different. Tonga and Samoa would be tier one sides overnight, likely top 5.

[Guest]

How much is face value for a ticket? £3-400?

[Collapse2005]

Kind of hard not to like this SA side too though

[Collapse2005]

How much is face value for a ticket? £3-400?

Pretty sure they start under 100 quid. Poor form "fans" flogging them for thousands.

[Guest]

Hate to say it but I think this will be one for the purists.

[Dirtydave]

Good luck to this England team, and to all the English posters on here!

If England manage it, it will be well deserved!

Good luck to south Africa too!

[alfie]

Looking forward to this... Fancy England but expecting a tough match.

Just hope it isn't decided by a card or an unlucky injury...

[Collapse2005]

Quick press mute

[Pal Joey]

Oh...the Kangaroos? Well done Tonga. Lately the NZ based NRL players have pledged allegiance to Tonga so they’ve got a huge following here. We could have done with them too!

Fantastic game... so pleased for the Tongans. The Kangaroos choked! The hymn singing was another great highlight.
Lots of Tongans here too - they'll be celebrating right up until church tomorrow morning I'd say. (it's just before 8pm here)

All the best for both teams tonight. Head says England... but let's see if the Boks can rattle the juggernaut.

[mikey_dragon]

Good luck England, and good luck to Old Man Biltong!

[majesticimperialman]

Come On  England you can do it.

[Collapse2005]

Dont know why the tv crews never show the in match Japanese style fan entertainment that goes on at these games. Fan cam playing the tengu drums is great craic.

[Taylorman]

Good start bokke. Pollard should see this one easy enough.

[Collapse2005]

Ah Handre

[Taylorman]

Oops, spoke too soon.

[Pal Joey]

Good start bokke. Pollard should see this one easy enough.

Well jinxed.

[BigGee]

A very nervy kick was that!

[Guest]

Classic Pollard. Flawless against Wales in 2015 and 2019, then missed that - not a gimme, but hardly a tricky kick.

[BigGee]

That is Sinklers game over

[Guest]

Nasty one. Bad for England but bad for Sinckler as well. The last thing anyone wanted, really, a serious injury.

[Taylorman]

Oh dear...

[Collapse2005]

Jesus looks awful. Hope he is ok

[lostinwales]

Sinckler

[Guest]

Purely tactical view here - this now means Mako's likely to have 80 minutes ahead of him as Marler will likely be kept on the bench to cover both props.

Or, failing that, do you just take either/or off as they tire and accept the prospect of uncontested scrums?

It's a distinct possibility to happen at some point.

[Taylorman]

England’s put everything up so far and the Boks have taken them well. Boks put one up and Ford gets done, so bokke ahead in the tactics so far.

[alfie]

Not looking good for Sinckler

Why did I have to mention injuries ?

[RiscaGame]

That’s horrible. Long shift for Dan Cole now too.

[Taylorman]

Purely tactical view here - this now means Mako's likely to have 80 minutes ahead of him as Marler will likely be kept on the bench to cover both props.

Or, failing that, do you just take either/or off as they tire and accept the prospect of uncontested scrums?

It's a distinct possibility to happen at some point.

Good point. SA will look to target the scrums late in the game with fresh props.

[BigGee]

He is up and running which is good, but game over for him

[Guest]

It's a relativity innocuous collision/contact as well - certainly not as dramatic as Farrell's head shots. Which shows the danger of head injuries/collisions and it being far from an exact science. Didn't look good, have to feel for him.

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