South Africa Vs Samoa; Sat 26th Sep 16:45

TheGoldenAges

Teams:
South Africa:


Samoa:



Where the teams stand:
After last weekends action, this match stands poised to help decide as to who will (along with Scotland presumably) get the top 2 spots to face the top 2 from the Group of Death. South Africa come into this game humiliated really, probably the biggest shock ever in World Cup history was seen. Samoa come into this game with an unconvincing win over the USA. Both teams really need to make an impression to prove they can get to and perform in the latter stages of the tournament.

South Africa have made numerous changes for this weekend with Leinster's Zane Kirchner left out of the 23 entirely. Elsewhere, despite calls from some of the Boks press, Jean De Villiers keeps his spot in the XV. Probably most crucially for the country's World Cup hopes, Duane Vermuelen is named in the team, only 2 months after neck surgery and apparently against doctors advice too.



Samoa have largely kept the same team they had versus the Eagles, with one of their only replacements coming at fly-half where Tusi Pisi is replaced by Mike Stanley. As well as that, Matu'u replaces Avei at hooker and TJ Loane comes into the backrow.

Predictions
With South Africa reinvigorated by the changes to the team and based on Samoa's performance last weekend, the Springboks will get their World Cup campaign back on track leaving Scotland and Samoa to vie for the runners up spot in the group. Expect big performances from Pollard, one of the most exciting attacking fly-halfs in World rugby despite being only 21 and for Samoa, the Pisi brothers will surely make an impact. Whether that is positive for the Samoans, remains to be seen.

Fun stat: If George and Tusi come off the bench and join brother Ken on the field, the Pisi brothers will be the first time three siblings were on the same time in World Cup history.

South Africa 27 - 16 Samoa

Photo Credits: Rugby World Cup twitter account and Sport24 South Africa

Ceadog

De Villiers in the centre. Samoa by 20.

CatFromHue

Ceadog wrote: »

De Villiers in the centre. Samoa by 20.

Did you hear Meyer's press conference comments on why he picked JdV?

I thought about it long and hard and came to the conclusion that this is a must-win game and who are you going to back?" Meyer added.

"I had a long and hard chat with him and I just decided as a coach, and I will stand by my decision, that if you go into a fight that you have to win, that your whole career and whole country depends on, I really want to take a guy that has had six knee operations.

I want to go with a guy like that into a fight that we have to win because I know he wants to play for South Africa, I know he is a fighter and I know it is the best for the team.

"It was a tough choice but I know it's the right choice and I'll back him and if we, as South Africans, maybe backed each other more, South Africa would be a better place with less hate and violence and more love.

"I spoke to the team as well. They back him, they want him.

"We deserve all the criticism. It is unacceptable for the Springboks. We are a proud nation and a proud team.

"We have had immense support from South Africa, even if we don't deserve it, and I just want to thank all the guys that supported us.

"I've probably had more emails and texts than ever in my life, even more than when we beat the All Blacks."

:eek:

matthew8

Meyer sounds like a nutter every time he talks about his team selections. He's previously cited Pierre Spies's immense thighs as a reason for selection and Zane Kirchner's familiarity with rain from playing with Leinster.

Fascinating game this. SA will have a point to prove and should win pretty well, but what happens if Samoa take an early lead? Samoa also have their meeting at the last tournament to inspire them, losing 13-5 but really putting it up to South Africa.

CatFromHue

bloody hell lol!

yeah I think Samoa will have a point to prove too.

Bar the outhalf, who I don't know who he plays for, nearly all their players are playing in the big leagues. I think two are with Bristol and one is in Japan.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

That's a bit unfair to Kriel, he's not old enough to have had 6 knee operations. I'm sure he would have had them if it meant he'd be first choice.

PTH2009

BOKKA

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Redeem yourself, South Africa!

Jacovs

Shivers when they play our anthem.
Come on boytjies.

Losty Dublin

I can see the Boks winning this and winning it well. They played fairly okay against Japan last week and just need to buck up to the task better, that's all. Samoa aren't a good team; certainly they aren't as skilled as Japan are technically.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Who is singing over it? South Africans? Locals?

This is a stringer SA team than lined up against Japan and they're going to be looking to prove a point so I'd say they're going to win easily.

captbarnacles

Did that NZ comm just say Wayne Barnes was one of the best in the business

connemara man

That's a start and a half. Laying down a marker very early

VinLieger

captbarnacles wrote: »

Did that NZ comm just say Wayne Barnes was one of the best in the business

Just wow...... how anyone could describe him as that, either they are obvlivious or just stupid

Did anyone catches the NZ commentators name?

Jacovs

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Who is singing over it? South Africans? Locals?

This is a stringer SA team than lined up against Japan and they're going to be looking to prove a point so I'd say they're going to win easily.

Id say there is a massive amount of south africans at the game. This was the one game I nearly went to myself. If I wasnt going to SA in 3 weeks already.

captbarnacles

I like him as a ref just surprised to hear that guy say it

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

VinLieger wrote: »

Just wow...... how anyone could describe him as that, either they are obvlivious or just stupid

To be fair he did a good job in the NZ v Arg match the other day. One swallow doesn't make a summer though.

LuckyGent88

That hit on Strauss!!!

Taco Corp

Correct me if I'm wrong but simply having a hand on the player in front is not bound in the maul. Consistently ignored in games I've watched

VinLieger

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

To be fair he did a good job in the NZ v Arg match the other day. One swallow doesn't make a summer though.

True, his history specifically in Ireland V Wales games is atrocious

molloyjh

He can be a little bit annoying from time to time, but he is a good referee.

molloyjh

SA showing even more aggression than I expected. They really are going at full pelt from the start. This will be a real bruiser.

molloyjh

Great stuff from Samoa there. Big hits and good hands.

CatFromHue

very long advantage there, surprised he brought it back

That's terrible

awec

Can Samoa keep this going for 80?

captbarnacles

Yep

CatFromHue

SA give up a scrum peno to Samoa :eek:

awec

He could have went 10 metres further back and still made that.

molloyjh

Superb strike of the ball. Had another 5-10 on it too.

captbarnacles

What a strike. That would have mad it over from his own 10m line

Ulster's Michael Stanley

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Nanai-Williams is no Sonny Bill.....

Kanrith

I saw that coming.

LuckyGent88

Ah bollix. Telegraphed

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Did TV3 just freeze for anyone else? Missed that try completely.

Peregrine

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Did TV3 just freeze for anyone else? Missed that try completely.

Nope. On UPC.

ThisRegard

Could he have tried that against many other taller players he's playing against?

CurryFlavoured

Massive turn around, Samoa were in control.

awec

Deleted User wrote: »

Ulster's Michael Stanley

Aye. Did well there. :pac:

That's Doak's coaching for you.

total former

Telegraphed; if Pietersen hadn't caught it I think le Roux would have

connemara man

That was terrible! Shocking attempted pass the worse option there

razorblunt

Awful lineout throw, the Samoans will get trounced I reckon as part of a Bokke statement.

awec

Do the boks have their shirt sleeves taped to make their arms look bigger?

Is Berger any use anymore?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

awec wrote: »

Do the boks have their shirt sleeves taped to make their arms look bigger?

Are they taped?

awec

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Are they taped?

It's part of the design, just looked like tape at first glance.

ThisRegard

awec wrote: »

Do the boks have their shirt sleeves taped to make their arms look bigger?

Is that not a stripe on the jerseys?

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

It sounds like they're chanting "All Blacks!"

CurryFlavoured

Nooo du plessis is in my team.