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New theory emerges over Springboks' mindset heading into Ireland clash
By Josh Raisey
As soon as Antoine Dupont’s participation in the World Cup quarter-finals was thrown into doubt after fracturing his cheekbone, suggestions that playing a Dupont-less France would be more desirable than playing the All Blacks in the last eight were inevitable.
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France are on course to top Pool A after beating the All Blacks in the opening match of the tournament, but the scrum-half’s injury two days before Ireland and South Africa faced each other left fans from both nations to discuss the merits of winning or coming second in Pool B and therefore facing France or the All Blacks.
Even after Ireland and South Africa went hammer and tongs for 80 minutes at the Stade de France on Saturday, some have questioned the Springboks’ mentality in their 13-8 loss to the world number ones. Owner of the Hollywoodbets Sharks Marco Masotti has even suggested that the world champions approached this meeting in Paris as if it were a “practice game”.
Masotti listed the 7-1 split on the bench as an example of Jacques Nienaber’s and Rassie Erasmus’ “out of the box thinking”, which is valid. He also cited the traffic light system deployed by Erasmus as another reason for their experimental mindset, which is perhaps slightly harder to grasp.
The volume of fans that agree with his comments online clearly shows that he is not alone in this view. Fans have added with theories of their own as well as to how South Africa might have been holding something back, such as their kicking decisions throughout the match- chiefly the decision for Faf de Klerk to take a 50 metre+ penalty rather than to kick for the corner.
Masotti wrote on X: “I am not even sure what to make of the game. It felt like a practice game to me. I know I would rather have a coaching team with lights, 7/1 splits and out of the box thinking. The Springboks are taking the game forward in world rugby.”
I am not even sure what to make of the game. It felt like a practice game to me. I know I would rather have a coaching team with lights, 7/1 splits and out of the box thinking. @Springboks are taking the game forward in world rugby. https://t.co/9Xs9UYCU9b
— Marco Masotti (@MarcoMasotti_) September 26, 2023
Few would argue that the Springboks held anything back in terms of their physical intensity against Ireland, or at least if there are those that hold that view, may God have mercy on the souls of the side that bear the brunt of the Boks at full intensity. It was clear to see that both sides gave everything in what was the most brutal match of the World Cup so far. So while there are no question marks over the Boks’ physical approach to the match, there are questions over their decision-making both before and during the match and whether the same decisions would be made once the knockout stages arrive.
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Even if the theory that playing France without their talisman in the quarter-finals might be easier than the All Blacks holds water, it might be moot anyway following the news that Les Bleus’ captain could make a shock return for that match. On top of that, it is hard to believe that the Springboks would contrive a way to avoid the All Blacks in the quarter-finals after subjecting them to a record defeat in both sides’ final match before the World Cup. Then again, Erasmus has developed a reputation for being an innovator and pushing the envelope during his time with South Africa, so theories like this are to be expected.
The idea that the Boks somehow contrived to ‘throw’ this game is utter nonsense. Fake news.
I'm a South African, and any theory that we somehow cunningly lost the game on purpose to play against a weakened French team is absolute nonsense and exremely disrespectful to Ireland.
Sean history will repeat itself it happened with England 4 years ago when they did us the honors to beat the all blacks and we played a broken England team in the final so will this go down the same way. Ireland will do us the honors to beat the all blacks and we will be playing a broken Ireland team in the final. We are going to destroy them in the final and be world champs.
You did not break us, NZ won't break us and Wales in the Semis wont if we get there. You have to beat the greatest French team of all time in a knock out match in Paris and apparently you went this route as a deliberate experiment? Are you stupid? If you fluke and limp through that one you will need everything to beat an in form England before potentially facing a fresh Ireland in the final. You won't be stealing lineouts this time, you won't be slowing our rucks, and we will slice your defence to pieces. You won't be able to make up excuses when the match is slipping away at half time and all you got is the tired slow heavies to bring on.
Meant to say agree not degree
Spot on silk 100% degree
South African fans will do absolutely ANYTHING other than accept the fact that they were second best. Blaming kickers, refs, god, a conspiracy against them, and of course, they wanted to lose 🙄 in realty Saffa’s are just salty, crying, losers
The outcome of this match has been funny to behold. SA and Ireland have the most partisan fans in the world. So much passion, so much myopia.
WANTING to play the greatest French team of all time in Paris in a QTR final knock out match. Ireland improved their chances enormously by putting the other big physical beasts: FRA, SA, ENG in same half of the draw. Could they not see how deflated SA players were at final whistle? If you can't beat Ireland in Paris then you can't beat France in Paris either, not in a QTR at least.
Hey Naaige,
I see your meds haven't kicked in yet.
Sorry to spoil your hallucination, but Ireland deserved their victory and the majority of Saffas are totally fine with that, because, unlike you, we were able to enjoy an epic test between the best two teams on the planet, where the result was in the balance until the final whistle.
But of course you haven't the ability to appreciate that. You need to get professional help, mate.
People that think SA threw the match are as moronic as click baters that generalise on the supporter base
F.u.
No we are not. Ireland were the better team. Definitely.
It was an epic test match and a privilege to watch. Both sides had missed opportunities. If Ireland did not lose their first 4 lineouts it could have been game set and match done in the first 20 minutes. Same with the Boks missing opportunities. No sour grapes here mate.
Was a good wake up call for the Boks.
