2015 Rugby World Cup: Pool B preview

As a Saffa, I have to say, you are spot on and I have lived in both countries. South Africa have much more age group talent and have much bigger rugby production line, plus a consuming national passion. Australia considering the code competition consistently punch above their weight. A lot of it is subtle mindset. Australians (and of course I generalize) are more open to experimentation and embracing new ideas and innovation in particular. South Africans as a whole, are a lot more traditional in their thinking. More risk adverse. Where the South African Rugby teams sadly consistently fall down, is coaching and management of this talent. At school level, and at Currie Cup level, we see some amazing running rugby. You only have to look at how the Lions or the Cheetahs play to see, that the Bulls kick and chase stereotype does not fit all teams. But when it comes to National level, this free flowing but also risky running game is coached out of the players, so they become robotic. This is possibly because, the demanding public will not except any losses to go along the adaption of a new style. To be fair Meyer, has tried to embrace a more expansive game, except this entertaining rugby, was not winning rugby. What is so amazing, is that Australia, with severely limited rugby resources, have a competitive team at all. Especially that they have coped in the forwards. The Boks constantly produce 120kg loose forwards, that as Eddy Jones once said, are roaming around in the Currie Cup. Imagine how a player like Jaco Kriel (of the Lions) would flourish if he grew up in Australia?

Perhaps that was a throwaway but in watching the SA SXV sides for twenty years or so they've had some massive talent. In that entire time they wouldn't have one back that would be considered the best in the twenty years since- Joost easilythe best back in that period. You can probably count the great backs on two hands over that period: Habana, Montgomery, Du Preez, JDV, Fourie, Le Roux and maybe a couple of others I've forgotten. Even they only just cut it in terms of the elite level. But I see that as SA for the same period failing to develop its backplay to irresponsible levels in the sake of favouring control up front. Especially on the hardest and fastest grounds probably in the world where space is that much more accessible. You just can't have a system that practically excludes half the side for the sake of a power and control based, keeping your enemies close style. Because of that they've selected backs that supports the up front domination rather than developing those that can supplement rather than merely support the pack. They're starting to change but probably not quick enough. Guys like Kriel and Le Roux have shown the can make something from nothing, something Oz have been doing for years. But its got to be promoted and encouraged at its roots. As Biltong said earlier I think, they'll return to the same game for this world cup. Trouble is with that approach you will usually always get what you've always got.

Saloon passage for South Africa.

Agree canadiankiwi. Meyer said after the Argentinian win that expansive rugby is fine in the SH, but its going to be Bok rugby in the NH. Steyn, Lambie, du preez and pienaar will control things with the boot. if the weather is wet, expect the Boks to surprise.

Fitness issues were big problem in TRC for Boks. Looks like that's been fixed. Cardio-wise, at least.

Hahahahaha hand of God... Hope that hand is Thor's.

Old Bugger, I may only have dreams pre-SF. After the SF, I may be fishing for Biltong's prize.

I see it slightly different...hypothetically of course.... Matlock's alzheimers to become evident when he forgets the lineout calls....and Whitelock takes most of Bok ball.... Jdv..... gets run over by Nonu.....and the Bus finishes him off.... Bismark is stepped and left floundering by Coles..... A hand of God moment from Richie..... Man of the match ...... Sbw

I think we'll see any hint of springing an ambush, in the QF.

HJ I enjoy reading your articles and posts but you have to realise that IMO, you are not one to write articles of fantasy.....you do agree, don't you??....haha!!

