Rugby Championship 2024

[Ruckedtobits]

60 mins into NZ v Arg before the first scrum. Probably an all-time international record.

[Ruckedtobits]

Superb win for Argentina. The last driven maul went almost 40m but their tackling and handling won the game for them.

Razor is discovering that there's more to international rugby than break-dancing and a good head of hair.

Great to see TWO former Leinster Coaches in charge of two SH teams

[Observingprop123]

Cannot see how journalists(?) voted for Savea over Dupont as POTY. That said could say that about every year he hasn't won. He's simply on a different level to everyone else.

[ronk]

Cannot see how journalists(?) voted for Savea over Dupont as POTY. That said could say that about every year he hasn't won. He's simply on a different level to everyone else.

France didn't have a good RWC And he didn't play in the summer tour or 6N.

[Observingprop123]

Cannot see how journalists(?) voted for Savea over Dupont as POTY. That said could say that about every year he hasn't won. He's simply on a different level to everyone else.

France didn't have a good RWC And he didn't play in the summer tour or 6N.

He played the 2023 6N. France lost to the winners in the world cup. It's an individual award for the best player. We have a trophy for the best team in the world.

Under the criteria we currently have it's impossible for a Fijian to win world player of the year even if it would be unanimously agreed they're the best rugby player on the planet.

[ustix]

Cannot see how journalists(?) voted for Savea over Dupont as POTY. That said could say that about every year he hasn't won. He's simply on a different level to everyone else.

France didn't have a good RWC And he didn't play in the summer tour or 6N.

He played the 2023 6N. France lost to the winners in the world cup. It's an individual award for the best player. We have a trophy for the best team in the world.

Under the criteria we currently have it's impossible for a Fijian to win world player of the year even if it would be unanimously agreed they're the best rugby player on the planet.

Botia is capable of anything

[Dave Cahill]

He played the 2023 6N.

Which was the previous season, where he lost to JvdF

[Observingprop123]

He played the 2023 6N.

Which was the previous season, where he lost to JvdF

The award was given on the 29th of October 2023. Surely includes the 2023 6N.

[Dave Cahill]

Its a bit foggy to be honest. The RWC happened in NH season 23-24. The 6N in 2023 happened in season 22-23.

But if the award is given in October 2023, then it has to be for that calendar year 2023 - which would indeed include the '23 Six nations.

I hate when a seasonal sport offers an annual award!

[Keith]

Humiliating occasion for NZ rugby, not only did they lose to a bang average Argentina side, the amount of empty seats in the stadium is making plenty of headlines. I think we've been mislead by how popular the ABs actually are in NZ.

[Logorrhea]

Humiliating occasion for NZ rugby, not only did they lose to a bang average Argentina side, the amount of empty seats in the stadium is making plenty of headlines. I think we've been mislead by how popular the ABs actually are in NZ.

Noticed that, but coming after the debacle that was the Australia "home" match vs the Boks it wasnt quite as bad.

[Keith]

Humiliating occasion for NZ rugby, not only did they lose to a bang average Argentina side, the amount of empty seats in the stadium is making plenty of headlines. I think we've been mislead by how popular the ABs actually are in NZ.

Noticed that, but coming after the debacle that was the Australia "home" match vs the Boks it wasnt quite as bad.

Really? I think NZ getting 25k (being kind) to a rugby championship game is far worse. We all know union is struggling for traction in Aus, but it's supposed to be NZs national sport. I see loads of excuses from kiwis for their poor attendances, but keep in mind the NZ warriors have sold out every single home game (24k capacity) this season in the NRL. I'm not buying it. I don't think people quite realise how dire the situation is for union in the SH.

[riocard911]

Oz went into the sheds with the score 0-21. When the 2nd half started, there were loads of previously occupied seats empty. Poor attitude from the Wallabies fans, but doesn't surprise me, as they're the biggest whingers of all, IMO.

The Boks were imperious vs Oz, who took 75 minutes to get on the scoreboard.
FT: 7-33. RSA combined their power game with 15 man rugby any chance they got. Most impressive - or maybe Oz are just cr@p.

FT: NZ 30-38 ARG. That's what NZ get for not playing their best outhalf - Beauden Barrett - at 10. Mistakes by McKenzie - a missed peno in the last quarter and a loose pass which ended up in a scramble under their own posts, from which the winning try for Argentina arose - cost NZ that match.

[neill_m]

Springbok team to face Australia in Perth - Saturday 10:55am Irish Time: 10 Changes to the starting XV

15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 5 caps, 10 points (2t)
14 – Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – 34 caps, 96 points (15t, 3c, 5p)
13 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 72 caps, 80 points (16t)
12 – Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 36 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 43 caps, 150 points (30t)
10 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 5 caps, 25 points (11c, 1p)
9 – Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 1 cap, O points

8 – Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 0 points
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 80 caps, 45 points (9t)
6 – Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 21 caps, 0 pts
5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 0 points
4 – Salmaan Moerat (captain, DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 0 points
3 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 19 caps, 0 pts
2 – Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 0 points
1 – Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 5 points (1t)

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 68 caps, 85 points (17t)
17 – Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 32 caps, 0 pts
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 53 caps, 0 points
19 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 123 caps, 30 points (6t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 44 caps, 40 pts (8t)
21 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 12 caps, 10 points (2t)
22 – Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers) – 15 caps, 91 pts (1t, 28c, 10p)
23 – Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 72 caps, 732 points (7t, 98c, 162p, 5dg)

[FtD]

A lot of players rested in the tight 5. It's not exactly a tight 5 that would terrify teams even at a URC level, and they're very inexperienced.

Still likely have too much off the bench.

Cannot understand the thinking of having both Manie Libbok and Handre Pollard on the bench.

[riocard911]

That's some squad rotation. Most likely the reason Willie Leroux isn't in the 23. We won't mention the three on one overlap he absolutely butchered last Saturday.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was mightily impressive in his first start at 10 for the Boks. Looks like Rassie has found his own Sam Kelleher....

[Dexter]

That's some squad rotation. Most likely the reason Willie Leroux isn't in the 23. We won't mention the three on one overlap he absolutely butchered last Saturday.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was mightily impressive in his first start at 10 for the Boks. Looks like Rassie has found his own Sam Kelleher....

Who's Sam Kelleher?

[ronk]

That's some squad rotation. Most likely the reason Willie Leroux isn't in the 23. We won't mention the three on one overlap he absolutely butchered last Saturday.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was mightily impressive in his first start at 10 for the Boks. Looks like Rassie has found his own Sam Kelleher....

Who's Sam Kelleher?

I think they meant Ronan Prendergast.

[Laighin Break]

That's some squad rotation. Most likely the reason Willie Leroux isn't in the 23. We won't mention the three on one overlap he absolutely butchered last Saturday.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was mightily impressive in his first start at 10 for the Boks. Looks like Rassie has found his own Sam Kelleher....

Who's Sam Kelleher?

I think they meant Ronan Prendergast.

Easy mistake to make. Both have brothers named Cian that have played for Connacht.

[riocard911]

Thanks, lads. Obviously didn't have me mind on me business. Duh. Sam Prendergast, of course!!!