The knockouts are coming and Ire and the Boks are far from getting through them. I will never write off NZ or the French.
Go Bokke
think south africa would rather play the allblacks again rather than france
yeah Right. what a stupid piece to waste time on. Which RWC Champion would rather lose face to win another cup? 2019 with one loss is not the same as an undefeated champion. jog on stupid
Boks were poor in the backs and still should've been awarded a penalty try for Irelands flagrant maul collapse in the last minute. Ireland played to the peak of their potential and still were extraordinarioy luck to finish with the win.
What is does show is that the referees are going to be very reluctant to make a big decision in the last minutes if a test.
Boks can improve more than the Irish but it's going to be difficult to reset their misfiring backline this close to knockout rugby, they'll use Pollard against Tonga but if he looks rusty then they're in big trouble for their quarter.
The facts are currently that the English have the least squad disruption and the Allblacks have two games to play with everyone available except a prop who will be fired up for the quarter.
It's too wide open to make a call but it could potentially be a Wales versus England final.
One thing is certain ...quarter final upsets
England have less squad disruption than Ireland? What disruption have Ireland experienced?
Ummm that was not Ireland to the peak of their potential. The lineouts were shambolic
🤣
South Africa would not of won even if they had a kicker? Ireland would have compensated? Come on!! How would Irleand have compensated towards the end of the game if SA had an extra 11 points for kicking???? All of a sudden grabbing two tries out of their pocket? It took them the whole game to only score one try.
Was it not the same for south africa plus it took them 51 minutes to score it.
If, if, if… But in the end, SA lost
Game lasts 80 min boet and SA wouldn’t have just dumped 11 points towards the end of the game. Ireland are world class and they would have played a different game if behind. Just as SA would have if they were in front. Many many ifs there though. Boke lost.
The 7-1 bench split was announced prior to the game France vs. Namibia. So unless Rassie himself or someone in his team is able to scry the future, that part does not add to support the "Boks holding back" ....
the decisions to not go for corner but to try your luck from the tee, is another story - doubt SA would be performing that in the playoffs ....
but then again, to me it was pretty obvious the Boks really wanted to win the clash, and I am pretty much certain none of those on the field gave a hoot about "All Blacks" or "Les Bleus" last Saturday .....
Theories are like models - inherently flawed or wrong.
After every game the Boks lose there is always some excuse. Usually it is the opposition cheating in some way or the referee. Only this time, the referee actually let them away with a lot (notably closing the gap in the lineout) and coached them out of penalties at the breakdown. So they can't blame Ben O'Keefe.
So they need to find some way to rationalize the loss. In fairness to most Springbok fans and commentators they are giving due credit to Ireland and especially their work at the breakdown.
So it seems like the psychological line seems to be "oh if we had a goalkicker we would have won" or "the coaching team weren't really trying, they were ... eh ... practicing, testing the kickers for the knock out games ... hiding our devastating maul ... deliberately losing to play France".
It's pathetic really.
And frankly an insult to the SA players who put their hearts and souls into that performance and played like heros, men possessed.
Why not just say, "what a game, played between two great teams who played hard but clean, no cards, no injuries, what a privilege we all had to watch it and one team emerged a winner in a very close game that could have gone either way".
And when the Boks win the World Cup you can whinge at how Ireland beat the Boks, yet have nothing to show for it.
You have plenty of time preparing.
Please guys,I believe no one ever play a hard physical game just to lose.
Yes , SA left 11 points out there, but Ireland also messed up some opportunities.
It's a game, and we love it.
And Yes, Winning matters.
But the Values of Raggas is also important.
Most SA fans are doing just that David. Masotti is some high powered New York lawyer and Sharks owner. None of my Saffa click (bottom feeders) think we wanted to loose on purpose Ireland was better than us on the night. That's all there is to it. PS. If you think you lost the line outs cos we closed the gap.... well I'll just say keep thinking that!
Look at the source of the article before making accusations my friend. Some journalist based in London hardly speaks for us “Saffa’s” and I’m certainly not either but hopefully you can eat some humble pie after my comments. No one is complaining (except the journalist on buck to do so…very fresh). Ireland were deserved winners. They won the game as they won the breakdown and turnovers. That’s the bottom line. Even if the Boke had been good with the boot, Ireland would have compensated to find away. Best team on the day won. And to the journalist!!! Just to make it clear, Our team selection and intent was named 2 days before DuPont took an unfortunate hit. We are not mind readers that can predict the future. Anyone or team that devises a plan to choose to play NZ over France or vis versa would be a fool.
After every team’s loss there’s finger pointing and blaming. The Scots did it against the Boks. The rugby world for Fiji against Wales. Dysel should have been sentenced to death or at least life imprisonment, for his role in attempted murder of DuPont. The only thing constant at this World Cup is the useless referees and northern hemisphere “fans” showing what hypocunts they are. Unbelievable the double standards of you *uckheads! STFU!
If you think that boks not pushing for lineouts and driving mauls when getting penalties then I can't help you bro. Boks played to win and give it all they had in terms of physicality but definitely held back on the game plan side of things. What would be the point showing you hand in a dead rubber match? We are not moaning or crying but as fans we can see the coaches choice to not play our usual game has something to do with holding back for the real knock out games. Deny it if you want I don't care but boks will have the last laugh of that I'm certain.
Booooooooring