FIRST CHOICE TEAMS? SELECTION | South Africa v New Zealand | Round 3 The Rugby Championship 2024

FIRST CHOICE TEAMS? SELECTION | South Africa (Springboks) v New Zealand (All Blacks) | Round 3 The Rugby Championship 2024
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Rugby artwork in background courtesy of Blair Skivington www.etsy.com/u...

[@kobuslouw9533]

I cannot understand why Grant Williams doesn't start. He's our best 9 atm for sure.

[@nevillepieterse9983]

Been telling my wife the same thing whenever Boks play👍🏽

[@nevillepieterse9983]

I am not convinced that Morne bd Beth is better than GRant Williams

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Experience

[@brettfleiner4906]

@@nevillepieterse9983 🙄

[@quaziforus]

He is essential on the bench to have a 6-2 split. Specialist planned super sub. He will get more caps always coming off bench.

[@derekng9766]

Mainly agree on AB selections. But I would start Cane. My personal view is that Dalton has had decent but not earthshaking performances and u need a harder hitting defensive jackal which is Sam. He'll also bring a calming been there done that attitude too.

[@HerbalTee69]

Agree I think this might just happen Cane starting

[@user-gv6vj7xw4u]

I couldn't agree more.

[@vjmightyw]

Wiese, Moodie,Jaden Hendriks, Kitshoff and Estherhuizen is also available for selection.

[@Karma-qt4ji]

Wiese might make it, the rest are doubtful due to recent injuries.

[@kristian762]

I think Kitsy can slot in

[@yootoooob]

I think Willie will start ahead of Fassie

[@TheBuildKingR]

As mentioned above, Willie will play he links better with the back line

[@blueboy1788]

One of the aspects of both games I'm actually looking forward to the most are the scrums...! In my opinion these are clearly the two best scrummaging teams in the world, and NZ might even have an edge off the bench with Newell & De Groot/Williams.

[@HerbalTee69]

@@blueboy1788 Williams, Lomax and Taylor plus Jason Ryan scrum coach.. pretty deadly

[@emillsteenkamp2629]

If nothing else, Le Roux will play because he makes everyone else so much better. That has been his superpower for a while now - making any back 3 he plays in look twice as dangerous. He also takes a lot of pressure off of Sacha when it comes to the tactical kicking game, again allowing Sacha to do the things he does best.

[@tpkorea6c]

Pollard is a must and Fassi should be able to connect with him. NZ will not be a walk over and experience is important.

[@quaziforus]

Pollard and Willie me thinks

[@broderickfall]

I'd have Paddy and Scott in the locks, Va'ai at 6 and Blackadder in the 7. I'd probably also start Aumua and bring Cody on to counter Marx as he has more experience. That said, top picks from you

[@robertowilco7422]

Start Marx and try play him as long as you can same as Psdt gotta have your best players for most of the game . Wiese for Louw . Williams for Reinach ,otherwise looks good brother

[@quaziforus]

My 6 sense worth. So many rugby fans are being too strong in their vocalizations of who should and who should not be playing in certain positions. This is how I see it, more or less, give or take. Rassie wants 3 players in every position. With some positions there will be someone covering more than one, like Grant Williams being strategically used as a super-sub, very likely a management plan. He can cover 9, 11 and 14. As an added bonus, Grant Williams does have an impact on the game when he comes in off the bench. At flyhalf I see Rassie wanting Libbok, Pollard and Sacha. Libbok is flyhalf for the Stormers ahead of Sacha. Point to ponder. Rassie has all three in his game plan. They all need game time and they all need our support. Libbok can play in games where 3 point penalties may not be as crucial, or Pollard could play 12. Libbok can kick, it just hasn't translated to test rugby yet. He reminds me of Henry Honiball who kicked beautifully only at the end of his career. There are too many injuries and questions in the forwards right now but we can get the picture of the need for depth and cover in each and every position. Moody or Pollard or Sacha with Grant Williams on the bench should be enough backline cover. People also seem to want to debate who plays at 15? The Rassie answer is, in my opinion, all of them. Damien Willemse, Willie Le Roux and Fassie. If anyone goes down there must always be another who can slide in without changing the team dynamics in any way. All top players, all ready and rearing to go. The most problematic position at the moment, in terms of numbers, is at 8, especially if one wants Kwagga to come in off the bench. His impact on the game as a sub is unparalleled and he covers other positions too. They can mix up the front row of the bomb squad and still have an impact, although knowing that Ox, Malcolm and Vincent are still coming on, may cause an opposition coach to cheat. There are places up for grabs for players ready to take them with both hands. 8,4,5 and 9 jump to mind. There are names I have omitted. The point is that having our favorites may be good and well but we need to be behind every selection made. The team to play against NZ should be fairly cut and dry, but then again, this is Rassie we're talking about.

