The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Excellent analysis of what happened.

[ame="https://youtu.be/OyzRpxqgOC0"]So how did the Springboks seal the series? | THIRD TEST ANALYSIS | British & Irish Lions Tour 2021 - YouTube[/ame]

[Irishnev]

[ame="https://twitter.com/skysportsnews/status/1427148707498180612"]https://twitter.com/skysportsnews/status/1427148707498180612[/ame]

[Buzzo]

Just went to the open day and unveiling of the brand new Edinburgh stadium. It is pretty **** But better than 4000 rattling around inside Murrayfield. I have got a season pass also The team underwent a training session as part of the day.

Edinburgh have made some interesting new signings, Henry Immelman looked class even in the training session today. James Lang from Quins is a solid signing. Ramiro Moyano and Emiliano Boffelli from Argentina. Ben Vellacott from Wasps. Adam McBurney from Ulster. Charlie Savala, who is a young Scottish Q Fly half.

All of these seem to be with an eye on having some strength during the 6Ns and the Autumn internationals.

Looking forward to the new season and interested to see how the northern hem teams go against the SA teams.

[Irishnev]

Looking at the ABs ability to get in behind an in your face defence I fancy they’ll beat SA handy enough. Impressive again this morning

[ame="https://youtu.be/6N-Pfm_HjGE"]https://youtu.be/6N-Pfm_HjGE[/ame]

[Buzzo]

How bad are the Aussies now though? Some woeful defence and 2 interceptions. Against 14 men…

Will be interesting to see how they go this Autumn - we’ve got a great record recently against them.

The ABs just look as good as ever. Good to see consistency in that Red, Adam Hastings was red carded for that last season for Glasgow.

[Irishnev]

How bad are the Aussies now though? Some woeful defence and 2 interceptions. Against 14 men…

Will be interesting to see how they go this Autumn - we’ve got a great record recently against them.

The ABs just look as good as ever. Good to see consistency in that Red, Adam Hastings was red carded for that last season for Glasgow.

Aussie defence was poor and a definite red card

[Irishnev]

Bull**** decision - he knew what he was doing

[ame="https://twitter.com/rterugby/status/1435519561705664512"]https://twitter.com/rterugby/status/1435519561705664512[/ame]

[Buzzo]

Hastings got a full 4 weeks ban for exactly the same, but probably with more of a claim for accidental. No consistency.

The AB's are the Man U of International Rugby so....

[Buzzo]

Didn’t expect the Aussies to beat the Boks back to back.

[Irishnev]

Didn’t expect the Aussies to beat the Boks back to back.

Open attacking rugby and moved them around - The Lions have much better players and never used them……Gatland tried to beat them at their own game. I expect NZ to beat them handily also

[Buzzo]

Open attacking rugby and moved them around - The Lions have much better players and never used them……Gatland tried to beat them at their own game. I expect NZ to beat them handily also

is making Gatlands Lions tactics look even more naive.

30-17 is pretty comprehensive.

[Zapater]

Didn’t expect the Aussies to beat the Boks back to back.

No complaints either. Last week it was a horrorshow again on the tee from Pollard, but he was very accurate today. It wasn't as bad as the score suggests, but the Boks screwed up by playing too much and not executing in key moments. Better hands, passing and discipline and it would have been a different story, Wallabies were excellent today though. They've had the wood over us historically and have maintained it. I still find it hard to believe I was at Ellis Park in 2019 for the last game between the two prior to this series. Seems like a billion years ago considering what's happened to the world.

Just have to take it on the chin and say fair play. Hoping for better performances against the ABs but expect a walkthrough.

[Zapater]

Open attacking rugby and moved them around - The Lions have much better players and never used them……Gatland tried to beat them at their own game. I expect NZ to beat them handily also

Whilst that is true, I'm not 100% sure that would've changed things. These games have been more open by nature. Not sure if it's tactically planned or Rassie not being their physically has something to do with it. I expected us to lose at least one game against Australia and probably both against NZ whilst I thought we would have won the Lions series 3-0 before a game played. Southern Hemisphere games are on another level and can be a lot more unpredictable.

Also Australia have a lot defensive holes which encouraged enterprising play. If the Boks had executed we'd be looking at another scoreline, they also defended superbly under immense pressure at the end, very unlike recent Australian teams. Kolbe being out is huge too. Nkosi is a great player, but he doesn't make other players look consistently good like Kolbe can. Like that **** pass he couldn't quite take in the first half. Not his fault, but Kolbe probably takes that 80% of the time and then penetrates.

In boxing it's said that styles make fights and what is served up in the Northern Hemisphere is usually made to order for South African teams. You need a different calculator to solve the equations that NZ and Australia throw at you. I think turning the games against the All Blacks as ugly as possible is the only way to go.

[Irishnev]

Whilst that is true, I'm not 100% sure that would've changed things. These games have been more open by nature. Not sure if it's tactically planned or Rassie not being their physically has something to do with it. I expected us to lose at least one game against Australia and probably both against NZ whilst I thought we would have won the Lions series 3-0 before a game played. Southern Hemisphere games are on another level and can be a lot more unpredictable.

Also Australia have a lot defensive holes which encouraged enterprising play. If the Boks had executed we'd be looking at another scoreline, they also defended superbly under immense pressure at the end, very unlike recent Australian teams. Kolbe being out is huge too. Nkosi is a great player, but he doesn't make other players look consistently good like Kolbe can. Like that **** pass he couldn't quite take in the first half. Not his fault, but Kolbe probably takes that 80% of the time and then penetrates.

In boxing it's said that styles make fights and what is served up in the Northern Hemisphere is usually made to order for South African teams. You need a different calculator to solve the equations that NZ and Australia throw at you. I think turning the games against the All Blacks as ugly as possible is the only way to go.

This is very true

[Buzzo]

Quite liking the 50:22 kick rule.