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OPINION: Siya’s Back, Speedy Fiji & Other Things We Learnt from the Weekend’s Rugby Action

Heading into the penultimate week before the Rugby World Cup, what can we take away from the warm-up matches?

Jeremy Proome

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The Rugby World Cup is a mere two weeks away, and with the participating sides taking part in a number of warm-up games, essentially showing what they have up their sleeves (or at least teasing it), there are some interesting takeaways from the performances that may give some insight into what we’ll see more of in the global showpiece.

South Africa is in a good spot.

The Springboks couldn’t have asked for a better warm-up game to the Rugby World Cup when they played Wales in Cardiff. With all due respect to a very young and inexperienced Welsh side, the match played out like a shadow rugby training session for the Boks, allowing them to fine-tune their combinations and test their athleticism in a more open-running game.

Headlining the performance was the impressive return of Siya Kolisi, who didn’t just survive 40 minutes, but thrived, putting in game-changing tackles, carrying excellently, and delivering a brilliant offload for Malcolm Marx to score in the opening minutes. With no notable injuries, it looks like the Bok squad is being bolstered as weeks go by, whereas other teams are picking up injuries and omissions due to disciplinary problems.

Additionally, the likes of Jesse Kriel, Pieter Steph du Toit, Canan Moodie, Jaden Hendrikse, Ox Nché all stood up and showed that they are ready for the big dance in France. Goalkicking still remains a bit of a concern, but something that can be refined in the coming weeks.

Pool C should be very wary of Fiji

Australia, Wales, and the rest of Pool C will want to watch out for Fiji. While the Island nation didn’t beat France in Nantes, their sheer speed at the breakdown and physicality definitely caught the French off-guard. A lot of that was due to scrumhalf Frank Lomani, who must be one of the quickest to the breakdown and have one of the best passes in the game at the moment. Throw in the fact that Botia, Radradra, and Viliame Mata are absolute monsters, and all suck in two or three defenders with every carry, creating a lot of momentum and space for their dangerous wingers. Any team that is backpedalling against Fiji should be prepared to concede some tries.

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Ireland continue to be a well-oiled machine

Ireland proved that they could easily dispatch of an England side who seemed devoid of excitement and attacking flair. Andy Farrell’s men were able to string together a high number of phases with ease and use their consistent attacking shape to keep English defenders on their heels, struggling to guess what was coming next. While Sexton is a key man for Ireland, Ross Byrne is an equally adept flyhalf who can make the right calls under pressure, giving Ireland a lot of confidence heading into a tournament where multiple playmakers are needed.

A particular shoutout goes to Keith Earls for showcasing he has some wheels in those legs as he becomes an Irish centurion, and praise needs to be given to Bundee Aki, who is undoubtedly one of the best ball-playing centres in the world, but often gets overlooked. Ireland will take a lot of confidence from the encounter with England, who themselves probably have more questions than answers at this point.

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Photo cred: Instagram / Siya Kolisi

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    Rocky Carrizales

    September 1, 2023 at 05:00

    Wow, the Springboks are really shaping up well! Siya Kolisi’s return is a game-changer. Can’t wait for the Rugby World Cup to kick off! 🏉🌍

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