[@LionOnSea]

I agree with the reasoning behind your picks but I can't see Le Roux not starting. I hope BJ Dixon is in the mix but if not will go for Marco and Kwagga on the bench as you did. I'd also have RG off the bench even if 100% ready - he adds so much if oppoisiton starts to tire.

[@janhbhugo5085]

Boks will lose if Sasha starts ! Libbok must start .

[@janhbhugo5085]

Fassie at fullback !

[@nicolaasputter7017]

Can't leave the spark out a all blacks game. De klerk. He's been consistent

[@roleinc7204]

For the ABs selection: I think you are pretty close to what we will see. As someone mentioned below, Cane may start over Papalii. I don't think we can afford to have a winger sitting on the bench, so I agree Clarke may be the unlucky one. What I wish, but definitely won't happen this game: would love to see Tosi coming off the bench. Replace one giant prop (Williams who was awesome) with another. Tuangafasi was the weakest link when the subs came on vs Argentina. Wish no. 2: wish they had played Proctor against Argentina to see if he has the same potential against tougher teams. I think he does and is the man who will be in the centre in the years to come. Guess they are making very gradual transitions into the team this year.

[@Karma-qt4ji]

Pollard can't play without Willie le Roux. His two contributions on Saturday were 1. passing the ball behind the entire backline to put us under pressure and 2. passing the ball to Manie to make the play. Time for Polly to ease out into the more Frans Steyn kind of role and let the new guys take over.

[@icefarrow7959]

Pollard can't play... period. Offers nothing but his kicking. Idk why or when his form dropped off a cliff, but it has.

[@nevillepieterse9983]

@icefarrow Pollard still has some quality and experience that we potentially would need over the next few years including 2027

[@malibongwemalinga8871]

Needs to be 5-3 coz Am has to play these 2 games either starting or off the bench

[@warrenbooysen]

Last 6 matches SA have won 4. Not saying we have their number, no one really has against the AB's. But I fear with Tony Brown putting the cherry on top with the Boks of late, it could get ugly like the Qatar cup, in at least one of the tests. NZ will do well to take one, but I think the Argentina loss, like in the Fozzy era, shows that a bad game is always around the corner if up against dominant pack. Razor's challenge is to stop that

[@austingtir]

SA pack is not going to dominate this pack let alone the one they actually select for this test which imo will be stronger. I reckon theres a high chance its NZ that actually dominates that SA pack. I deff think NZ can beat them up quite badly in the scrums. Lineouts not so much but hold their own the NZ loosies will own southafricas. I think alot of bok supporters are overconfident and are in for a shock.

[@tshegofatsokale5888]

Boks have only lost one match so what are you talking about?

[@greenplasticgun]

van Staden the luckiest guy in SA rugby at the moment. I think he's really done a number against his case over the last little while and we have the likes of Wiese back I'm not sure Eskom sticks around much longer. Hacjivah Dayimani unlucky not to be in the mix.

[@DGkWW]

1.Williams,2. Amua,3. Lomax, 7.Savea, 4.Vai'i, 5.Darry, 6.S Barret, 8.Sititi, Reserve forwards De Groot, Taylor, Newell, Lord, Black Adder, 9. Ratima, 10.D'Mac,11. Clarke, 12. J Barret, 13. Ioane, 14. Jordan, 15 B Barret Reserve Backs, Perenara. ALB, Proctor. If D'Mac is not up to standard then swap him with BB, By selecting two centers you bring JB to cover fullback ALB into 12 and if Ioane is not jellying with ALB swap him either to the wing replacing Clarke or sub him off, and bring on Proctor. Leaving Jordan on the wing.

[@kristian762]

Honestly for the Boks, I'd do things slightly different. I agree with most of your selection but I'd want to include BJD. Either start PSDT at 5 with BJD at 7 or start RG at 5 with BJD on the bench. In the backs I'm not sure about Sacha starting at 10 against the ABs, and I'm not convinced Fassi is ready for the ABs either. Maybe Pollard at 10 with Sacha at 15 and Willie on the bench, or Willie at 15 with Sacha on the bench. However, it might suit the Boks in game 1 at altitude to field a younger, fitter team, with a few veterans as well, and then go with some of the more expereinced guys for game 2 in cape town. That's going to be a high pressure game. I'm sure Rassie has learned from the Irish series, and answered some questions during the tour in Aus. I think he'll make the right selection decisions for the 2 games against the ABs

[@byronrichardson6909]

Wiesse 8, Fluffy 9, Libbok 10, Willie 15, Kitshoff 17, Pollard 22, Williams 23. I dunno what Razer will do.

[@janhbhugo5085]

Manie should start at 10 !

