Can the Springboks make history and win two in a row? You wouldn’t have thought so when they lost to Ireland in the pool stages, but you also wouldn’t have the All Blacks could do it after their opening-night loss to the hosts (and first pool loss ever).
Rassie’s gone with a ‘courageous’ 7-1 split on the bench again, so it could well come down to injuries – or, indeed, cards.
As for the other match, it seems like a foregone conclusion, but Argentina will be out for revenge, and can this England put together two good performances in a row? We’ll find out soon!
All in all, it’s been a fabulous World Cup apart from the idiotic draw. Merci à la France for an excellent tournament!
Onna telly this week
Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates free-to-view.
Friday 27th October
| Argentina v England | 20:00 | ITV1 / STV |
Saturday 28th October
| New Zealand v Wales (women) | 04:00 | S4C |
| Ospreys v Zebre | 13:00 | BBC1 Wales / iPlayer Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Connacht v Glasgow | 15:00 | TG4 / Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Stormers v Scarlets | 15:00 | S4C / iPlayer / Viaplay Sports 2 |
| Bath v Leicester | 15:05 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Leinster v Sharks | 16:55 | RTÉ2 / Viaplay Xtra |
| Edinburgh v Lions | 17:00 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| New Zealand v South Africa | 20:00 | ITV1 / STV / S4C / RTÉ2 |
Sunday 29th October
| Treviso v Munster | 14:00 | Viaplay Xtra |
| Dragons v Cardiff | 14:30 | Viaplay Sports 1 |
| Newcastle v Northampton | 15:00 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Ulster v Bulls | 17:00 | BBC2 NI / iPlayer / TG4 / Viaplay Sports 1 |
Ovally Balls 
Mind you, Frawley has just done some sterling defensive work, nicking the ball as it was nearly grounded over Leinster’s try-line.
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Sharks finally get a try in the last minute.
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Dear oh dear, and then they knock on the ball after the restart, and Leinster score again.
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And it’s 34-13 at FT.
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Right, I’ve decided I want the team in green to win. Mostly for Deebee. And Mandela and all he represents.
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Embra eek out a single point win over the Lions after a fabulous debut try from Ashman.
We are not playing well but that is two from two, I’ll take that before we get what’s coming to us in Dublin next weekend.
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eke out ffs
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It was pretty scary at times right enough
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Kolisi giving the anthem some proper welly.
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Thaum, he’s been my favourite singer for a while now
Well, in these terms anyway. I love when he sings in the tunnel and the changing rooms
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So grateful they’ve not chosen Dayglo for comms.
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Right, a glass of Tamnavulin at hand, ready for the game. Hopefully should be a classic. Although for some reason, I can’t find it on the STV player, yet they’ve had every other game on there, so will have to watch via Cooncil Telly.
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That’s a new law to me.
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Refit – they had him in the pre-game stuff saying something absolutely incredibly asinine. Maybe they yanked him after that.
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Watching without comms on my phone. Can anyone explain the card please? Watching the replay I was thinking it was against the Bok prop coming in, then the NZ fella is carded??
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Dab – there’s new guidelines about falling on the exposed limbs of players. Frizzell is judged to have dropped onto Bongi’s leg, causing the injury.
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Dab – I missed it; was feeding the dog! Hooker out and Kolbe injured – it is not good for SA.
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Bongi’s been subbed ‘tactically’, rather than as an injury. This means they can bring him back on later, if needed.
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Early signs are that conditions are going to be a problem for NZ.
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Card stays yellow for Frizzel.
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Cheers, Refit. Kolbe seems to have recovered, even though he’s taken another huge wallop.
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Boks were looking pretty dangerous there.
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Thanks Refit. No idea how it can be a yellow card if he’s judged to have fallen accidentally (I turned the sound up for the judgement). Silly game!
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Good lord, that was a hell of a tackle on J.Barrett by PSdT.
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Dab – similar to the laws for head injuries: even if it’s not intentional, the players should take more care.
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Savea a bit hard done by there.
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Savea unlucky with the penalty, suspect with a replay the ref would give it the other way. 3 points though.
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Ooh, that’s not great by Cane.
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Upright in the tackle against Kriel and makes contact with the head. Yellow & review.
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Bit of a grim old game so far.
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It’s red!
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Red card for Cane.
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Gotta feel for Cane. Wasn’t malicious, just clumsy. But I think it’s the right decision.
Going to have to be a hell of a performance by NZ now. 9 points down and 45mins with 14 players.
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Some silky skillz on display there.
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Telea is such an impressive player.
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Proper late 80s/early 90s All-Blacks style penalty Etzebeth gave up there.
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Refit – agreed!
Good match so far! Expect that fans of both sides are hiding behind the sofa. Except for Deebee, who’s probably hiding behind a braai with a bottle in each hand.
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Think Cane just got caught out by the change of direction. Red is pretty consistent with things before the tournament I guess, but not consistent within it.
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imagine if Farrell had done what Kane did……
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Er, Slade … I don’t think Farrell does it by accident. And I’m supporting the red card anyway.
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40 minutes flew past. Happy so far. Bok tackling doing a good job. Think we’ll see 10 minutes of the current lineup then bomb squad to batter New Zealand. All Blacks always good enough to find a way back, or course. Boks need to keep up this intensity.
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Except for Deebee, who’s probably hiding behind a braai with a bottle in each hand.>/i>
Pretty much. Think the Boks got the better of that half in terms of what they wanted. And I typed this this with wine, beer and shooters in each hand!
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Eben basically killed a try, 4 ABs on his outside. And yet not even a YC. Some will call it smart, I think its bad refereeing.
But that’s a minor point. What both NZ and SA refreshlingly prove tonight is that regardless of the weather conditions you can play, run and pass if you’ve got the skills.
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Boks had the rub off the Green with the ref first half. Savea penalty very harsh. Yellow was weird, but whatever. No complaints about the red, except there should have been half a dozen more of them this World Cup if that’s the standard.
Thought the lazy runner should have seen yellow. Cynical.
Can’t really see any way back for NZ, tbh.
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Willemse should really stop trying the drop goals.
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Oooh, that was close. How did they stop that score?
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Ooh, now Kolisi’s off with a review. Agree with the commentators that this one will probably stay yellow. But who knows?
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I think Siya might be getting a red card too. Yellow & review for contact on Savea.
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That step by Cody Taylor – phew!
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SA All-Blacking the All Blacks with the cynical play!
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