Great post, RT. Injuries are the wild card, of course, but I see the underBoks nipping NZ in a SF, because of: -Healthy Louw-Alberts-Thør-Burger shades McCaw-Kaino-Read. -Young Pollard nips Old Carter. -The tight fives are close, but Coles is ground up by Bismarck. -Conrad lets in a try. -Man of the Match is Fourie du Preez.

mainly true, except I cannot remember general consensus on Wallaby selections under Cheika, McKenzie, Deans, Connolly , Or Jones. Not since McQueen actually.

moa, you're hurting me....:)

The Springbok are THE most predictable side in the tournament. Selection: pick the oldest most experienced player available in each position. If in doubt, choose biggest bloke on roster. Game Plan: Blue Bulls Rugby - kick/chase in SA half, one-off forward runners in opponents half, driving maul off all line-outs to draw penalty and kick for touch and repeat until in penalty goal range. Win by 3s. It is what is in Myer's nature. It is in most Springbok nature. And it will destroy everyone but New Xealand and Australia (and perhaps France). To be fair, Myerr tried to play more expansive running rugby and the Springboks lost several tests. These losses will reinforce his own instincts that Bulls Rugby is winning rugby and silence his critics that the Boks need to be more expansive.

Words of wisdom spoke here. Every test, every year is important. Rugby does not survive on one tournament every four years, it might be the most cherished trophy to have in the cabinet but the life blood of the code flow through the challenges put up every year.

Harry, with respect, if SA were our opposition in a series, I agree SA, at this point would be underdogs (without the word ‘massive’), however, the likelihood of the All Blacks playing against each other in RWC 2015 based on the draws without upsets will be in the semi-finals. The semi-final is not part of a series therefore the odds of an upset is much smaller. Fair to say that any of the top 4-5 sides can beat each other on a given day where there is no immediate right of redemption. I have never taken the Springboks for granted, they are, after all our ultimate rugby foe. At the risk of sounding like a glass half empty type of guy (which I am not), I have rarely felt the unbridled confident of other fans of the AB’s defeating the Boks, always hopeful of course but never that arrogant that ‘my team’ merely has to turn up to get the chocolates. As for defeating NZ in an epic struggle in the semi, you will not be surprised if I disagree. Assuming NZ top our group and are able to navigate a victory against our possible nemesis, France, and SA can prevail a little underdone from the easier pools matches against their quarter final opponent, I'll agree on one point ... that any semi between the Boks and the AB’s will be close. I believe the Springboks will play a forward oriented or focused game with the backs confined more towards a defence role attacking only on opposition errors, if you like, returning to type. I also believe that the AB’s will attempt to open the game a little to move the pill away from your fetcher and pilferers, to the AB’s strengths and away from that of the Boks. The All Blacks to prevail by 8 points, just beyond a last minute convert try which will help maintain my blood pressure within tolerable levels near the end. The All Black squad was announced tonight, a few surprises. Biggest disappointment for me was the omission of Charles Piutau. It would appear the Waisake Noholo’s unexpected return from injury rather than Nehe Milner-Skudder has locked the door on Piutau with Hansen suggesting on interview that the AB’s thought they had lost Noholo but when he became available he claimed that in the selector’s opinion he was marginally ahead of Piutau … big call I thought. I think his decision to play in Ireland after the AB’s invested so much time counted against him. Cory Jane and Israel Dagg, Laim Sopoaga also casualties, the latter unlucky following his debut at Ellis park but the NZ selectors have gone first for utility value of Slade. Hansen has taken a gamble … we will see how the cards fall next month. Meyer will now know the AB squad that if the Boks are to meet us in the semi, he needs to pick a team to challenge the 23 that Hansen will chose from the squad (barring injuries). Good luck to him on that.

BB we had little info in 99 and no clear indication who would be the 1st choice flyhallf, even though most thought Honiball was the master! And Mallett had just dropped the most successful Springbok captain at that stage, who'd taken them to 17 wins in a row the year before. It was turmoil. Yet we were one wonky Stephan Larkham drop goal in extra time away from winning the whole tournament (yes we would've beat France who'd played their final in the semi). For the top tier teams, in reality it's only 3 games that you need to win over 3 weekends. It only takes a month prior to the pool rounds to get up to being the fittest you've ever been in your life and have fresh strategy and planning, and continue during the pool games leading up to the knock-outs. Think 1995 and Francois Pienaar running the 400m in Olympic qualifying times. Fittest and fastest he'd ever been! I believe that every coach should see it this way. PLEASE can our next coach, whether it's HM or whomever, not say "Ja we're building for the WC in 2019". IMO you should build for that year that you're playing in and win, with a distant small eye on the WC a few years later.