[@MrKrazyKap]

I would start cane, still a notch above. Also ALB works so well as bench impact, I think fozzie had that right

[@Edgycoo]

I think the abs scrum will monster the boks. Backs need to fire to have a chance and subs need to fire, if all cylinders fire we win, but we need everything to click. Theres a good team there but inconsistencies are the plague. The abs of the past with the good record had a defining characteristic of always turning up. Current abs only sometimes all show up.

[@DD-RSA]

Pollard must start. No place for mistakes which Sascha is still making some. Experience is key

[@user-nk9cw5md8l]

The boks have an emerging injury crisis at lock. Reports out today are that all their first and 2nd choice locks will not play this saturday including Etzebeth. They will prob have to move Pieter Steph to lock and maybe even Ben Jason Dixon - so they could have big issues on saturday.

[@Waywind420]

I have doubts the Springboks can stop a 15-man All Blacks team Regardless of whether they were deserved sin bins or not, New Zealand has had to play the Springboks a man down for 115 minutes out of the last 160 minutes they've played them. And it could have gone either way in that world cup final.

[@konini12]

Agree with the Allblacks except I'd have Clarke over Telea for me. He's looking super sharp this season

[@etiennegreyling6190]

Jasper Wiese ahead of Elrich Louw and Willie Le Roux ahead of Fassi.

[@Fletcher806]

Good team selections. It looks about right compared with most peoples choices, I would say. All the pressure will be on the Boks. Not convincing against Ireland, not convincing against the Wallabies, even in the first test. No one is picking the AB's to win except for most AB supporters. The AB's may have dropped the first test against Argentina, but they're in a rebuilding phase and can be forgiven, unlike the Boks they're supposidly settled. AB's to win both games by 10-15 points. IMO, AB's as they so often do will work out the Boks over the coming weeks, weather the initial onslaught and then set a pace the Boks won't be able to live with. Too many people throwing out meaningless stats about who won the last six games, last 10 games, last 20 games, etc between the two teams. If win/loss stats were a sure indicator as to who will win the next two games then the AB's will come out on top. Fortunately for everyone, they're not and any team can win on their day. The last game played between the two teams, and how they played, and their past three previous games, to me are a better indicator as to who will come out on top.

[@sibusisomdluli6547]

I think ABs will probably try reward/start the team that won the second test against Argentina, S Barrett being the only change.

[@andrewharris1837]

Boks 23 so dynamic.gotta be favourites at home but AB's will make a game of it.Boks by 7😊

[@KJTmethod]

Totally agree Norje starting with Eben 👌

[@hanli2011]

Wiese and Kleyn will drop in with Willie at 15. BJD on bench iso Marco van Staden

[@techresearch5212]

Agreed

[@quaziforus]

Willie and Pollard will start me thinks.

[@icefarrow7959]

No way Sititi is joining the squad for the Springboks tests. He was ineffective against Argentina, too green atm. Can't see the ABs going 6-2 either, a lot of the forwards have already played full 80 minute games this season, and haven't look too exhausted by the end. If De Groot is still injured, they're definitely bringing in Tosi I think, given Williams' effectiveness.

[@Alias-gy3tz]

Nope, I will start Marx, Le Roux, Pollard and Williams. Pollard is still our general, Sacha still has a lot to learn. He dropped that ball because he wanted to catch it with one hand. He wanted to show off, there is no place for that in the Springbok team. He also needs to work on his tactical kicking.

[@murraysmith595]

Think NZ will take one of the games. But the loss to Argentina will cost them any chance of retaining the Rugby Championship. Since 92' NZ has a pretty remarkable win % in the republic

[@stephanvandermerwe1711]

Agree with most apart from I think Willie and Ben J-D will be in.

[@austingtir]

If NZ start Barrett and tuipolutu in the locks and Tamaiti Williams with Degroot on the bench southafrica is going to have a very very bad day in the scrums. I think alot of saffas are going to be in for a shock how strong NZ's scrum actually is when its at full strength.

[@quaziforus]

Kitchoff may be back which would Def put him on the bench.

[@HerbalTee69]

Pressure is on Springboks and will they fold at home? It will be a close couple of games… NZL look dangerous playing simple AB rugby and have a very strong pack right now with Lomax, Williams and Taylor .. backline speaks for itself… Jordan, BB, Telea, Dmac… list goes on

[@Florida6719]

Don’t agree with the strong pack , they are weak off the bench and the Boks will show that in the second half

[@ContendformyFaith]

Ben Jason Dickson needs to be in the 23.Kitshoff might also get a sneak.Willie will definitely start.Fassi won't make the 23 although he is in great form

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Sacha FN very talented but he has made a number of mistakes and a couple of poor tactical kicks. I think most agree he is the future but I do feel he is a little green still.

