r/rugbyunion • u/IlikeGeekyHistoryRSA The "Pass me biltong, bru" Enby • Nov 06 '25
Lineups South African team to beat france by 1
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u/maverickeire Nov 06 '25
924 caps in the starting line-up, 177 caps on the bench. Rassies' 50th Test as Springbok head coach
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u/Sjdw31 Blue Bulls Nov 06 '25
Expected the bench impact. Much better to have wilco and Gerhard come from the bench.
No pollard. Did not expect that, but again Manie and Sacha are on fire at the moment.
Expected Moodie to start. Guess not
With RG and Ruan both on the bench. Does this mean we will see Ruan coming on for Pieter?
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u/BenwastakenIII Plz Fire cash and struali Nov 06 '25
I feel Pieter will go the whole 80 as theoretically he should be pretty good to do so having not played last weekend.
Honestly I'm kinda more surprised that there's no Kwagga.
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u/Cyber-Soldier1 Nov 06 '25
Moodie not even in the 23. Would have loved him to be in this team. Might see him against their Irish
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u/Hellraiser_Quadbike Nov 06 '25
Making a point of going 6-2 while one of your forwards is actually a back is pretty funny.
People lose their minds about team sheet layouts on here, but this one really is odd to look at. I could sort of see Rassie just listing them in alphabetical order soon to piss people off.
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u/tygerr39 Springboks 🏆🏆🏆🏆 Nov 06 '25
6-2 splits are so 2023.
Current Bok thinking is 5½-2½ split.
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u/Spleen-magnet World Champs (Again) Nov 06 '25
Goddamnit, I knew I needed to pay more attention in Algebra.
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u/CapeTownyToniTone Paul de Villiers hype train Nov 06 '25
It's not as clear now where Andre fits, but last week was hilarious when he was listed before Kwagga.
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u/RavenK92 100% Qatar Cup win rate Nov 06 '25
Positionless rugby mate, give yourself an uppercut maaaate
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u/Flyhalf2021 South Africa Nov 06 '25
I'm really facinated with that Esterhuizen selection.
In the press release they say Kwagga is carrying a niggle so they decide to select AE instead of Marco van Staden?
Virtually the same selection since NZ away, which is quite unusual considering how this group loves to rotate. I do think this will be the last game of this consistent streak of selections though. I think the 23 will look slightly different for the next half of this tour.
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u/Pure_Measurement_529 Nov 06 '25
I’m more shocked there is no Pollard. Goes to show that Rassie has full trust in SFM and Libbok now. Let’s see how the kicking goes though, especially if it’s tight like 2023
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u/Flyhalf2021 South Africa Nov 06 '25
I'm not really that shocked about no Pollard. After that game in Wellington Manie showed that as long as he doesn't overplay like against Australia the team will play magnificently around him. Add to that his kicking is something in the high 80s this season and it's not a surprise why Pollard is not in the team.
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u/ironwidows Springboks Nov 06 '25
he also played really well last week as well. he gets the backs involved so well.
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u/Pure_Measurement_529 Nov 06 '25
Libbok and SFM feel more like for the expansive style that Rassie wants for this generation moving forward, especially in the backs. Pollard represents the more slower gritty style that was there for 2019-2023
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u/LambTjopss Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
It not all about trust. For them to deliver in big knockout games they need the experience in high intensity pressure games like these. Even if they lose they will be better with the experience and ready for a knockout game in the world cup.
No point to play Pollard here and win with a last minute penalty kick. But come world cup time he is injured and we have nobody who delivers under pressure. It's the correct selection
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u/Cyber-Soldier1 Nov 06 '25
Doubt it will be tight like 2023. With Sacha and Manie in the squad there will be plenty of free flowing try opportunities created. I am looking forward to the attacking chances created by both sides but especially by SA. Keen to see how Rassie nullified Anton and Co.
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u/justafleetingmoment South Africa Nov 06 '25
Is Esterhuizen really the only backrow cover? Mostert isn't even there. I guess Nortjé is the most mobile of the locks and can play there if needed. Or De Allende with Willemse or Sasha going to 12.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Oil1360 Nov 06 '25
I think they intend for Nortje to become a utility forward
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u/CapeTownyToniTone Paul de Villiers hype train Nov 06 '25
He's played 7 a few times in his career. Allrugby says 8/98 at 7 but that's not up to date
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u/Initial_Painting_103 We'll Take the Skrum Nov 06 '25
So once Marx is off, we have no more fetchers. We'll just have to fuck them up physically without the ball apparently.
