The Final (and 3rd place play off)

[StephenZA]

Well played Bokke! Fantastic

 

[wpdavid]

Honestly with all the talk it feels like they forgot why they actually won vs us, the ABs. They were never ever going to get the sort of dominance in tight today that they did on those occasions, but this has been a rugby lesson from the SA forwards.

And they knew exactly what to expect from SA. Fair enough, knowing it and dealing with it are two separate things, but the string of penalties smacks of a lack of a game plan and it was always going to be incredibly hard to play catch-up against these guys.

Anyway, more to the point, congratulations to SA. And may their supporters on CW enjoy the celebrations.

 

[Flem274*]

great stuff south africa

the best reward for a team that's had to rise from the ashes

 

[Bahnz]

Well done South Africa, they may not play the prettiest rugby but they're the best there is at what they do. Clinical, efficient and ruthless. England were pretty abysmal to be honest, horrendously sloppy and fully deserved the thrashing they copped in the end.

 

[Howe_zat]

And they knew exactly what to expect from SA. Fair enough, knowing it and dealing with it are two separate things, but the string of penalties smacks of a lack of a game plan and it was always going to be incredibly hard to play catch-up against these guys.

Nonsense. They were just smashed. Exactly what England did to NZ last week. All performance, nothing else to it.

 

[Flem274*]

And they knew exactly what to expect from SA. Fair enough, knowing it and dealing with it are two separate things, but the string of penalties smacks of a lack of a game plan and it was always going to be incredibly hard to play catch-up against these guys.

when your scrum is going backwards it's pretty hard man. england just couldn't get the quick hooks in (the classic nz/aus/super rugby tactic) and kept giving south africa the opportunity to have their own scrums.

their backs could probably also be accused of not being inventive enough. nz showed the way around, but it's hard. japan are the second best meme team in the world after nz and even they struggled to breach it.

 

[wpdavid]

Bah humbug to you both

Anyway, I think we're all agreed that SA deserved everything they got, whatever the merits or otherwise of England's performance.

And obviously the sight of Kolisi lifting the trophy for the Springboks transcends England winning or losing anyway.

 

[Spark]

when your scrum is going backwards it's pretty hard man. england just couldn't get the quick hooks in (the classic nz/aus/super rugby tactic) and kept giving south africa the opportunity to have their own scrums.

their backs could probably also be accused of not being inventive enough. nz showed the way around, but it's hard. japan are the second best meme team in the world after nz and even they struggled to breach it.

It's not like the backs can do much either in the circumstances tbh. A lot of the looser passing and bad decisions were simply forced on them by sheer pressure.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Just glad the better side won it without controversy. The fans moaning about the ref are clutching at straws as we were 2nd best in every department and anyone moaning about the injury early on well SA had more injuries and it didn't stop them. Thoroughly comprehensive battering.

 

[StephenZA]

I would have been happy to get to the 1/4 finals 18 months ago. Rassie deserves a lot of accolades, really pulled team together and played to our strengths.

 

[Burgey]

Yep. Why Aus rugby is always less than the sum of its talent, to bring up an old saw.

It’s more they ignore the skills required to be good at that part of the game. They have since the Ellas - all this “running rugby” bullshit. Just play winning rugby ffs.

Oh, and send your selectors west of anzac parade to the odd public school once every four years too.

 

[sledger]

Well done SA

Got it done when it mattered

Not much more to say about it really

 

[Uppercut]

It's not like the backs can do much either in the circumstances tbh. A lot of the looser passing and bad decisions were simply forced on them by sheer pressure.

The whole SA plan is to starve them of decent territory to attack from too. It’s not like they were wasting great opportunities to attack.

Really enjoyed that, first try especially was a great moment.

 

[Flem274*]

yeah that's why against sa you have to be prepared to create from nowhere. you're not going to get amazing territory unless you've already got them on the back foot. kicking game that isn't just northern hemisphere box kicking is also crucial.

 

[BoyBrumby]

when your scrum is going backwards it's pretty hard man. england just couldn't get the quick hooks in (the classic nz/aus/super rugby tactic) and kept giving south africa the opportunity to have their own scrums.

their backs could probably also be accused of not being inventive enough. nz showed the way around, but it's hard. japan are the second best meme team in the world after nz and even they struggled to breach it.

Yeah, that's it in a nutshell.

It's the first time we've been beaten up front all tournament.

Sinckler going off after two and a half minutes felt huge at the time and it could've been the defining moment. Cole has been a great servant to England but looked an old man tonight.

Different kettle of fish coming on after 60 minutes when the battle has been won or lost.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Christ Dick Hill has aged! Looks about 60.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Thought Laddie from The Lost Boys was brilliant today. Some player.

 

[andruid]

I am waiting to see Trevor Noah's reaction to this.




A totally random aside, do white South African players only discover barber shops after they retire? I have been following the tournament on Supersport, and their pundits (Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger) were irrecognizable to me without their golden manes.

 

[Uppercut]

A lot of games this tournament where one side has physically dominated the first half but not put the points on, and I think they can’t keep that pace up and will regret not getting the scores. Then they come out 2nd half and just crush. Fitness and replacement quality much higher than they used to be.

 

[Heboric]

Oh man I am not driving today.

Well Well done boys from no hopers to champs in 18 - 24 months, something went in my eye suddenly when Kolisi got the trophy.

Surely Rassie - coach of the year, Boks - team of the year, and maybe Kolbe or Steph Du Toit player of the year.

I am sure there is going to be a movie in this.

Lol, only Faf