RWC 2011: Quarter Final 3: Wallabies v Boks

[Geeves]

Well the Boks have announced thier side.

South Africa (15-1): Patrick Lambie; J.P. Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Pierre Spies, Schalk Burger, Heinrich Brussow; Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw; Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp. Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, C.J. van der Linde, Willem Alberts, Francois Louw, Francois Hougaard, Butch James, Gio Aplon

Lambie fills in for F. Steyn at fullback and once again Bakkies Botha sits in the stands injured.   Jean de Villers comes back in at IC to bolster the defensive side.

The best news for Aus, Smit is once again the startign hooker.

[Geeves]

A number of changes have been made to the squad and not all good but then again not all bad.  Finally a 4, 3 split on the bench, 2 back reserves are not enough.

Digby Ioane is back!!!!! This is fantastic but as he takes over the wing spot for Samo (back to and he forces Ashley -Cooper to OC which then puts Fainga’a on the bench.

McCabe returns to IC at the expense of Barnes who really should not be on the bench.  The dual playmaker is missed in the wallabies game plan.  the combination of Cooper and Barnes tore the frogs apart last year. it need to be reinstated.

Vickerman and Horwill are the lock combination.  This means then once again Vickerman knows where the ball is going to be thrown.  Sharpe makes it to the bench.  This is probably the best option at the moment.  Simmons is still developing at this level.


Slipper is on the bench but I have no idea what McCalman is doing there, bring in Hodgenson or Higgenbotham.

Wallabies to win


Wallabies team:

14. James O’Connor          (Western Force)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper  (Brumbies)
12. Pat McCabe                  (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane                  (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper              (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia                        (Queensland Reds)
8. Radike Samo                   (Queensland Reds)
7. David Pocock                  (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom                   (Brumbies)
5. James Horwill                 (Queensland Reds, captain)
4. Dan Vickerman               (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander                (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore              (Brumbies)
1. Sekope Kepu                   (NSW Waratahs)

Run on Reserves:

16. Tatafu Polota Nau       (NSW Waratahs)
17. James Slipper                (Queensland Reds)
18. Nathan Sharpe             (Western Force)
19. Ben McCalman             (Western Force)
20. Luke Burgess                 (NSW Waratahs)
21. Berrick Barnes              (NSW Waratahs)
22. Anthony Fainga’a        (Queensland Reds)

[Teach]

....  Finally a 4, 3 split on the bench, 2 back reserves are not enough.

Pfft. This is Dingo we are talking about. 1 reserve is enough. 

[Geeves]

....  Finally a 4, 3 split on the bench, 2 back reserves are not enough.

Pfft. This is Dingo we are talking about. 1 reserve is enough. 

or too many

[Teach]

hee hee. Pulsating game.

I got this one wrong, and that is the third previously unbeaten team kicked out. ABs the only unbeaten team left !

I've heard Aussies complain about "sleeping kiwis" behind their rucks, but there were often a couple of hopping wallabies behind most the the Bok rucks - that made it tough for them. I thought the Boks had actually done enough to win it - but then came the masterstroke:

Chuck the ball to Samo in the lineout. The lifters couldn't hold the big guy up and poor old Matfield was blamed when he came down on his head. 3 points and game over.

Well done Wallabies and tough luck Boks.

[Geeves]

Well the wallabies won.  Now to pull out the big effort next week and actually play a game of rugby.  The wallabies were lucky at the end.

I believe the wallabies have one very good game in them for this RWC.  Hopefully they bring it out next week.

[Geeves]

And the best thing about next weekend. 

The wallabies will not have Bryce Lawrence as the ref.

[BallBoy]

Now know how you kiwis must have felt in 2007 - being snubbed by a really pathetic display of refereeing. Boks totally outplayed the wallabies and I think by 2015 will still wonder how the hell they lost that specific game.

Now going to eat some of my sour grapes for dinner ...

Goes without saying that I am in full support of a Wales / AB final 

[Teach]

And the best thing about next weekend.  

The wallabies will not have Bryce Lawrence as the ref.

Hmm. But you could acknowledge that he kept you in the world cup. That must be a nice feeling cos the opposite is pretty bad  

[Hamish]

Goes without saying that I am in full support of a Wales / AB final 

Has anyone else noted the spooky similarity to 1987?

The same 4 semi finalists....let's hope it's an omen

[BallBoy]

Has anyone else noted the spooky similarity to 1987?

The same 4 semi finalists....let's hope it's an omen

what comes around, goes around... not sure you played with your 3rd and 4th choice pivot back then though