Boks make masses changes for Pumas assignment as Nienaber gives everyone a shot at World Cup push

none of this process is secretive anymore – the only thing that is, is the game plan and tactics. There are no secrets just variations…

And neither have the ABs hidden, how to counter the Bokke plans.

Backline is pretty decent and there is logic in playing Am to form. Mapimpi has credits but is going to have to show some urgency and zest to hold KLA at bay. AE provides Libbock with the outside power runner role that he does so well for Smith at Quins. Im liking Reinach playing in combo with Libbock as I see him more of natural runner/passer than kick/passer which is more conducive to Mannie. Forwards... front row and replacements are strong. Still no word on the Ox injury which isnt good. Second row - would have been Orie and Lood but for the latter falling ill. Lood needs the gametime badly. Backrow.. well Fourie is a proven breakdown pest, Wiese is fine at 8 but I would have put Mostert on the bench to cover lock and blind. Suspect we will see a lock come off and Du Preez to slot in at blind with Mostert covering. Roos and Wiese will be a straight swap... no flyhalf cover on the bench - so if Mannie goes down the WIllemse comes up and KLA to the back. Kriel covers 13 and wing. Jantjies on his last chance saloon I would think Not a bad team but not a great one either...

The Plan B is to do Plan A better - this time with more passion and less compromise. Everyone knows you need to turn up and fight fire with fire. The Boks have never hidden the way they will play.

Oh I think, there'll be a few sides who will learn how to counter the bomb squad and, the supposed dominance you suggest. I agree, everyone knows what is coming and that, is what they will be practicing, to counter. The question will be - what is plan B for the Bokke if plan A, fails??? Perhaps, Rassie and JN will start their bomb squad, in the run-on team against the ABs. Good call but, if that fails then, what next??

They are balancing two risks: injuries and lack of game fitness. The Boks and everyone else knows exactly how the Boks will play. No-one should expect running creative rugby, multiple phases or a passing game. It will be low risk, physical, first phase dominance, territory rugby that will pressure others to make mistakes- that they are good enough to exploit. Everyone knows what will come, the question is of they are good enough to stop them on the day.

Will be interesting to see if Limbok manage to play well without Willie’s guidance. It is a RWC year, tests rugby are auditions for the RWC.

The wholesale changes have been going on for over a year starting with the July series against Wales when the press called Nienaber a “mad scientist”. The reality is that it only takes one or two matches for teams to work out counters to a team as literally every second of a match is analysed by opposition coaches. They have been hiding combinations and tactics just as they did in the run up to 2019 RWC when they suddenly unleashed the bomb squad and kicking tactics for the knockout matches. We wait to see the 33 selected for the RWC, and we wait to see the preferred match 23 and will see if it was a good idea to use test matches as trial matches.

I think Rassie and JN are "foxing" with their selections, ever since the first match against the WBs. The number of changes they've made from Game 1 to Game 2 to Game 3 and now to this game, implies that they already know their RWC squad and are merely changing so many positions, to keep every other team guessing. Problem is, the teams who have consistently played the Bokke ever since RWC 2019, already have a fair idea and information about Bokke selections, that I don't doubt, they could probably make a conscious effort to pick the team whom they consider, is the Bokke best 23 plus 10. Just like they could probably select the ABs, WBs and Pumas, best 23 plus 10.....at the end of the day, none of this process is secretive anymore - the only thing that is, is the game plan and tactics.

This game like the Dunedin one in 'the cake tin with lid', are not worth spending too much time thinking about outcomes on, as all teams are to run on 'selection queries'. Ultimately the disjointedness of it all probably wont help selection process. Should the gate charge full price?

That’s a limp team for me. Can see them getting beat in Argentina. A lot of the forwards are third choice selections. They’ll miss WLR but the blessing in disguise is Libbok will need to step up into the playmaker role. That’s probably his future for the Boks. Will the forwards provide the platform though? Anyway important minutes for Willemse, Am, Libbok, Mapimpi, Weise. Maybe that’s all that matters right now.