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 
Kolisi’s yellow stays just that.
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“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.”
NZ need to play that bit more though and a game of penalties in the rain suits them less. Doing well to stay in it, overplayed just there though with no real need.
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Brilliant AB try!
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Vermeulen did very well at the back of that scrum
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Well. That changes things.
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Or maybe not.
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Oh. My. God.
What a try made by Mo’unga.
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Oh hang on! Knock-on, apparently.
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The inconsistency of tmo use this World Cup is maddening.
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I can’t believe they’re bringing it that far back – especially after they decided not to check the one last night by Argentina.
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Did my best to get the game a try…
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That’s not a knock-on, that was ripped in the tackle.
Ah, Barnes has updated the decision.
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Savea is absolutely right in his complaint.
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What the hell was that pass, out to Telea???
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Well, that’s evened things up!
Who’d want to ref this game?
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Great forward roll by Faf as the try was scored.
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Faf does a lot of forward and back flips, I’ve noticed.
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Amazing catch by Nche. Would have thought the size of his neck would make it impossible.
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It’s pretty impressive that NZ have managed to play most of the second half, inside the SA half.
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Two impressive pieces of skill by Mo’unga there, first catching a ball, then managing not to touch it.
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Kolbe madness! Couldn’t be more obvious.
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I did wonder what happened to that ball from Brown.
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Sound tactical decision.
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Oh, just slid wide.
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What is with SA and the pathetic attempts at drop goals?
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Drop goal attempts aside I’m surprised by how much South Africa have run the ball in the last 20-odd minutes.
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SA win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The Greens have done it!!!! Hope Kolbe can take his head out of his jersey now.
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Yuck yuck yuck.
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Well done South Africa. Congratulations Deebee.
Hell of a shift by NZ, almost pinched it a couple of times.
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Congrats Bokker
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Congrats Deebee and SA. That was intense, maybe not free-flowing, but I thought it was a great match in the circumstances.
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Must be a first that a team win a WC with three consecutive 1point victories. Not totally undeserved, but not exactly convincing either.
I wished the 14 men NZ would’ve taken it at the end but SA are not bad at what they’re doing, are they? Du Toit was just immense. Enjoyable final.
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… and breathe – great contest
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Well they’re good at doing just enough whatever that turns out to be.
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Couple of ironies in NZ being the first team to get someone sent off in a final having been the team who no matter what they did they couldn’t get anyone sent off for about half a century. And maybe lost out by going for three points when they might have been better off not doing so.
Du Toit did have a great game, but the best players were on the other side for me.
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Congratulations Deebs!!!
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Hello Craigs!
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Congratulations Deebee and Hello Craigs!!!!
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Drained, exhausted, elated, slightly bewildered, feel for the Kiwis, but on top of the world! Fuck me. Really thought we’d need 25 to 30 points to sneak over the line. Siya Kolisi – one of the greatest South Africans of all time!
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Ooof. That was a cracker. Well done SA and well played both sides.
and well done France for the whole tournament. Can we make it France every time ?
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Jones oot!
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Just about sobered up. Still sinking in that we did it. I have no idea how; the boys must be absolutely stuffed. Need to watch it again, sober and knowing the result so I can have a look at it objectively. Well, with at least one eye open. Perhaps squinting through one eye.
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SBT, I’d be happy to have it in France every time. We’ve got a reasonable record there.
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Don’t want to have it in France again. Too painful and anticlimactic after an early exit. Saudi Arabia, Qatar or the US will do just fine.
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Am quite happy to resume watching T14 this afternoon. The rugby may not be as good (although it’s quite debatable) but no more TMO clowns, all the replays in the world, both for potential foul play and for great actions, and best of all, consistent refereeing.
Am tired of the refs ” interpretations” of the law whether they come from here or there, but the worse is that they coach the players. How many times did we hear ” no hands, no hands, no hands etc…” while the defence has all the time to reorganise? Don’t tell the players what they can or cannot do, they’re supposed to know the damn rules, just blow the bloody whistle!
End of rant.
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Ulster v Bulls is an entertaining match!
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14-12 at HT.
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@Flair – totally agree with every word.
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And 26-19 at FT!
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