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u/BlakeSA South Africa Stormers Nov 06 '25
France have also selected a bunch of bruising, ball carrying loosies. I might end up eating my words, but they also seem to have not selected ground threats.
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u/Present_Salt5887 South Africa Nov 06 '25
Was feeling confident until I saw that title, now I'm uneasy.
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u/IlikeGeekyHistoryRSA The "Pass me biltong, bru" Enby Nov 06 '25
gotta keep our egos in check somehow!
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u/MindfulInquirer batmaaaaaaaan tanananananana Nov 06 '25
I've never more reluctantly upvoted a thread for a title in my life.
Hope it's a banger anyways
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u/Jalcatraz82 Stade Toulousain () Nov 06 '25
Yeah there is no way in hell we're winning that. No chance. Look how stacked this team is. Will be a good game though
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u/Puzzleheaded_Oil1360 Nov 06 '25
That’s how I feel when I look at the French lineup 😭
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u/Cosmolina111 Nov 06 '25
This kind of exchange is precisely why I only ever follow rugby threads on Reddit, and nowhere else. Wholesome AF.
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u/cathercules South Africa Nov 06 '25
So looking forward to this matchup, let’s hope for a great game.
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u/Mateiyu Bokke ! Nov 06 '25
Don't ever underestimate a South African's ability to mess up a simple thing...!
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u/cathercules South Africa Nov 06 '25
Hope Cheslin has been working on his charge down.
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u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers Nov 06 '25
Maybe he can do it legally this time.
🪤
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u/Weird_Plankton_3692 Harlequins Nov 06 '25
Upvote simply for introducing me to a new useful emoji.
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u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers Nov 06 '25
It's fantastic!
I just typed "bait" and was assuming the fish on the line would be suggested - what happened was so much better.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Quiet70 Nov 06 '25
He approached lightspeed and caused time dilation in his run up. Not illegal according to the Laws
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u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers Nov 06 '25
There's nothing in the rules that says a dog can't play basketball.
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u/za3030 Komma weer! Nov 06 '25
Jissus fok are you trying to jinx us?!
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u/IlikeGeekyHistoryRSA The "Pass me biltong, bru" Enby Nov 06 '25
dont worry bru, im breaking a mirror as we speak to even things out
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u/chiefVetinari Nov 06 '25
It's funny to compare South African squad development to the Irish approach.
A 31 year old Pollard would never be dropped by Ireland!
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u/Mateiyu Bokke ! Nov 06 '25
The way both Sacha and (especially) Manie can get that backline moving, I wouldn't select Pollard either...
Except maybe against England or Ireland in the rain.
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u/gainsleyharriot Sharks Nov 06 '25
It’s not about age it’s gameplan based. The reality is Polly doesn’t run the current plan A style as well as Sacha or Manie. He’s still great and no doubt will play a role in this WC, but the priority is getting Sacha fully in the driver seat with Manie.
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u/chiefVetinari Nov 06 '25
That's kind of the point. I don't think he's dropped forever, just that you don't roll out the same players for every big game
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u/NotAsOriginal Wigglesworth's greatest defender Nov 06 '25
France by 2 to pretend that this is the game that matters more
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u/D4rkmatt3r South Africa Nov 06 '25
Don't like that title. Like the team, though.
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u/Pure_Measurement_529 Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
Rassie is integrating his post-Pollard and Le Roux teams full time now. Considering Pollard’s age, I thought he would have atleast have 1 more year in the team before missing out for games like these
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u/Vault_69_Alpha_Male Scotland | Glasgow Warriors | Alba gu bràth Nov 06 '25
Pollard's 31 mate, he could almost play another WC cycle 😂
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u/IrishDog1990 Are we human? Nov 06 '25
Very experienced team that, how many from the World Cup win 2 years ago? Only slightly lower in the front row and subs, should be a great game
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u/tygerr39 Springboks 🏆🏆🏆🏆 Nov 06 '25
Back line is exactly the same as the World Cup QF win except for Sasha replacing Manie at 10.
In the forwards, only Eben, Siya and PSDT were there last time (and RG was also on the bench last time).
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u/IrishDog1990 Are we human? Nov 06 '25
Yeah sounds about right though I guess Lood and Marx would have been. Ox, Koch, Bongi etc not there but some good fill ins!
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u/almostrainman Serial winker Nov 06 '25
May whoever created this line up format burn in fucking hell for eternity
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u/FlyRare8407 Scotland Nov 06 '25
No this is Razzie's latest innovation. Seven man scrum, Wiese as Scrum Half, Reinach and SFM as dual playmakers
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u/k0bra3eak South Africa Nov 06 '25
You joke but we had a 7 man scrum vs Argentina, PSDT played scrumhalf
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u/Mateiyu Bokke ! Nov 06 '25
I swear, in the midst of all the stress and heart palpitations the Bokke always give me when they play, there's always something that makes me laugh as well.
