Boks, AB's and Aus trip to Europe
Discussion
Boks start the tour with the dirt trackers playing Leicester at Welford Road on Friday keen to watch this game to have a look at how a number of new players in the Bok squad shape up, especially Ashley Johnson who has had a dream currie cup campain for Free State.
Is anyone going to the Game?
Invite to all to use this thread for comment on anything about the South touring the North.
Is anyone going to the Game?
Invite to all to use this thread for comment on anything about the South touring the North.
AndySA said:
Good to see some of the rugby regulars on here already. I also hope the Tigers manage to put out a decent team, really looking forward to tonight.
Also hope your lot get one over the Aussies and/or AB's on Saturday, Good Luck.
How do you think the SA are going to do with this set of AI's? It's been a pretty relentless season for most of the squad, Super rugby then the Lions tour, followed by a good Tri-Nations, then the Currie Cup games. There must be some pretty tired bodies out there. Especially with the intensity in the contact area that the Boks play with. Also hope your lot get one over the Aussies and/or AB's on Saturday, Good Luck.
AndySA said:
He will need to be sensible with the management of the senior players in order to get the best out of them.
I fear if you leave it to him you may be in trouble. The Boks however do seem to give the impression they win despite him, rather than due to him. More than likely due to having such an experienced core group of players and such a talismatic captain.Edited by Bosshogg76 on Friday 6th November 09:57
To be honest the Boks should walk the AIs. The Northern Hemisphere teams are simply in no shape to offer much competition.
England are injury ravaged, Johnson is putting out whoever is left standing.
The Welsh are still putting a complete team together...in 12months the Welsh team could be seriously capable, but at the moment Gatland is still building.
The Irish should be the ones to offer a challenge, however the Irish Lions players have been particularly slow in getting back upto speed. The Irish provinces are not in especially good form.
In many ways I fear these AIs might be a little bit of an anti-climax. I wanted to see Johnson able to put out a proper team, one with real building blocks for the future around a stable, powerful core. Unfortunately he just cant do that, however a few things I was talking about in the past *have* come to pass.
Courtney Lawes. Woohoo
Dan Hipkiss at centre. Woohoo
Erinle! It seems like years ago I wanted to see this guy at centre for England, I thought he was a shoe in, but he went off the boil. First at Wasps and then Leicester shunted him after just 1 season. I think he could be a superb impact sub for England. A complete wrecking ball.
This England back line has actually got a really interesting look about it, I fancy Gerraghty and Hipkiss to really show something in the midfield with Banahan creating havoc outwide and Jonny controlling the game. The trouble of course is England's Pack for this game is completely makeshift. The front row is a total scratch affair and whilst I love the back row, it will require a really strong leadership performance to hold it all together. Bugger, we got Borthwick
England are injury ravaged, Johnson is putting out whoever is left standing.
The Welsh are still putting a complete team together...in 12months the Welsh team could be seriously capable, but at the moment Gatland is still building.
The Irish should be the ones to offer a challenge, however the Irish Lions players have been particularly slow in getting back upto speed. The Irish provinces are not in especially good form.
In many ways I fear these AIs might be a little bit of an anti-climax. I wanted to see Johnson able to put out a proper team, one with real building blocks for the future around a stable, powerful core. Unfortunately he just cant do that, however a few things I was talking about in the past *have* come to pass.
Courtney Lawes. Woohoo
Dan Hipkiss at centre. Woohoo
Erinle! It seems like years ago I wanted to see this guy at centre for England, I thought he was a shoe in, but he went off the boil. First at Wasps and then Leicester shunted him after just 1 season. I think he could be a superb impact sub for England. A complete wrecking ball.
