To be fair to Straeuli, he probably hasn't got as many world class players to call on as the four semi-finalists have. He's also had dreadful luck with injuries this past year, and I think that has prevented him from picking a settled team.
Having said that, I still think Nick Mallett would have done better in the circumstances.
Going out in the quarterfinals is not a disgrace - they had a tough group and a tough QF. If SA had had Australia's draw or France's draw they would be in the semifinals (probably! )
I'm getting seriously worried that England have no higher gear to raise to. Wilkinson has ben playing poorly (although at least he's got the goal kicking going again.) Luger has been a waste of space. The lineout has been poor. We have conceded far more penalties and turnovers than we are used to, and look to be badly lacking in pace.
My only hope is that England will grind out the win vs France, because that's what we so often do. I believe we are capable of beating NZ because they are making a lot of mistakes too. I don't think Australia have a prayer against NZ. Having said that, NZ-France would be a heck of a good final. I can't imagine NZ-England being as entertaining.
Mick 🙂
Originally posted by mikadoPersonally I believe Mallet was the one to take SA rugby down the drain to start off with. *(&(&**% got rid of Teichman and Vos, only to put in pubcrawler SkinStad ??
Having said that, I still think Nick Mallett would have done better in the circumstances.
He also claimed that smaller provinces shouldn't complain if their players aren't picked as they should be playing for a decent team. How long did it take Vos to make the Bok team ?
This is the same guy that picked 13 out of 15 players from the Stormers team for the starting lineup for the Boks. The same stormers team that lost by 20 points in the Super 12 Semis!
Mallets gameplan was defense, defense, defense. Boring *(&( rugby. We played 2 games in the WC 1999 without scoring a try. England we beat by drop goals, then when that didn't work against Aus, we had no clue what to do ! No offense whatsoever.
I suggest putting in a ex-backline player as coach next time. Tired of seeing SA with an overlap, only to see some prop in the backline knock on, or run straight into the other players, trying to run through them instead of just passing the ball to the wingers.
Otherwise put in Pienaar. He seems to remember how to play the game.
Originally posted by CrowleyYou disappoint me Werner. Please don't force me to post all those private messages you sent me in support of the Wallabies. The one asking me whether the Boks would ever be as terrific as the Aussies was particularly pitiful.
God dammit...
I basically hate all the semi-finalists....
Eenie meenie minie moe...
GOOOO FRANCE!!!!
Dudes, what's going on here? I leave you guys alone for a day and then you want to sack Straeuli already.
It's probably gonna happen, but this is not the solution...
Look at all the successful teams in this WC - they stick it out with the coach and some core players - then you build, build and build a world beating team. What will the new coach do? Start playing some radical new style of rugby (which means at least 20 new players).
No.
We need to stick to a team and coach.
Rome wasn't built in a day...
Dylan, the messages were just to make you feel relaxed and over-confident 😀 Need I remind you who won that game...?
(Sorry to bring that up again mate, but when you force me into a corner, I'm forced to dig...)
Originally posted by Black LungSORRY (NOT !! ) YOU ARE WRONG.
PREDICTION TIME AGAIN!!!
NZ to THRASH the Aussies,ah what a pleasure it will be to see Matt Rodgers crying cos his team got THRASHED!
What a game by the aussies, go you good things 😀 .
From the opening fivbe minutes the attack phase after phase without mistakes by the aussies was relentless. It was the difference for the whole match.
Dismal performance by the kiwis.
This is what SA should've done - attack the all blacks in the mid-field. Mauger and MacDonald are probably the worst centre pairing I've seen all WC, all it took was a little relentless attack in the mid-field by Mortlock (he played a great game) to show up the kiwis in defence.
Dammit, if only my boys did this...
Originally posted by CrowleyHEHEHEHEHE. We played brilliantly, and the Kiwis played crap. 😵😵😵
Dismal performance by the kiwis.
This is what SA should've done - attack the all blacks in the mid-field. Mauger and MacDonald are probably the worst centre pairing I've seen all WC, all it took was a little relentless attack in the mid-field by Mortlock (he played a great game) to show up the kiwis in defence.
Dammit, if only my boys did this...
"I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven...."
By the way Werner, don't think your little jab earlier went unnoticed. I was planning out a witty rejoiner but after that fantastic win I think I'll let you go, poor dear. 😉