The 2023 world cup winning team played Afrikanner style rugby forward dominance backed by two kicking halves. They used 7 forwards and only one back on the reserve bench.
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So, rugby teams almost always opt for a 5-3 or 6-2 split among their replacements on the bench.
The Boks innovated within the rules of the game with the 7-1 split in the reserves. Granted we take a calculated risk of leaving so little cover for our backs.
A bit of context around the terminology ‘Afrikaner’, locally it has negative connotations in the context of apartheid.
We have worked tirelessly to diversify our national team and we have talented players who are Boks by merit and quota. It’s a combination that is working well for our national team which is why they are so enthusiastically supported.
So, innovating with the use of a diverse bench is hardly ‘Afrikaner’ style rugby. I take umbrage to that terminology as a non-white South African.
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I am sorry you have that point of view but I still believe the win was based on Afrikanner rugby “style”. The 1995 win was an Afrikanner victory as was the 2003 win under Jake White. The 2019 win was a genuine multicultural win. But the 2023 team went back to the Afrikanner style. 7 forwards on the bench is total proof of that as the Afrikaaners dominate the forwards where as the non Afrikaaner players dominate the back three. 4 penalty goals is proof of the possession based penalty chasing style. I believe the Boks were lucky Mbongeni went off so early in the first minutes as he was regarded as a weakness by the All Blacks and was replaced by another Afrikaaner. The only other non Afrikanner on the bench was Trevor Nyakane who came on late and hardly touched the ball. These are just my points of view of a long time rugby follower.
There is one change to the starting XV that played England at Twickenham on 10 February, with Sam Costelow returning for Wales at fly half.
Among the replacements back-row Mackenzie Martin is in line to win his first senior cap this weekend and would become the 1,200th Wales men’s international.
Tight-head prop Dillon Lewis would be making his first appearance of this Championship if called on from the bench.
Gatland said: “We are excited to go out to Dublin and test ourselves against one of the leading sides in world rugby. It’s a challenge we are relishing.
“We’ve made steps in the last couple of games and now it’s about building on that, learning from those experiences and taking that into this weekend.
“It’s about continuing to work hard, looking for accuracy in our performance across 80 minutes and also keeping our discipline.”
Wales senior men’s team to play Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin in the Guinness Six Nations, Saturday 24 February KO 2.15pm GMT. Live on ITV and S4C.
15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 56 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys – 119 caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 34 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 16 caps)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 9 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 55 caps)
- Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 27 caps)
- Elliot Dee (Dragons – 48 caps)
- Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
- Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 14 caps) Captain / Capten
- Adam Beard (Ospreys – 53 caps)
- Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)
- Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 15 caps)
- Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 45 caps)
Replacements
- Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 40 caps)
- Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby – 8 caps)
- Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 54 caps)
- Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 30 caps)
- Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped)
- Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 19 caps)
- Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets – 4 caps)
- Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 8 caps
No one posting about this round so…
Italy should have beaten France but drew…oh if that ball had not fallen off the tee.
Match drawn.
France are not that good.
Wales were better than the score suggested in Ireland but lacked creativity.
And Scotland got an expected win against England who are not very good either.
Still say they were denied victory over France.
In two weeks Wales play France.We might just sneak that one.
Been Irelands title since week one though.
Another big weekend of rugby….It’s Newport v Cardiff
Which is far more important than Wales v France!
NEWPORT V CARDIFF
Posted By: Dennis Bennett
Newport supporters always look forward to the next game but when the opponents are our friends from down the road, then our excitement level reaches the top of the scale. It is so fitting that the teams meet at Rodney Parade where these rivals have met many times and supporters have seen many great performances by famous players. This is one of the most famous club rivalries, definitely in Wales, certainly in the UK, and possibly in the world. A game at the Arms Park between these clubs once held the world attendance record for a club game. We won’t set any attendance records on Saturday but the excitement and passion will be there.
Cardiff are having a good season, lying fourth in the table and looking set for a place in the league play-offs. With Newport on a run of eight bonus point victories, the Blue & Blacks will need no more motivation than the thought of bringing that run to an end.
The coaches make only two changes to the starting fifteen against Pontypridd with Thomas Davies coming in at loose-head prop and Che Hope taking the scrum half position.
Newport: Thomas Davies, Henry Palmer, Nathan Evans, Rynard Landman, Josh Skinner, Rhys Jenkins, Josh Reid, Ben Roach Captain, Che Hope, Matt O’Brien, Lloyd Lewis, Chay Foster-Smith, Jon Morris, Elliot Frewen, Jac Lloyd.
Replacements: Wade Langley, Tom Workman, Garin Harris, Elliot Ferriman, Kyle Tayler, Luke Crane, Carwyn Penny, Iestyn Galton.
Referee: Keith David
AR1: Elfin Morris Roberts
AR2: David Cambourne
Kick-off: 2:30
Venue: Rodney Parade
…
Will take a Newport victory over Cardiff rather than a Welsh one any day.
We are chasing a home game in the play offs and play all three teams in the top four with us this month
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In this day and age of Pro rugby teams have no real identity as so many of the players did not grow up in the region have no connection to the people and move on once their career is over.
How many of the Newport team are born and raised Newportarians?
We are semi-pro and most of them come from Newport and the surrounding area.
I am a club shareholder from the surrounding area.
Apart from Rynard Landman…he’s South African but settled in the area after retiring from pro rugby.
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28-14 to Newport
…
Six Nations
So…umm….Super Saturday
Phil Steele
Happy ‘Super Saturday’ to all - or as it’s known in Wales this year: March 16th. 
We’re on the crest of a slump at the moment, but keep the faith and remember that every great rugby journey begins with 1 win on the trot. 
🏉
Will Gatland stay for the challenge ?
Yes.no one could do any better.
Wales is paying the price for introducing regional rugby and the latest attempt to ruin club rugby (Elite Domestic League next year with ten teams playing only 16 matches with three months of no rugby at all)will achieve nothing except to drive more supporters away from the game.
Pontypridd and Merthyr want nothing to with it,Cardiff may or not be in it and Neath have been refused entry.
It’s all a mess….
But my take on this years Six Nations is below.
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This year
Wales-We hadn’t won the Wooden Spoon for 21 years….
But three of the defeats were close and we were leading France after 50 minutes….it’s a young side.
Italy could have won four games….they should have beaten France and had England in trouble.
Could be serious title contenders.
France blew hot and cold…game of the tournament against England who continue to flatter to deceive.
Scotland improving but Irelands title from the off-although they faltered towards the end.
Had to work hard to secure the title.
The Rugby Europe Championship final is tonight ( 8 pm on Rugby Europe Tv)
It’s Georgia v Portugal.
But still no pathway into the Six Nations for them.
Lucky there isn’t relegation!
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It was much simpler before 1995
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It was.
After todays games…
Great win by Newport at Ebbw
Newport play Llandovery on Thursday live on you tube.
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Women’s Six Nations
Six nations continue to put the scores on the front of the videos!
Italy v England live on the BBC Sunday
Big result
Newport 89
Bridgend 26
Just saying…I was there.
