Heartbroken by Ireland’s tragic crash-out last week, I forgot about putting up a new post yesterday. So this is a rushed affair.
Further reading
Don’t miss Deebee’s analysis of the quarter-finals, or Utnapistm’s predictions for this weekend.
On the telly this week
Friday 25th October
| Ulster v Cardiff | 19:35 | S4C / Premier Sports 1 |
| Munster v Ospreys | 19:35 | TG4 / Premier Sports 2 |
| Bath v Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 26th October
| England v New Zealand | 09:00 | ITV |
| Dragons v Glasgow | 14:45 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Gloucester v Wasps | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
| Treviso v Kings | 15:00 | FreeSports |
| Connacht v Cheetahs | 17:15 | TG4 / Premier Sports 1 |
| Zebre v Leinster | 17:15 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Edinburgh v Scarlets | 19:30 | Premier Sports 2 |
Sunday 27th October
| Wales v S Africa | 09:00 | ITV |
| Leicester v Saracens | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Ovally Balls 
I wonder if anyone’s ever bought a de Allende dummy.
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Flutter gone.
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Classic Gethin.
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How come they don’t police straight throws in the lineout any more?
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Have seen better games in ProD2.
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Ah. Wales decide to stop tackling. Bad idea.
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Awful tackling.
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Good strength from first Pollard, then de Allende. We’ll need a huge effort to get back now,
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Too high by everyone on de Allende. He’s not going to pass so get his legs.
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Ooh Patchell on. Put it through hands a bit Wales!
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What a difference from the other SF.
Oh… at last a try!
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“What a difference from the other SF.”
A close match?
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Aardmann on!
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GO LEFT
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Unbelievable defence from SA.
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That’s a big call
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Early on in that attack there was so much space on the left with only one defender but nobody saw it.
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Madness.
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Not sure it’s the right thing to do to hammer away like that when you are weaker physicslly
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Ha what do I know??? Great try.
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Good score Wales!
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Pro D2 Second XV level that try.
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“Not sure it’s the right thing to do to hammer away like that when you are weaker physicslly”
It’s what we did v England in the 6 Nations before Hill’s try. The mistake comes. The ball retention was very good by Wales.
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Ballsy from Wales. Great renard.
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Just. I don’t know how these fuckers stay in games sometimes.
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“Great renard”
I agreee. Foxy is great.
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Reward, not renard.
TomP, I seem to have riled you. Sorry about that. But you may want to admit the level is poor.
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Ambitious but gives us another chance to build something.
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Du Toit’s stats must be ridiculous by now. The man’s a terminator.
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Bollocks. Great kick by Pollard.
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Fair play this half has been tense. I’ve not been bored!
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Du Toit’s stats must be ridiculous by now.
18 tackles out of 20. Next highest is 10 – Koch, who’s only been on 25 minutes.
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That’s that then
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Door closed with suffocating power. Hard luck Wales.
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Congratulations SA. The stronger team and deserved winners. Good luck in the final
Wales gave it their all, but not enough in the end.
Wonderful game rugby. After the intensity and speed of yesterday’s game, this was a very different beast. Tense and brutal but compelling nonetheless
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Aw.
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Wish it was over. Awful to go and play again next Friday.
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Shame we couldn’t have sneaked just one more but definitely a game too far for this team.
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I think to be world champions you have to beat Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. If England lift the pot next week they will have earned it
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Well done to SA. Nice one for you, Deebee.
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Big effort, could have gone either way.
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Congrats Deebee, good luck for the final.
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Oh dear. Congratulations to SA (and Deebee, obvs, who was immense throughout.)
But gutted for Wales—so close. Tried everything, gave everything and they didn’t let themselves down, but still, such a disappointment.
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Congratulations deebs. Commiserations Welsh posters.
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Not a great spectacle but brutal as expected . Actually thought the Welsh bench looked better for long periods. Commiserations to the grand Welsh folk here. England nailed on favourites next weekend.
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Logical result. Both teams risk averse, the more powerful win.
The only time Wales took a risk ( with that scrum ) they scored. Should’ve done it more often. What did Patchell, kicking away the pill with 3 minutes to go and 3 points down, thought he’d achieve? Out wide, SA seemed a bit fragile, why not try it?
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My apologies for over-reacting, Flair, I had a dog in the fight so wasn’t worried so much about the aesthetics. It was Cup rugby and neither side is all singing, all dancing. Some of the skills were poor and we couldn’t quite take advantage of SA mistakes.
I also love it when France or NZ turn it on
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There’s a lot of knowledge of the other side in next week’s final. Mitchell was coaching the Bulls a year ago. Plenty of SA players are in the English league. Rassie’s sure to have a plan as is Eddie.
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That’s right Flair. We looked from the outset that we hoped to sneak it rather than win it.
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No offence taken Tomp, I also react differently when the team I support play.
I thought the game was very intense but poor and a bit tedious for the neutral. Both back lines underemployed. I enjoy a good forward battle ( and this one was a good one) but a bit of variety would’ve entertained me a bit more.
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