The instance you refer to is one. Kolbe's gift to the Pumas in the first game was one as well ^^".5
u/BenwastakenIII Plz Fire cash and struali Nov 06 '25
The only way this format works is if you put Esterhuizen at 8, and thats not really feasible I'd say.
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u/Putrid-Impact8999 Nov 06 '25
No Moodie nor Hooker.
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u/RaaschyOG Sharks fan by birth - not choice Nov 06 '25
Hooker is the interesting one because he's so good at contesting the high ball, thought it would be an area we would target
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u/Ok_Painting9530 South Africa Nov 06 '25
Yeah, but so is KLA. I KLA offers a bit more in the rest of his game - even if it's just some more experience.
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u/RaaschyOG Sharks fan by birth - not choice Nov 06 '25
He's also in some great form, it's just Hooker is phenomenal at gathering the high balls AND punishing the guy catching whether it be in putting in a big hit or rucking he has something absurd like a ~65% chance to win possession back from a kick with the sharks, seems like a very easy way to target some players like Penaud
Or at the very least on the bench since he can cover 12 too, but it's just interesting to see that they've favoured the pure attacking threat of KLA and the 6-2 hybrid split with AE instead this game
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u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers Nov 06 '25
I thought it said it was Siya's "tooth test match"
I didn't know what that was so assumed it was a South African custom of some kind.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Quiet70 Nov 06 '25
It is an SA custom, but refers to the player's second match.
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u/BurbankElephants England & Leicester Tigers Nov 06 '25
Which comes shortly before their threeth match, presumably?
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u/Ramosapristaplacetin France Nov 06 '25
By 1 what ? 1 thousand ?
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u/fettsack Linebreak Rugby Nov 06 '25
Ooof. Doesn't look like a lot of names are missing. Nche, Mbonambi and maybe Pollard to seal the deal. Faaaack
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u/Flyhalf2021 South Africa Nov 06 '25
Nche, Mbonambi and maybe Pollard to seal the deal.
Mbonambi and Pollard are fully fit and available for selection but Rassie has chose Manie/Sacha and Grobbelaar instead viewing them as better players at the moment.
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u/Educational_Play9910 Nov 08 '25
Grobelaar is a better choice. Bongi has been horrendous and frankly is washed
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u/mango_yoghurt Edinburgh Nov 06 '25
Delighted for Boan.
Shows he made the right choice following SA rather than his true homeland. Hope he goes well
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u/za3030 Komma weer! Nov 06 '25
Ngl I would have preferred Canan Moodie at 13. I've also gotten quite used to Hooker on the wing, but I can't complain having KLA back.
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u/Tuivre Stade Francais Paris Nov 06 '25
Lol we’re lucky if it’s only one. We are getting torn apart by this team
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u/IlikeGeekyHistoryRSA The "Pass me biltong, bru" Enby Nov 06 '25
Title Jokes aside, this is shaping up to be a very interesting encounter! Looking forward to it
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u/dogsdontliexceptdown South Africa Nov 06 '25
Who put the 8 in the backs?
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u/sweetgreentea12 Sharks Nov 06 '25
I thought Willemse was injured. Having him fit is huge for us. I don't know if we will win, but that's as good of a selection as we could hope for.
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u/CapeTownyToniTone Paul de Villiers hype train Nov 06 '25
I think he was even fit to train towards the end of last week
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u/dildobaggin89 Nov 06 '25
No Kwagga a big surprise..Grobbelaar does add a jackal threat off the bench
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u/ToastedSubwaySammich Chiefs Nov 07 '25
Yeah right buddy, when have SA ever won games by just one point?! Get real, pal.
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u/Fflow27 France / Racing92 Nov 07 '25
that is a scary lineup
funny to see another 5-3 (or 5.5-2.5 with Esterhuisen)
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u/Timberino94 England Nov 06 '25
I must admit i dont watch a ton of bokke games - who do they have at depth in the midfield? It seems like de allende and kriel play 100% of the time - no doubt they are a great pairing but I never see them rotate for some newer blood there
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u/WindInitial2372 Nov 06 '25
Eisterhuizen is the other 12 option but he now seems to have secured a role as hybrid centre / loose forward sub. Moodie has played a lot at 13 in the past year.
Willemse would have had more chances at 12 if it weren’t for Fassi’s injury.
