Scott Robertsons go to forwards coach Jason Ryan must have done some good work, some inspired selections included.
Was The Saffa Coach Jacques Nienaber under diversity requirements for his selections this week as he had all but emptied his bench by 3/4 time including MotM last week Marx, along with Kitshoff and Koch in a rejigged front row before 40 minutes to replace Nche, Mbonambi and Malherbe.
I know Koch is a common name in the republic but am wondering if any relation to the 1956 Boland Prop Chris Koch dealt to by the comeback kid and NZ heavyweight boxing champ Kevin Skinner who in the third test at Lancaster Park had one main task and he did it in spades
de Groot and Lomax to prop Taukei’aho played deep into second half when replaced by Bower, Taylor and newbie Fletcher Newal anchored a pack that was streets ahead of last weeks effort.
The backs caught the Ball and passes stuck.
That Ref though, sheesh wanted a starring role?
Forwards went well and held their own but as you say they got a big helping hand with the Boks putting in an inept front row to start the game.
I thought the big difference was in the inside backs where Mo’unga and Havilli dominated Pollard and Allende and so made it easier for Ioane and the outsides. A big concern is having a center that relies on intercepts rather than tackling though.
My man of the match Shannon Frizzell who did more in the first ten minutes than Akira Ioane has done in all of the tests he has played. Whitelock lead the forwards well and the benfits of Ryan showed again.
And Foster should still be replace by Robertson.
One member of Razors coaching set up joins the AB’s, the forward coach and the forwards improve immediately. Imagine what happens when Razor takes over and gets in the coaching group he wants!
Foster seems all puffed up as if this is a turning point. I dont think so. There is a huge test at Twickers to end the Northern tour. If Fozzie is still in charge then it will be an absolute massacre…
Poms are not that great this year either. Ireland have peaked. RWC teams to watch are the ABs, SA and of course, France.