Boks have been pretty pedestrian in the opening half, a few handshakes to introduce each other, but slowly starting to get it together. Fassi been enterprising so far on the left wing, PS du Toit his usual self, scrum much better with Malherbe on. Irony that Big Trev was the man in possession before being injured early on in the World Cup campaign.
Boks rusty, Georgians tough and committed and giving us the physical workout we need. I like them. Want to find some Georgian brandy now.
Bok scrum getting well on top. Just as I was about to say get Kwagga Smith off, he’s doing bugger all, he takes it off the base and scores under the posts. It’s all about the base.
Herschel Jantjies over after some strong forward play and a deft touch from Pollard, followed up by Willemse. 33-9 with the last 20 to come. Not yet the score many down here assumed we’d get but daylight and starting to put decent phases together.
Boring??? We’ve got Kitshoff playing 9, 10 and 12 at the moment, with Marx on the wing! Poor old Speckman not getting much ball on the right wing though.
Marx rumbles over for the Boks. 40-9. Rolling maul way better now, but possibly because the Georgians are shot. Bit of modern ‘handbags’. Pathetic as usual.
Ticht, I would fancy Australia against this Bok side playing as they are, but it’s going to be a very different side in a few weeks. Faf, de Allende, Am, RG Snyman, Lood de Jager, Duane Vermeulen, Kolbe, Mapimpi off the top of my head are all still to make an appearance, subject to fitness in some cases. This starting XV is only about 40% of the real side and they haven’t played together since 2019. They’ll be a bit different in a few weeks.
The backs have been poor tonight Deebs, the guys coming in will be a big improvement but the forwards coming in will face a stiffer test than today’s pack faced
Not barnstorming, but ok all in all. Lots to work on, but no major injuries I don’t think, so I’ll take it. Next week we need to be much better. And I think we will be.
Absolutely, Ticht. The Lions pack will be a huge step up from what we faced today. No doubt. But so will ours and I fancy we’ll have a very good bomb squad to make an impact in the last 30 or so. I’m not over confident, nor apprehensive. That’s for a few weeks time!
They were ok and the defence was strong. Kwagga not really the man for this kind of game at 8, but took his try very well. Reinach was way too slow to the breakdown in the first half, Jantjies got that speeded up.
Really liked that Georgia play down the blind side off the line out.
Adamson was a bit strange as ref, not communicating too well and was badly positioned when Pollard went over in the first half. Also thought the yellow card was a bit harsh, but no doubt there’d have been one soon after.
Kwagga’s not a Test 8. Not a Test starter for me. Stick him on with 20 to go and let him run riot from openside, that’s about it. Would like to have seen Jasper Wiese on from the start to see what he’s made of.
Agreed about Reinach, very pedestrian and sucked a lot of momentum out of the play. Definitely 3rd choice.
Kwagga was signed as an openside for Edinburgh, though I don’t remember him playing, I think he got crocked in training and spent a couple of month in rehab before going home.
That is a long way to say I agree that he is not a test 8
And then give away a needless penalty on half time! 2-1 Italy, but in truth if they’d turned at 2-0 nobody would’ve begrudged them that. Despite the penalty, I can’t see Belgium getting back into this.
ticht, Kwagga didn’t play for Edinburgh cos he went to the 2019 World Cup. Must be someone else you’re thinking of. Tough for him in the SA system when du Toit and Kolisi play wide and the big Georgian lads are lining up the inside carries.
Wiese looked ok when he came on but he’s got a very very short temper. I still fancy Marcell Coetzee to be in the 23, maybe one of the du Preez brothers as well.
If Vermeulen isn’t fit then Coetzee for sure. Never been a massive fan of the du Preez Brothers, but maybe they’ve matured at Sale. One trick ponies before they left.
Ovally Balls 
Aw dear, you hate to read this sort of thing about a match made in heaven (or somewhere…): https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jul/02/michael-gove-and-wife-sarah-vine-to-divorce
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Georgia take the lead
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The Boks are looking pretty rusty so far
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5-9 Georgia
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I see Nathan McBeth is playing in the Lions match up, he played for our U20s, if you were superstitious you’d call him The Scottish Prop.
He wasn’t much cop back then, but he must have improved
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I think I heard the comms saying the Georgian fullback is 18 years old, he’s been good in this first half hour
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Corner Ricebag finishes off a run in from the Boks’ 22
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Boks have been pretty pedestrian in the opening half, a few handshakes to introduce each other, but slowly starting to get it together. Fassi been enterprising so far on the left wing, PS du Toit his usual self, scrum much better with Malherbe on. Irony that Big Trev was the man in possession before being injured early on in the World Cup campaign.
Boks rusty, Georgians tough and committed and giving us the physical workout we need. I like them. Want to find some Georgian brandy now.
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Boks st about 70% of where they were in the WCF. Need a big step up in intensity and handling.
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New front row: Kitshoff, Marx and Malherbe on. This could be horrible for Georgia.
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Mbonambi had a very good 50 minutes. Let’s see how Marx goes. Haven’t seen anything of him since he went to Japan.