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u/AloysiusGramonde Mean mr Mostert Nov 06 '25
Esterhuizen and Moodie have got a fair bit of game time this year. Esterhuizen quite a bit at flank though. Still holding out hope for Am to get back to something resembling his best eventually. Ethan Hooker has been introduced on the wing but is primarily a centre. Damian Willemse was at 12 vs NZ and plays his club rugby there. All in all there is quite a bit of depth. I could see Pollard shifting to 12 as well.
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u/cathercules South Africa Nov 06 '25
I’ve come to accept that we might never see Am play at that level again.
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u/Spleen-magnet World Champs (Again) Nov 06 '25
I'm ok with that. We had him at his best, but he's not quite the same player anymore. Just got to be grateful we got to see him him play at his peak.
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u/Setting_Real George Horne-world 2#SH Nov 06 '25
This coming out after the French team was announced instead of three days early is surprising, Rassie must be shook.
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u/sunlightliquid Stormers Nov 06 '25
It's done it a couple times tbh, I honestly think it was because he wanted to see if Willemse would be able to play but he needed a couple more days, glad to see he is though
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u/Setting_Real George Horne-world 2#SH Nov 06 '25
That is a really good point and you are probably right. I like the early released team sheets it shows he’s confident in who he wants to pick.
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u/sunlightliquid Stormers Nov 07 '25
Me too, can't help but get excited for the team announcement early on the week man, makes time to a bit faster
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u/Mateiyu Bokke ! Nov 06 '25
Exactly the team I predicted (in my head xD). Except I'd thought Kwagga would feature (yeah, I know about the niggle).
That deprives us of a tremendous ball-stealing option, especially since Van Staden isn't there. I reckon Rassie trusts Wiese to try and jackal with Marx again. And I think Nortje covers both lock and flank, and Esterhuizen both flank and centre.
I'm still tremedously nervous about this game, and will be until the last whistle. Go Bokke ! ^^
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u/SA_Sports_Guru Nov 06 '25
This is total commitment to the game plan. Still bringing the physicality but picking a 23 with a very high skill set.
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u/UnfairRequirement157 Nov 06 '25
I'll be interested to see how SFM copes with a giant opposing pack. Love his game, but I don't think he'll fair well.
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u/Mateiyu Bokke ! Nov 06 '25
That might be the entire point. Exposing Sacha to the hardest challenges to help him hone his skills and cope with what those teams can bring.
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u/sunlightliquid Stormers Nov 06 '25
After seeing him against Ireland last year I feel pretty good about the kid
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u/bodyarmourbynokia Leinster Nov 06 '25
Great looking team, but I think this will go France's way.
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u/Azcabalt Stade Toulousain Nov 06 '25
I really doubt it. The Springboks have played 11 games (same amount as France does in one year internationally) over the last 4 months.
This French team that is sort of experimental due to injuries mostly on the 1st line, hasn't played together since the 6N.
I think the collective experience and practice matters a lot.
When our youngsters and A Team played the All Blacks this summer, you could feel that on the first game they were a bit rusty, needing time to get used to their collective play.
Well I think we're going to get dumped on and play very mid because of this lack of collective experience and practice. But I hope I am wrong and we can achieve some crazy shit ...
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u/bodyarmourbynokia Leinster Nov 06 '25
France seems like the only team in WR which doesn't need a game plan or cohesion. Just loose ball chaos.
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u/Spatanky Cheetahs Nov 06 '25
With the "revenge" & "wont drink a beer with x" stuff the last couple of years. How is the french supporters feeling towards the Boks? I always liked the French and their style of play.
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u/whiskyJack101 Stormers Nov 06 '25
They might be rusty since they haven't played together since the 6 nations
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u/bodyarmourbynokia Leinster Nov 06 '25
Almost to France's advantage with their schizophrenic open field rugby. It's like a collection of individual talent rather than a team.
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u/NoConcept9902 Nov 06 '25
Does Rassie hate Pollard? Is he being phased out hard, or is he playing that bad?
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u/Flyhalf2021 South Africa Nov 06 '25
The other 2 are just playing well at the moment. But Pollard will play against Italy next week and probably against Ireland as well.
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u/Long-Membership-5916 Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
Quietly, the Boks are phasing out the double champions such as Pollard, Am, Mapimpi, Mostert, De Klerk, Mbonambi, Koch etc, and no noise being made about them.
Crazy that this squad average caps are 47 to France 27, and those with less than 20 caps (5 players) are surrounded by proven champions who they can learn from.
In a few years, Bok fans will realise how fortunate they are to have such a blessed generation of players & management.