Moore's marauders: Who dares, wins

The game was lost due to the stupidity of the box kick straight to Falou. Don't even get me started on the lack of 'grounded the ball' in the NON Grounding of the ball for the final try - should never have been in that position, absolutrely should have been able to close out that game. A sucker was given a break.

@ Harry Yeah... that tends to happen when you throw yourself, like a human arrow, head first into the mire of a ruck :)

Thank you, etienne m. I recall Roarers pillorying Jannie du Plessis during the s15 and this was why I was very surprised to find him in the starting 15 instead of Kitshoff. All good now and I trust that JdP has played himself back into form.

And another geneticist enters the fray. Now, if we, the boring and brainless, can just discover which permutation of alleles ensures "inventive, skillful and attack-minded play", then we would be well away to...mmm, where again ?

Exactly, from his position i think he had doubts as did some, but he allowed his professionalism to rule and trusted the TMO. A good piece of reffing.

Especially when players on the bench should have started. Both coaches got it wrong. Meyer going to bench when he shouldnt have, cheika by not starting players he should have. Thats how we ended up with the lopsided two halves. Meyers faux pas was worse though. He would have been better without the sub rule bar matfields injury.

Rob Houwing on the captaincy question: http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/RugbyChampionship/NZ-Schalk-or-Flo-should-lead-20150719 (with his prediction for a team announcement for Saturday, at bottom)

I think your instincts are right there, Harrry. Just from memory, I recall Jaco Kriel's big carries, where he ran over players, to mostly have been against flyhalves, centres and wings. This is not to diminish his accomplishments, just to indicate that on attack he is essentially a wider player, superfast, with a good eye for space as well. Indeed, more like Coetzee.

Particularly good news about Coetzee. The way he was carried into the sheds, it looked like they could stick a fork on him.

Boks and their fans cannot feel aggrieved at all. How many times hasn't this sort of thing happened - and like flogging a dead horse we on this forum keep saying that defence is useless if you are not scoring tries. On the other hand Wallabies were far more inventive, skillful and attack-minded, (and they got the result) whereas the Boks were clearly thinking they were going to win this one with blood-and-guts defence, ONLY!!!!. Quite frankly it's boring rugby. The Boks - and SA rugby in general (and I keep saying this) is not built on attack-mindedness at all. Purely on brawn and "we can shove you off the ball approach" and roll you over. Admittedly the Boks defence was brilliant - but that's where it it starts - and ends. Of course the Boks will never be the ABs or Aussies for that matter, when it comes to backline play, but they DO have the backline, but inventive attacking play is not built into their DNA. However it can be learnt!!! For example does it ever look like the Boks have a planned move in their backline play from a set-piece for example. No it's the same ... pick up and drive.. pick up and drive ... etc. I keep saying that their skill levels (the little things that matter) not on a par with their rivals. The margins are small but on this level they end up being huge. Off-loads are not an aspect that the ABs have mastered through natural skill ... it's practice, practice, practice, or enterprising backplay for example. I keep saying the Boks hve the backline to do the job on a more consistent basis .. but clearly it's not part of the plan through an ultra-conservative mindset. However you have to ask yourself why they employ a backline coach. Just saying...

Yes, looks like both Coetzee and Vic are going to be fine for ARG game, at least. Hearing good things about Vermeulen's post-surgery and JdV played 60:00 for WP. We are best when underdogs. Could be good. Not sure about J Kriel's power in the carry at test level until we see it. Could be more of a Coetzee type than an Alberts/JPot bruiser.

Exactly right on all points. Including the last one.

Yes Harry, it is fantastic to see a youngster live up to the latent talent that one sees promised. He will still make mistakes and there will be games where his performances might be less convincing, bet he is the real deal, particularly with his utility value. There are many positives to take out of the game. We always knew these months before the start of RWC was going to be difficult and that the machine will not be built and tested overnight. I took the conscious decision, already during the latter stages of SR, to manage my own expectations. The answers will come... Yes, and Bismarck can kick too. Not well. But better than Adriaan. ;-) I think the tackle figures look a little worse than the defensive result actually suggest, possibly because some slipped tackles were part of dual attempts where the first tackler misses, but due to their proximate defensive pattern, the second tackler puts the man down. But yes, we need to see some improvement there. Lood was very good, particularly in defence, where he tackled like a demon. I don't think he lost any ball on our lineouts, but he also did not contest that well on their ball; an element of the game that has always been, and must remain a hallmark for us. So, he is part of the answer at 5, but not the entire answer. I was desperately hoping that Mohoje would have a good game and shape well; for more reasons than just the obvious. I'm afraid that his performance yesterday was not even good enough for SR level. Sad, but true. Would love to see J. Kriel in green and gold, but not sure that his inclusion would be optimal. In my view, the player that we missed most yesterday is Thor. His strong driving ability, speed to the ball, retention and pilfering capabilities, all in one package, and then combined with being such a solid and reliable option in the lineout, is missing in our game. With both Thor and Alberts in doubt, I think the immediate need is for another bruiser to be included in the squad (at least the wider squad). In my view, that player should be Jacques Potgieter. He does not bring all of the missing elements, but he does bring many of them. So, although I am a massive fan of Kriel, and I have no doubt that he will make us proud in the Bok jersey, I will suggest that Jackpot is the more appropriate resource to bring in right now. (There's Jacques du Plessis and Pierre Spies as well, but I think in a game like yesterday's they would not have had the necessary impact when brough on.) Interesting week ahead; I hear HM and the Doc are bullish on Matfield's and Coetzee's injuries.

Lood wasn't bad. Wish Meyer had groomed a young 5 in addition to him

Mate, I've been worried about Burger ever since his comeback after his illness, but he is such a great old workhorse. Lots of tackles, forced turnovers, and lasted the full 80! At least we don't have to worry about 8, Duane and Schalk can substitute easily. 5, on the other hand, is a black hole....

Great post, Vic. What do you think about Burger at 8?

Can't agree that the Bokke were smug - much as I'm not a Jannie fan , he wasn't responsible for the coach's decision to substitute, nor were the other players. And we don't know what the coach was trying to achieve by substituting. If he thought we had it in the bag, and therefor he substituted, he was silly and smug. If he just used the opportunity to test his newbie combinations, he was heartless but not necessarily smug. And we can all see old Heyneke isn't heartless........... At least the first 60 worked. The last 20 didn't. Now the coach knows, and will have go work on plan C and D. Having said all that, the Aussies played well, and tenaciously. Deserved win. Tree lovers can be great sportsmen too ;)

Yes! It was a beauty try. The fact that he can easily slot in at 15 or on the wing is a huge plus in a RWC. The good thing about this (gut wrenching) game is it actually did give us a good read on some of the issues. Bismarck definitely ahead of Strauss (last year, that wasn't clear). Kriel & de Allende could be a combo. (The missed tackles by our 9-10-12-13 a problem, though). Lood looked good. Can get some game time while Vic is out. Mohoje ... no. Bring in the OTHER Kriel!

Harry, what impressed me most, was his defensive performance in concert with de Allende and Pollard; well organised, intelligent, tight, but not over-aggressive. I got the impression that 12 and 13 took their defensive cues from 10. Yes, I think there has been some green ink added next to Kriel's name (adding to that of 10 and 12). JdV, if healthy, will make a good replacement/impact contribution. My wife claims that I wept, just as Kriel went over the line for his try. I decided not to argue with her too much on that point.

Etienne, your post was better composed. Kriel might've got his WC ticket, hey?