[@SleepyObi]

I don't see Fassi starting. Likely bench... if Le Roux is fit, he will get that spot. Otherwise, Fassi I am u sure now. If he keeps performing, then he will be starting 15 by next year

[@user-qe1tv1bu2f]

😂😂😂 SA c team needs a trot now.

[@Temp-z4u]

Boks need Williamse at FB .. Fassi has no sidestep .. Williamse runs it back .. need Wilco Louw as well at 3 .. what about Ben at 8th man ?? Vs AB we need solid tacklers

[@myshepspud1]

I'm English South African, and I watch you because you are so so tapped in to SA Rugby so don't take offense. The way you said Nortje, sounded like a Mexican name sounded like horhe. 😅. It's tricky but Nortje. I'll give some background if it helps as much as I can from an English Saffa? In Afrikaans the letters 'jie' are pronounced 'key' or 'ki' is more accurate. When they shorten words that have 'jie' (which usually indicates smaller version of the words like kindertjie meaning small children). When they add jie they often put a t beforehand so kinder means child = kindertjie. The 't' is often silent. But when you shorten a word that already has the 'tjie' or just 'jie' it becomes tje. So long winded foundation done. 😅 You can pronounce Nortje like Nort(Kia) I have no idea why it's like that as English is my first language, I may have got the limerance slightly wrong.. But that's how I know how to pronounce it. I did the background so that any future je's or jie's you know it's more a k sound. And this being a surname is moulded different but the 'tje' has a similar sound to "Kia"

[@rugbyanalyst]

Ok I think I've got it now. Made a note. Thanks

[@andreemurray7039]

At home and a solid team you have to like South Africa but don't write the all blacks off but still feel they are not a solid team yet

[@Mark_Kiwi]

Tele'a is just not a left winger, needs to be on the right. But there is Will Jordan, so I think he rides the pine for this one, Clarke on the left ...

[@quaziforus]

You will come very close to being correct bud.

[@duncanwcraig9668]

Razor will start Rieko (cover defence speed) and Caleb Clarke (power winger), good video mate, you spelt Rieko's surname. Ho ho I struggle with his spelling too, Also, I don't think Sititi gets a run from the bench until game two, also depends if Jacobsen is fit. Also, you might see Scooter and Tupes starting at lock. my two cents. I would be happy with two narrow losses.

[@Rob-wu5nc]

No chance Fassi starts no8 might be different too

[@BallyAfrica]

1. Nche 2. Mbonambi 3. Malherbe 4. Etzebeth 5. Nortjie 6. Kolisi 7. PSDT 8. Louw 9. Reinach 10. Sacha 11. Kolbe 12. De Allande 13. Kriel 14. Arendse 15. Le Roux 16. Marx 17. Steenekamp 18. Koch 19. Snyman 20. Smith 21. Wiese 22. Williams 23. Pollard

[@austingtir]

I would put Ethan at 7 as I believe he's the only loosie we have who is truly dynamic and has McCaw like instinct. He played very well against the boks in 2021 and should of been our first choice 7 since then. Then Barrett at 6 and tuipolutu and darry as the locks with Vaa'i on the bench (but thats only if we arent aiming to dominate the scrums if we are Barrett and tuipolutu will be the locks). I really dont rate Dalton he is just treading water like jacobson theres nothing special about either of them all Dalton can do is tackle like cane.... So I would have Cane on the bench purely for his experience and I wouldnt have satiti in the squad id have Sotutu on the bench but thats not going to happen at this stage. That all said im fine if they select Blackadder at 6 and Cane at 7....again I just dont rate Dalton.

[@rodeo4786]

Like your style the way Blackadder jackles is classic All black openside his work against Fiji confirmed this and the test at Eden. Mate complimented Ardies no surrender attitude 6 is the ?

[@daniedutoit6128]

Polly must start with f m on the bank misbok is history

[@andysurfer318]

Ioane is faster he has Gas.

[@itistrue101]

Slackbladder rubbish

[@makatawhs]

SA struggled to get ahead of 9th ranked Aussie, and lost to Ireland… seems like the “world champions” are only good for 1 tournament…. And it’s not this one.

[@michellerobertson3268]

@@makatawhs you're really funny!

[@jefftowell6139]

Struggled to get ahead of Aussie? If you didn't watch the game did you at least see the scoreline?

[@champagnelord1195]

NZ by 12

[@ianjacobs2998]

Against Australia 🤗🤣

[@Andy_M986]

​@@ianjacobs2998By 30 against Australia.

[@warrenbooysen]

keep believing

[@Giga_squirrel178]

Bok by 25

[@SBOKKE]

Agreed. Buy 12 at least 3each from Tonga Fiji Samoa

[@MoonHoax-md6mp]

Wiese, Fassi and Williams must start. The Boks missed Wiese vs Ireland.