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Georgian 9 seems to only be able to shout at his backs whilst clutching his jewelry. Luckily they’re at a scrum, not hairing down the touchline.
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Kitshoff has his man on toast
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Bok scrum getting well on top. Just as I was about to say get Kwagga Smith off, he’s doing bugger all, he takes it off the base and scores under the posts. It’s all about the base.
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Georgia are falling apart now, it’s to be expected but this is going to be one way traffic for the last quarter
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Herschel Jantjies over after some strong forward play and a deft touch from Pollard, followed up by Willemse. 33-9 with the last 20 to come. Not yet the score many down here assumed we’d get but daylight and starting to put decent phases together.
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Elton!
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boo – boring Bos
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Pollard got through 63 minutes and was pretty good, so that’s a positive. Fassi may well get MoTM on debut. PSdT would be close too.
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Bos?…………………BoKs!
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ohjoy! -Bousquets missed his penalty
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Boring??? We’ve got Kitshoff playing 9, 10 and 12 at the moment, with Marx on the wing! Poor old Speckman not getting much ball on the right wing though.
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but now so have lots of others -and pain win 1 – 3 on penalties after 1 – 1 iaet
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ha!………….pain – how true
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I fancy the Lions against this Boks side, but that assumes they will not improve over the next couple of weeks
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Anyway, my namesake is senior pro in the new England team so – respect, s’il vous plaites
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Marx rumbles over for the Boks. 40-9. Rolling maul way better now, but possibly because the Georgians are shot. Bit of modern ‘handbags’. Pathetic as usual.
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JD11 special pass to row 15 there
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But not as bad as the horrible pass from Willie le Roux into row Z whilst Speckman looked on.
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Both Bok front rows look up to speed, PSdT and Kolisi likewise.
Not too many more atm
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Ticht, I would fancy Australia against this Bok side playing as they are, but it’s going to be a very different side in a few weeks. Faf, de Allende, Am, RG Snyman, Lood de Jager, Duane Vermeulen, Kolbe, Mapimpi off the top of my head are all still to make an appearance, subject to fitness in some cases. This starting XV is only about 40% of the real side and they haven’t played together since 2019. They’ll be a bit different in a few weeks.
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The backs have been poor tonight Deebs, the guys coming in will be a big improvement but the forwards coming in will face a stiffer test than today’s pack faced
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Not barnstorming, but ok all in all. Lots to work on, but no major injuries I don’t think, so I’ll take it. Next week we need to be much better. And I think we will be.
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Absolutely, Ticht. The Lions pack will be a huge step up from what we faced today. No doubt. But so will ours and I fancy we’ll have a very good bomb squad to make an impact in the last 30 or so. I’m not over confident, nor apprehensive. That’s for a few weeks time!
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They were ok and the defence was strong. Kwagga not really the man for this kind of game at 8, but took his try very well. Reinach was way too slow to the breakdown in the first half, Jantjies got that speeded up.
Really liked that Georgia play down the blind side off the line out.
Adamson was a bit strange as ref, not communicating too well and was badly positioned when Pollard went over in the first half. Also thought the yellow card was a bit harsh, but no doubt there’d have been one soon after.
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Kwagga’s not a Test 8. Not a Test starter for me. Stick him on with 20 to go and let him run riot from openside, that’s about it. Would like to have seen Jasper Wiese on from the start to see what he’s made of.
Agreed about Reinach, very pedestrian and sucked a lot of momentum out of the play. Definitely 3rd choice.
Belgium – Italy warming up nicely!
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Kwagga was signed as an openside for Edinburgh, though I don’t remember him playing, I think he got crocked in training and spent a couple of month in rehab before going home.
That is a long way to say I agree that he is not a test 8
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Wow! Italy are purring! Belgium simply not at the races.
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DeeBee strikes again – Belgium get a penalty…
(Italy’s second goal was a beauty though).
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And then give away a needless penalty on half time! 2-1 Italy, but in truth if they’d turned at 2-0 nobody would’ve begrudged them that. Despite the penalty, I can’t see Belgium getting back into this.
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Put your house on you know who now BB!
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Ukraine?
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Can’t confirm. It’ll jinx you.
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I’m Scottish. I’m jinxed already.
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Oh dear, Murray is two sets down, he has won one out of nine break points.
He is not the player of six or seven years ago – a hip replacement will do that to you.
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BB, will have a wee Laphroaig in sympathy. Scots still make the best whisky.
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ticht, Kwagga didn’t play for Edinburgh cos he went to the 2019 World Cup. Must be someone else you’re thinking of. Tough for him in the SA system when du Toit and Kolisi play wide and the big Georgian lads are lining up the inside carries.
Wiese looked ok when he came on but he’s got a very very short temper. I still fancy Marcell Coetzee to be in the 23, maybe one of the du Preez brothers as well.
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If Vermeulen isn’t fit then Coetzee for sure. Never been a massive fan of the du Preez Brothers, but maybe they’ve matured at Sale. One trick ponies before they left.
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I think you could be right there, he was due to come to Embra as world cup cover, but got called up himself.
Now I have to go and look to see who came in his stead
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I have a hip replacement – and you are dead right!
although – I am over twice Murray’s age
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