2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

Even a less than “great” AB team will still be an absolute handful for Ireland..they’re born to play rugby. It’s their GAA

I was thinking that while typing it, very similar to previous world cup. And no, wouldnt really bother me this time either, just wouldve been nice to tick all the boxes.

The gap was an issue, but the biggest issue with the last 7/8 games is that teams are reading out lineout like a book. How many times vs. NZ and SA did they have a jumper in the air right next to ours and going up and the same time? We couldn't throw them off the scent.

It was also a poor decision to throw to the back on our 1st lineout. We were deep in the NZ 22 and no doubt had a set play lined up but given how poor we had been all tournament in the lineout maybe a ball to 2, a drive and then execute a set play would have been the better option. That just compounded the error of not kicking for goal from that penalty.

You can't even get your sources right. Rob Kearney said it not Horgan. And it was an estimate that he came up with not a mathematical equation.

The SA team selection will be interesting for the semi final against England.

Up to now there were 2 distinct teams.

Team 1 played first game (vs Scotland), third game (vs Ireland), fifth game (vs France).

Team 2 played second game (vs Romania) and fourth game (vs Tonga).

If they want to keep the rotation going then team 2 should be playing this weekend, sixth game (vs England), which would leave Team 1 rested for the final the following week.

But, have to get past England first, and I am not sure if Team 2 will be able for it. Which would mean playing Team 1 again this weekend, and definitely the weekend in the final too, which would have them playing 3 tough games in a row.

I am guessing it will be a hybrid of the 2 teams.

Here goes my guess at the team for SA vs England (with rotation in mind for the final):

1. Nche (subbed off between 40-50 minutes)
2. Fourie (subbed off between 50-60 minutes)
3. Koch (subbed off between 50-60 minutes)
4. Kleyn
5. Orie (subbed off between 50-60 minutes)
6. Kolisi (subbed off between 50-60 minutes)
7. Smith
8. Wiese
9. Reinach (subbed off between 50-60 minutes)
10. Pollard (subbed off between 50-60 minutes)
11. Mapimpi
12. Esterhuizen
13. Moodie (subbed off between 50-60 minutes)
14. Williams
15. Le Roux
16. Mbonambi (on for Fourie, Fourie could move to 6 to replace Kolisi, which frees up van Staden to replace either Smith or Wiese)
17. Kitshoff (on for Nche)
18. Nyakane (on for Koch)
19. Snyman (on for Orie)
20. van Staden (on for Kolisi, or Smith or Wiese)
21. de Klerk (on for Reinach)
22. Libbok (on for Pollard)
23. Kriel (on for Moodie, or Moodie moves to wing, with Willemse moving to Full back and Le Roux going off)

Nearly the same team that started against Tonga in the 4th game. Just a few tweaks. Risky though.

Forgot he took a hit against Tonga, thanks. Suppose they could start Am on 13, Moodie on 11.

Looking a the performance NZ put in against us Im sure it was their best outing for years and it will be very difficult to replicate. Last WC they did a number on us and then flopped against England the week after. Jammy b*stards have a very ordinary Argentinian team to deal with next week which they should be capable of handling, though Arg will have nothing to lose and might be die a performance after some stuff went well for them abasing Wales..

Agreed. I'll be shocked if they make the final. It's possible though.

So they are sticking to the first team, same team that played last week.

Think they have it wrong.i would have had a lot of those starting players on the bench and I would have had Trevor,fourie,kock,snyman and kleyn,van staden,Williams libbok,esterhuisen,am leroux all starting.

Maybe brought him over if there are any injuries, have him training with the squad and ready to go if needed. Share his experience with the younger guys.

I suppose if they picked a weaker team and then lost, we wouldnt be very happy.

I dont know about evenly matched across the 33, there are clear first choices in most positions, but it is more evenly matched than most other teams I think. I agree that they couldve rotated a few players.

This weekend really is mad for sport fixtures, just for what I am interested in:

Friday:

Rugby Semi Final 21:00-23:00

F1 Qualifying 23:00-00:00

Saturday:

MotoGP Qualifying 01:50-02:30

MotoGP Sprint 06:00-07:05

Cricket Eng vs SA 10:30-18:30

URC Stormers vs Lions 16:05-18:00

F1 Sprint Qualifying 19:30-20:30

Rugby Semi Final 21:00-23:00

Sunday:

F1 Sprint 00:00-01:00

MotoGP Race 05:00-05:50

F1 Race 21:00-23:00