Rugby

Changing the subject...

League season starts with the Challenge Cup this weekend. Great stuff.

Big Gav has switched codes + plays vs Widnes on Sunday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/56402210

Yes, can't believe he's nearly 40 - he's almost the same age as me and I thought that as I always remember him at the age he picked Tait up, I'd stay that age too! Bloody hell, Rangi Chase is their skipper. They've got a backer, clearly!!

South Africa love playing Billy, Duane Vermeulen has dominated him every match they've played. He's meat and drink for an SA pack and one of the most overrated players on the planet.

You don't beat South Africa by trying to dominate them physically, it doesn't work (it's why they have such a good record against England). You beat them by getting enough parity up front to play a really fast game (Australia always cause the Boks issues). Key to beating the Boks is quick ball, so a pack which can hit and clear rucks and get round the park is crucial. They don't play with a traditional 7 and rely on Vermeulen, Marx and Kitshoff to jackal ball (all who are great but not the most mobile) so a good 7 can cause them issues. Pocock cost the Boks the the 2011 WC by killing them at the breakdown, aided by some awful officiating by Bryce Lawrence. They're also reliant on Pollard being fit as he's streets ahead of their other 10 options. Jantjes isn't test standard and Bosch and Willemse are too green. I could see them returning to Morne Steyn (has had a very good domestic season) if Pollard is not fit. There would be a lovely symmetry for him to slot a series clinching penalty again.

The problem for the Lions is that only a handful of players (Curry and Hogg) would make the SA team. The thing that gives them a chance is the fact the Boks haven't played since the WC final and the tour is going to be played in the NH.

As a Bok fan this is the team who'd cause them the most issues.

1 - Sutherland
2 - Owens
3 - Furlong
4 - Itoje
5 - Beirne
6 -Curry
7 - Tipuric
8 - Faletau
9 - Davies
10 - Russell
11 - Van Der Merwe
12 - Henshaw
13 - Ringrose
14 - Rees-Zamitt
15 - Hogg

They'll love it if Gatland picks Alun Wyn, Farrell, Billy, George etc

For the Boks they'll likely be fairly similar to the WC and go

1 - Kitshoff
2 - Marx / Mbonambi
3 - Malherbe
4 - Etzebeth
5 -De Jager
6 - Kolisi
7 - Du Toit (if fit)
8 - Vermeulen
9 - De Klerk
10 - Pollard
11 - Nkosi
12 - De Allende
13 - Am
14 - Kolbe
15 - Le Roux

Personally I'd prefer Francois Steyn at 15 (he's back playing great rugby with a smile and can still slot them from 60m with ease) and Nyakane at 3. The tour comes a year early for Aphelele Fassi at 15 and Wandisile Simelane at 13 but look out for them in the rumoured SA A warm up game. They'll also almost certainly still go for the 6-2 split on the bench and rely on their immense depth in the pack.

Yes, similar thoughts to me re:Billy however it's a fine balance to strike between having enough power to gain a degree of set-piece parity up front with enough speed and breakdown nouse to get one over on the Boks at the tackle area.

Yeah ultimately it's the tight 5 who need to really front up in the set piece. Honestly matching SA fire with fire is such a stupid tactic and one SA relish. I've watched pretty much every SA test for the last 20 years and a they hate a fast and loose game, they lose more than they win of those. When you take them on upfront it gives them confidence as they know they can handle it.

However, irrespective of what style you play the key really is ruck ball both securing it quickly for the Lions and slowing it down for SA. Deny the SA power runners quick ball and they are a lot easier to stop. However, there's not a lot you can do to stop Cheslin Kolbe at the moment though which is what makes this current Bok side so dangerous.

So Daly at 13 (his more natural position years ago - but how long since he played there?) and two centres on the bench. BUT Odogwu misses out to Marchant, who wasn't in the squad until this morning... "Thanks for carrying the balls & tackle bags and collecting the cones mate..."

FFS

He'll choose Italy now, I bet. I would.

Odogwu

But is he hasn't impressed and Jones doesn't see him as an England international the it would be underhand to give him 10mins to deny Italy of him.

pfft - disappointed. For the reasons you say, including Odogwu- he covers centre and wing so I can only imagine that Eddie's seen enough and doesn't rate him as a test player. I really rate Marchant and feel that putting Daly there is a too negative/conservative a decision given opportunities to combine the hear and now with building a team and looking at players for the future, especially as England have no silverware to play for.

It's fucking mad to pick a lion's back row without curry.

You have to start Hogg, Itoje and Curry. All other spots up for grabs I think.

pick a lion's back row without curry

Who's done this? I completely agree.

But is he hasn't impressed and Jones doesn't see him as an England international the it would be underhand to give him 10mins to deny Italy of him

True. I think he's a properly exciting player though.

My problem with Daly is that he makes too many basic errors for a guy with 50 caps and 2 (?) Lions caps. His pace is not quite top-end (though he's no slouch).

Daly

Yeah, best back in the side. Not good enough to get a starting position. He has never felt more than filling in at full back to me.

Suffers from being versatile, unfortunately. If he'd stuck at 13 through his career, he'd have been superb. Not a 15. Not at all.

At his best I believe his distribution, running, kicking and skills are all world class. I will agree he's not a world class 15 at some of the core skills (aerial in particular) but to slate his overall ability because of a current dip of form is a bit 606.

I'm not picking on him for a form dip. I just don't think he's been picked in the right position(s) and that there are now more exciting prospects coming over the hill. If EJ is going to stick with him at 13 and it works, I will be happy. But he seems to be using him as a placeholder for Slade.

I'm not slating anything. I think he is the best alround back.

I think Daly suffers from not being the current best in any position, despite being a great player, given the structure of the side.

I think we're all largely agreed. It would be good if Mallins can nail down 15 because Daly's best position may well be utility cover on the bench. Covers back 3 and centres. His boot also potentially most valuable towards the end of tight games.

Would allow England to copy SA and go with a 6-2 forward split on the bench.

Aphelele Fassi at 15 and Wandisile Simelane at 13

Can't wait to see both of them play for the Boks, Fassi looked absolutely brilliant in the last Super Rugby tournament and Simelane was on fire in SRU.

Yeah Fassi caught my eye a few years back when he caught Aphiwe Dyantyi with ease after the former had intercepted. He's got a very languid style but he's definitely class and the long term 15 for SA.

Simelane has been hyped since his schoolboy days but has as of yet not really kicked on, finally started to string some games and form together last year. He'll have to go someway to displace Am though (who is akin to Conrad Smith for SA).

Darcy Graham getting absolutely annihilated by Ioane.
That must've detached his kidneys.

It was a beast of a tackle, shame he upended Hogg though, trying a little to hard to annihilate players.

I see shit England have turned up again this week.

Yup, came to post pretty much that. Too many penalties, not enough phase play, not forgetting that Ireland are just better.