Springbok team for Ireland

[Puja]

Named very early. Did anyone know Kolbe could play full-back? Feels like a weird decision to put someone who's only 2ft tall there when playing against probably the best tactical kicking game in the world, ut could be a Jason Robinson style success.


South Africa: Kolbe; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Mapimpi; Willemse, Hendrikse; Kitshoff, Marx; Malherbe, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese.

Replacements: Mbonambi, Nche, Koch, Mostert, Fourie, Smith, De Klerk, Le Roux.



Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I thought Kolbe had played a fair bit of 15 at club level?

[Puja]

Oh FFS. Quite apart from the fact that I *hate* sides wearing change strips when they don't clash anyway - yes they're both green, but not in a way in which anyone would confuse them, this is absolutely a marketing exercise - you'd have thought somebody, at some level, would be looking at this and saying, "Nah, that's stupid." Wouldn't be allowed to go ahead at Dorset & Wilts merit table level, but it's just going to carry on here through sheer inertia.

I thought Kolbe had played a fair bit of 15 at club level?

Has he? I stand corrected. Still seems like a weird selection decision though - can't imagine they won't send a couple of tall lads up against him on a high ball.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

https://all.rugby/player/cheslin-kolbe
Way more than I'd thought

[francoisfou]

Named very early. Did anyone know Kolbe could play full-back? Feels like a weird decision to put someone who's only 2ft tall there when playing against probably the best tactical kicking game in the world, ut could be a Jason Robinson style success.


South Africa: Kolbe; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Mapimpi; Willemse, Hendrikse; Kitshoff, Marx; Malherbe, Etzebeth, De Jager, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Wiese.

Replacements: Mbonambi, Nche, Koch, Mostert, Fourie, Smith, De Klerk, Le Roux.



Puja

He played fullback for Toulouse a few times.

Edit - and significantly more having just read the preceding post!

[Puja]

Ireland have turned the game in the last 5 minutes. Made the decision to turn down a kickable penalty at 6-6 to go for the corner and pulled off a beautiful set-piece move off the driving maul to counter South Africa's defence, and then have just pounced on a loose ball to put Hanson in at the corner after going through about 10 pairs of hands. Both conversions missed, which is a shame, but 16-6 is very useful after 51 minutes.

Puja

[Spiffy]

Great win in spite of injuries to a few key players. Ireland kept their cool, refused to be physically bullied by the powerful Boks, kept to the game plan and played intelligent rugby. The Boks are a tad one dimensional and if they can't blatter opponents into submission, there is no real plan B. Pity, because they do have some great runners.

[Banquo]

Great win in spite of injuries to a few key players. Ireland kept their cool, refused to be physically bullied by the powerful Boks, kept to the game plan and played intelligent rugby. The Boks are a tad one dimensional and if they can't blatter opponents into submission, there is no real plan B. Pity, because they do have some great runners.

Yep, their pack is monstrous and Ireland did brilliantly to absorb them. Great win.

Not sure why the Boks a- keep dicking about with backs selection, b- don't use them much. Frankly, they'd be very hard to contain if they did.