I'd dearly like the Boks to win, but something is telling me another loss is on the cards.
I don't think Pollard coming back and the Boks playing even more safety first rugby is the answer.
I think, Cape Town is gonna be a carbon copy of Eden Park last year. Same strategy and similar scoreline.
We will see only high balls and pods.
Let's hope I'm wrong.
What are your predictions?
A coin toss. I hope we can impose our game on them...wet weather makes things very unpredictable...it should favour the best pack, but outside of scrimmaging the Allblacks were on par with us or better, especially at contesting rucks ..if the Bokke don't see a huge improvement, it's gonna be a hard cold day in Cape Town...but we normally come back strong after a loss.
Rassie is panicking if he made such significant changes.
By dropping both the starting and bench fly-halves and the starting scrum-half, it looks like he is reverting to 10-man rugby. I would have rather experimented with the centres than bringing Pollard back.
Sasha is not in form, but if he had good centres, he could find his feet quicker.
There should be more scrums over the weekend, which could help the Boks.
I think the Boks will win this weekend, but it should be close.
The breakdown will be key. Deon Fourie at 38 is still the best fetcher in South Africa. He will get onto the pitch sooner rather than later. If you beat the All Blacks at the breakdown, they struggle to get phase play going, and that is usually enough to beat them
If you beat the All Blacks at the breakdown, they struggle to get phase play going, and that is usually enough to beat thembold
Spot on, you've nailed it, been saying it long before this series started......ABs generate attack from broken play and that play starts off the ruck. Unsettle them at the ruck and their game plan goes out the window.
It's not impossible for the Boks to win. In fact, they are the kind of side that could conceivably put a big score on this All Black team if everything clicked. But what I saw in the first Test was so structurally inept that I cannot see a handful of selection changes compensating for it. The problems at centre remain, while the broader issues with attacking shape, phase-to-phase continuity and support cannot be repaired simply by changing personnel.
I expect the Boks to double down on territory, set piece and the kicking game, which is probably the correct response and should make them more competitive. But ultimately, I don't think it will be enough. My prediction is an All Black win.
One would swear the Boks had just come off a long line of defeats?
How stupid are you seriously???
@Saffolk I haven't seen the Boks look this incapable using the ball since the 2002 Tri Nations. The gulf between the two sides in this regard was enormous. It's not the kind of problem that is going to be fixed in a few days. However, as I said, the Boks are still able to pull off a big win. I just don't think it's likely. Let's put it this way, the Boks lost 5 tries to 1, and for all their physical and scrum dominance, they didn't look like they troubled New Zealand at all. Even those big gainline carries, the All Blacks reset and organised quickly. Where was the damage? It was all superficial. The odds are against the Boks. That's a fact. Let's see what they are able to do on Saturday. Hopefully they turn the tables.
@Deus Ex Lemur you miss my point - they have had one or two poor games, for the rest they have been damn good so your take is a load of crap as per usual
Prediction...Bokke to play much better but winning by less than 7.
is there a 'bonus point' element to the series ?
I would have predicted a Bok win but with Pollard starting ahead of Sacha I'm not so sure.
Rassie seems to have forgotten how we inflicted a record defeat on the ABs a year ago.
There is little to suggest a Bok win is impossible. However the people who have been complaining about the Boks for a decade or so are also are the same ones predicting a loss.
Is this just a terrible coincidence. Of course not.
It reminds me of the New York Slimes giving Trump a 2 percent chance of wining in 2016 presidential election.
Sometimes bias is so ingrained an oak just can't think straight.
@moolaa GL may the best team win. Glad for your sake that the ABs are back but I did predict that the tour would do them the world of good.
I’m planning on jumping the ditch and following the Boks on the return tour
@Denny Good lad!!
I saw an article as the most experienced bok team ever and 1 cap short from being the most experienced cap team in history. 1 behind the 2015 all black team.
That said, a very geriatric team and a poor bench, don't think the have the stamina to last the distance. Especially with Kolisi back and about to last 10 min before he goes off injured.
All blacks to run them tired and allow them the boks to punch themselves out
@Deus Ex Lemur no you have been banging on about how poor they have been for years and how poor Rassie is as a coach - all a load of utter shit, which is exactly why I called you an idiot
As for the Boks at Ellis Park - they were massively disappointing considering they had asserted their authority in the first half but failed to convert that into points - it obviously got worse in the second half
It was a crap performance
@Saffolk Saffex, whatever you are taking triple the dose.
Boks x 5
I’m a Pollard fan, have always been. But Sacha and our wings are the players that give us attacking options at the moment. And with Dud Allende at 12 and Reinach at 10….we need the spark of Sacha. I have looked at the game several times and he got through a lot of important work.
With Sacha there I believe we will win this one. Geraasmus has been saved from another tactical blunder and hopefully he won’t make as many mistakes as last week.
Sad to say but I'm the prophet of doom - from the current teams I'd pick 5 AB backs over 2 SA , the scrum's all ours, lineouts 50/50 & the backrow theirs, 70/30.
Hope I'm wrong but our golden era might be over.
ABs by 10
Well done Bob at least you recognize it as a golden era.
During the course of Rassie incredible run certain world class players have emerged. Ox, Marx, Wilco, Eben, DuToit. Kolbe and Willemse. You might even argue for Nortje giving his great work in the lineouts and outstanding 80 minute work rate. Given the game plan Allende might be included as well. Many have said he is the best 12 in the world and during his career has received accolades all round apart from some nutters posting here.
However time marches on. Small almost imperceptible physical decline might be playing a role. I say might because Eben had a good 80 minute stint against the tough Argies pack We have Deon Fourie at close to 40 playing incredible rugby.
As for Pollard at 32 8 think he is age is not a problem. At the very least it would have been beneficial to have him on the bench. He is a smart clutch player who will give you a good chance of closing out a close game.
One thing I do believe is we can soundly beat the wee abs if we get our game right. Hopefully we don't have injuries to help scupper our chances. The loss of Kolbe and Arendse really messed up our backline and the options open to Rassie. Then the two yellows. Then the ref etc.
So I don't really give a hoot about the 5 tries to 1 given the above. The Kiwi Ballarinas obviously have to be watched on attack but we are capable of great defence.
Looking forward to seeing Deon at 6. What a warrior!
Good luck NZ ...GO BOKKE!!!!
Rassie changing the front row around just before kick off? Planned before hand or is he panicking?