This England back line has actually got a really interesting look about it, I fancy Gerraghty and Hipkiss to really show something in the midfield with Banahan creating havoc outwide and Jonny controlling the game. The trouble of course is England's Pack for this game is completely makeshift. The front row is a total scratch affair and whilst I love the back row, it will require a really strong leadership performance to hold it all together. Bugger, we got Borthwick
Im not joking here but Ive *never* seen anything like this in the scrums. Every scrum, Tigers and Boks and the Tigers front row are winning everything, not just winning but each scrum is marched back 5 yards or a penalty is awarded against the Boks. Im serious, Ive never seen a scrum so utterly ruined in any level of professional...or even semi-pro or amateur...rugby that is happening to the Bok scrum tonight. That this is a Bok scrum is scarely believable.
Anybody even vaguely into their rugby, esp Pack boys, HAVE to watch this performance. Blimey, the Leicester boys have even just stolen a lineout off the Boks camped on the Tigers own line! This is a stunning Pack performance by Leicester.
Anybody even vaguely into their rugby, esp Pack boys, HAVE to watch this performance. Blimey, the Leicester boys have even just stolen a lineout off the Boks camped on the Tigers own line! This is a stunning Pack performance by Leicester.
Andy have you watched much Guiness Prem and HC rugby?
This is what Ive been saying about Bok rugby, its Pack based and you play good Pack rugby, but nothing special, it can be matched over here. What I dont think the Southern Hemisphere guys realise is just what happens over here...especially Leicester. The Leicester Pack, even the 2nd string Pack, at any given time is International quality and not just any International quality, but top class quality. Castro is probably the best Prop in the world at the moment and on the other side he has Marcos Ayerza...another of the best Props in the world. The huge thing in many ways is what happened around the back row. That was a 2nd or 3rd string Tigers back row and they destroyed the Boks. Craig Hammond was playing for Nottingham until this week, called up as cover and this is an International for him.
Just imagine what Mungo, Croft and Crane would have done to them!
The Bok Pack didnt play badly, Danni R didnt play badly, they just got outplayed and beaten up. You can count the humber of visiting team victories at Welford Road on the fingers of one hand over the last few years, a second string version of the World Champions are no different.
This is what Ive been saying about Bok rugby, its Pack based and you play good Pack rugby, but nothing special, it can be matched over here. What I dont think the Southern Hemisphere guys realise is just what happens over here...especially Leicester. The Leicester Pack, even the 2nd string Pack, at any given time is International quality and not just any International quality, but top class quality. Castro is probably the best Prop in the world at the moment and on the other side he has Marcos Ayerza...another of the best Props in the world. The huge thing in many ways is what happened around the back row. That was a 2nd or 3rd string Tigers back row and they destroyed the Boks. Craig Hammond was playing for Nottingham until this week, called up as cover and this is an International for him.
Just imagine what Mungo, Croft and Crane would have done to them!
The Bok Pack didnt play badly, Danni R didnt play badly, they just got outplayed and beaten up. You can count the humber of visiting team victories at Welford Road on the fingers of one hand over the last few years, a second string version of the World Champions are no different.
I have not watched as much northern hemisphere rugby as i should but will make a point of trying to catch more games after seeing this. A very different style of play to our currie cup though, although i do prefer currie cup rugby to the super 14 which is a bit too "australian" for my south african blood.
This is why my posts are usually so forward orientated, this is my rugby You want to know why Johnson and Back were so bloody good? The nucleaus of England's WC winning 2003 team...Johnson, Kay and Back...all Leicester Pack men. The England team of 2007 who were limited but had endless sheer bloodymindedness, the nucleus up front? Martin Corry, Kay, Lewis Moody...all Leicester Pack men with Chuter as a replacement.
God I love November rugby. It wet, cold, muddy, Godawful crappy weather and the game is won and lost fighting over 4foot of territory with your face in the dirt. A proper b
ds game.
You want to know why Johnson and Back were so bloody good? The nucleaus of England's WC winning 2003 team...Johnson, Kay and Back...all Leicester Pack men. The England team of 2007 who were limited but had endless sheer bloodymindedness, the nucleus up front? Martin Corry, Kay, Lewis Moody...all Leicester Pack men with Chuter as a replacement. God I love November rugby. It wet, cold, muddy, Godawful crappy weather and the game is won and lost fighting over 4foot of territory with your face in the dirt. A proper b
ds game.
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