Semi Final - South Africa

[Sandydragon]

Why are people getting so het-up over a back replacing an injured forward?

Each team is allowed 31 players in their squad but how that squad is made up is down to selection by each country. I guess the only stipulation is that there has to be at least six front row specialists.

We don’t know if North, Amos and Halfpenny are all carrying knocks possibly making them ineligible for the next match. With only two games maximum to go it would be daft to call up a back row forward who would twiddle his thumbs because we already have back row cover by five experienced players.

Completely agree. The only stipulation for me would be that it was a genuine injury.

Agreed. But WR doctors (the HIA ones?) could do this quite easily.

Somebody as vital as Navidi coming off after 30 minutes would surely point the way to genuine injury.

Completely agree.

[Lizard]

Fair enough. Do you know if there's any limit to how many such replacements a team can bring in? Or if they have to do anything at all to prove the injury is real?

I don’t think there’s any limit. As far as I can tell, genuineness is dealt with using the honour system.

As I said above, I have no doubt that Navidi’s injury is real.

[normanski]

Fair enough. Do you know if there's any limit to how many such replacements a team can bring in? Or if they have to do anything at all to prove the injury is real?

I don’t think there’s any limit. As far as I can tell, genuineness is dealt with using the honour system.

As I said above, I have no doubt that Navidi’s injury is real.

Perhaps in this age of super-professionalism WR needs to look at tightening up the rules surrounding replacements to, hopefully, prevent cheating injuries.

If my memory is correct I don’t think the replacement can be in the country where the Cup is being played (except for the host country). Again something that could be looked at with the travelling and time zones involved.

[Numbers]

So it looks as though Kolbe is a doubt for Sunday.

[paddy no 11]

Would be a huge loss not much threat without him from SA basically just tackles big lumps who run straight hardlines - easy peasy

[Sandydragon]

And they are already petitioning to get the ref replaced!!

[Numbers]

And they are already petitioning to get the ref replaced!!

To be fair that's just the fans isn't it rather than an official request from the SARU.

[Sandydragon]

And they are already petitioning to get the ref replaced!!

To be fair that's just the fans isn't it rather than an official request from the SARU.

I know. But it’s still amusing and suggests a few of their fans are a bit nervous.

[Numbers]

And they are already petitioning to get the ref replaced!!

To be fair that's just the fans isn't it rather than an official request from the SARU.

I know. But it’s still amusing and suggests a few of their fans are a bit nervous.

Aye, clutching at straws.

[normanski]

Would be a huge loss not much threat without him from SA basically just tackles big lumps who run straight hardlines - easy peasy

The Prince of Wales described the Boks as ‘blydi big buggers’ according to Ken Owen today.

Just about right I would think!

[Sandydragon]

Would be a huge loss not much threat without him from SA basically just tackles big lumps who run straight hardlines - easy peasy

This could go down as the least creative semi final of all time.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Would be a huge loss not much threat without him from SA basically just tackles big lumps who run straight hardlines - easy peasy

The Prince of Wales described the Boks as ‘blydi big buggers’ according to Ken Owen today.

Just about right I would think!

True but the Prince of Wales is pretty short so that probably applies to anyone.

[Puja]

Would be a huge loss not much threat without him from SA basically just tackles big lumps who run straight hardlines - easy peasy

This could go down as the least creative semi final of all time.

England vs France 2007?

Puja

[Sourdust]

Would be a huge loss not much threat without him from SA basically just tackles big lumps who run straight hardlines - easy peasy

This could go down as the least creative semi final of all time.

It's not as if SFs are usually festivals of champagne rugby, is it?

Besides, whoever wins 12-6 on Sunday won't give three-fifths of a shit.

[Sandydragon]

Would be a huge loss not much threat without him from SA basically just tackles big lumps who run straight hardlines - easy peasy

This could go down as the least creative semi final of all time.

It's not as if SFs are usually festivals of champagne rugby, is it?

Besides, whoever wins 12-6 on Sunday won't give three-fifths of a shit.

I’ll be very happy with three nil to us.

[Numbers]

SA Team:

South Africa: Le Roux; Nkosi, 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

[Puja]

No Kolbe's a result for your lot. Noted that the press conference featured the phrase, "We hope he'll be fit for the final", which is a bit of a team talk for your lot.

Puja

[normanski]

SA Team:

South Africa: Le Roux; Nkosi, 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

What do we have to do to stop their ‘big buggers’ pack.

Francis will need to get a nudge on against the Beast and Wyn Jones needs to contain Malherbe to give us at least a steady platform in the scrums. What worries me is their replacement front row - it looks awesome! Lewis and Carre(?) will really have to step up to the mark in the last quarter.

Also Davies needs to get the ball away far more quickly at the breakdown and the back of the scrum. Often at breakdowns he just strolls up, looks at the ball at his feet, turns round to see who he can pass to and before he knows it a blydi big prop and lock have counter rucked and he can’t get the ball out and the momentum is lost. Also his box kicking needs to be pinpoint accurate. I just hope he has a really good game. He could be a winner for us if his game plan works.

[Sandydragon]

As a team we need to get off the mark from the first whistle. Thats a strong Bokke team but its not unbeatable and if we get in their faces and disrupt their patterns then we can be in a strong place. We could really do with the start we had against Georgia and Australia, not Fiji or France as I think we will have to work hard for points and going too far behind would be a real problem.

[bruce]

SA Team:

South Africa: Le Roux; Nkosi, 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

What worries me is their replacement front row - it looks awesome! Lewis and Carre(?) will really have to step up to the mark in the last quarter.

The SA replacement front row is arguably better than the starting one.

[normanski]

SA Team:

South Africa: Le Roux; Nkosi, 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

What worries me is their replacement front row - it looks awesome! Lewis and Carre(?) will really have to step up to the mark in the last quarter.

The SA replacement front row is arguably better than the starting one.

Let's hope Rassie keeps them on for 65 minutes!

[Sandydragon]

Liam Williams out for the next 2 games. Thats a big loss.

I suspect Halfpenny will be the direct replacement, which loses us nothing defensively but in attack it really doesn't help.

[Sourdust]

Liam Williams out for the next 2 games. Thats a big loss.

I suspect Halfpenny will be the direct replacement, which loses us nothing defensively but in attack it really doesn't help.

Just when the Kolbe news was giving a chink of optimism; this.

No point beating about the bush. We can't possibly afford this, and everyone knows it.

[MrK]

Id go balls to the wall then and play Patchell at 15.

[Buggaluggs]

That's bad news indeed. He's one of a small group of players who have genuinely troubled the ABs in recent times.