RugbyRebels

Timmins gets top end ban (10 weeks) with the full mitigation down to 5 weeks - which seems fair.


Of "fair", rather; I'm not a fan of 50% reductions as a matter of course

Team for SA:

STARTING XV

15 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 13 caps)
14 Ben Redshaw (cc) (Gloucester Rugby, West Park Leeds RFC, 9 caps)
13 Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Ivybridge RFC, 5 caps)
12 Nic Allison (Exeter Chiefs, Bishops Diocesan College, 4 caps)
11 Jack Bracken (Saracens, Barnet Elizabethans, 9 caps)
10 Ben Coen (Exeter Chiefs, Teignmouth RFC, 10 caps)
9 Jonny Weimann (Northampton Saints, Royston Rugby Club, 2 caps)
1 Ralph McEachran (Sale Sharks, Guildford RFC, 6 caps)
2 Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath Rugby, Cwmbran RFC, 6 caps)
3 Vilikesa Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 11 caps)
4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby Club, 15 caps)
5 Tom Burrow (cc) (Sale Sharks, Morley RUFC, 6 caps)
6 Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, New Milton Rugby Club, 3 caps)
7 Samuel Williams (Leicester Tigers, Nottingham Corsairs RFC, 1 cap)
8 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St. Peter’s RFC, 15 caps)

REPLACEMENTS

16 Alfie Longstaff (Sale Sharks, Sandal RUFC, uncapped)
17 Oli Scola (Northampton Saints, Old Northamptonians RFC, 5 caps)
18 Tye Raymont (Sale Sharks, West Park Leeds RFC, 6 caps)
19 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, Saracens Amateurs, 14 caps)
20 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, Bedford Junior Blues, 5 caps)
21 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Ruthin RFC, 6 caps)
22 Campbell Ridl (Exeter Chiefs, Sharks, 3 caps)
23 Noah Caluori (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby, uncapped)

No Streeter on the bench is a surprise. He seemed to go well for Quins towards the end of the season and it's going to be a game where the big boys have to front up.

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jul 03, 2025 8:09 am No Streeter on the bench is a surprise. He seemed to go well for Quins towards the end of the season and it's going to be a game where the big boys have to front up.

Yes I’d have had Streeter in ahead of Raymont. He’s a better scrummager for a start. Against SA’s pack we need our best weapons at scrum time.

McEachran very fortunate to stay in. Kpoku on the bench for the saffas feels bizarre too although Sodeke very good also.

What is with Bellamy at full back? It feels like they are trying to make up for not picking a good enough 10 in the squad by picking both of them and hoping their combined strengths are enough…

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Thu Jul 03, 2025 10:05 am McEachran very fortunate to stay in. Kpoku on the bench for the saffas feels bizarre too although Sodeke very good also.

What is with Bellamy at full back? It feels like they are trying to make up for not picking a good enough 10 in the squad by picking both of them and hoping their combined strengths are enough…

That one really gets me. I'd have Redshaw at Fullback and then one of the many talented wingers. Bellamy at Fullback just seems off to me.

Thirded.
This squad is just crying out for an orchestrator, so many good players being let down by not having anyone to pull the strings

I'd rather have Bellamy at FH with Redshaw at FB and Bracken/Offiah on the wings. Bit surprised Knight misses out and Streeter again overlooked. Both carrying knocks perhaps?

I presume we've got Bellamy at 15 because he's good running with the ball but not the greatest game manager. That way he can spark attacks or offer a good kicking option from the back. Feels a bit like Marcus at 15.

20 mins in and Wales are currently beating France 21 v 7

Aus beating Scotland 10 v 5

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 2:52 pm 20 mins in and Wales are currently beating France 21 v 7

Aus beating Scotland 10 v 5

And with that Scotland score! 10 v 10

Bugger.
6.00 Italian time!

That South African try was incredible! The pace of the 9 was good enough, but then the step from the right wing to absolutely murder Weimann.

We've just hit back - great attack leads to a Redshaw kick through, and the young Saffers just learned a lesson about gracefully accepting going into touch by chucking the ball wildly inside for Bracken to grab and score.

Puja

Quite a contest. Up by 3 at h/t. SA have real pace that will take a bit of containing.

oops

Not sure that a mug of ovaltine and vaseline for the fingers was the best idea for half time

Some of these saffa backs are freaks.

Saying that, fairly certain their bonus point try shouldn’t have counted. Looked like someone illegally cleared out and made a gaping hole for the 9 to run through.

Bellamy gone ok in attack from full back. Defence not so good.

This second half has been an utter shit show. Started with Coen missing a really easy touch and gone down hill from there!

Definitely head contact.
Definitely could and should have got lower.
Definitely low level of force.

I'd say yellow only, but we've also seen them given as red (often to Charlie Ewels)

That’s one of the worst halves I’ve ever seen! The chickens have truly come home to roost! To not get the bonus points was utterly criminal!

We have to utterly hammer Australia now, but make no bones that was piss poor!

Utterly dreadful 2nd half. Could have salvaged a try BP with a bit more composure but that was sadly lacking.

Only watched the highlights. That SA 9 is a bit of a magician.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Jul 04, 2025 8:01 pm Only watched the highlights. That SA 9 is a bit of a magician.

He is very, very good. If we meet again it will be the final.

NZ beat Georgia. France beat Wales and Aus beat Scotland.

Currently Spain are walloping Argentina and Italy are just beating Ireland! This all plays on our favour!!