Strong South Africa team:

15. Willie le Roux Toyota Cheetahs (31 caps, 45 points)
14. JP Pietersen Cell C Sharks (63 caps, 110 points)
13. Jesse Kriel Vodacom Bulls (8 caps, 15 points)
12. Damian De Allende DHL Stormers (10 caps, 5 points)
11. Bryan Habana Toulon (114 caps, 320 points)
10. Handré Pollard Vodacom Bulls (17 caps, 141 points)
9. Fourie du Preez (captain) Suntory (74 caps, 75 points)
8. Duane Vermeulen DHL Stormers (32 caps, 10 points)
7. Schalk Burger (vice-captain) DHL Stormers (83 caps, 80 points)
6. Francois Louw Bath (40 caps, 40 points)
5. Lood de Jager Toyota Cheetahs (16 caps, 20 points)
4. Eben Etzebeth DHL Stormers (41 caps, 5 points)
3. Frans Malherbe DHL Stormers (9 caps, 0 points)
2. Bismarck du Plessis Cell C Sharks (76 caps, 55 points)
1. Tendai Mtawarira Cell C Sharks (72 caps, 10 points)
Replacements:
16. Adriaan Strauss Vodacom Bulls (51 caps, 30 points)
17. Trevor Nyakane Vodacom Bulls (20 caps, 5 points)
18. Jannie du Plessis Cell C Sharks (67 caps, 5 points)
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit Cell C Sharks (7 caps, 0 points)
20. Willem Alberts Cell C Sharks (35 caps, 35 points)
21. Ruan Pienaar Ulster (87 caps, 135 points)
22. Pat Lambie Cell C Sharks (47 caps, 131 points)
23. Jan Serfontein Vodacom Bulls (23 caps, 10 points)

Now that injuries have forced Meyer to make the right selections, I'm starting to really think they're a dark horse for it all. No Bulls in a Bokke pack...who'd have thought it?

BTW Bomber, please take note of no. 9. It doesn't matter where your best players play.

Edited by sydtheeagle (14 Oct 2015 10.33am)

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

To be honest the "issue" with refs is that they all handle the breakdown differently so while good comms are part of making a good ref (in so far as the players are clear on the interpretation of rules in any given game) it's unquestionably better for some teams to get some refs than others to get the same.

I agree that Barnes, fussy as he is (he's driven me absolutely crazy in the Prem in recent years), has had a very good World Cup but his interpretation of the breakdown is going to help Wales far more than South Africa. Bottom line is that he has a very narrow interpretation of the laws and his complete outlawing of jackalling is going to hurt the Saffers more than Wales (God knows what would happen if he's assigned to an ABs game.) I'm not sure they'll start Tipuric on this basis.

Owens, on the other hand, will only give a penalty to the defending team if they clearly withstand the initial clear out and stay on their feet over the ball which more or less means McCaw (who is actually refereeing the game anyway) is going to be able to do his work in a way that would be much less the case than with Barnes, who would neuter his skill set somewhat.

Garces (and Poite) are French, which is English for "there aren't any rules except for the ones we make up as we go along." Or, put another way, free for all. Which will make the Ireland game either very dull with constant whistling or very interesting with none :-)

I'd like to see Glen Jackson get a semi or the final, though I suspect Barnes will get the latter so there's some English interest.

Other than the Straya-Sweaties game, in one way or another I think all of these are too close to call. They could go either way. I suspect the two Cardiff games could be quite violent as well. Can't bloody wait for the weekend. The serious stuff starts now.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

Some interesting selection questions for your Welsh boys. Personally, I think he will play Lydiate over Tipuric (or I would) because of a). the nature of the South African back row (big, but somewhat less mobile) and b). more specifically, because of the way Barnes referees the game...it's more likely to neuter the idea of playing two 7s. Then, James or Gethin propping? I think Gethin is a busted flush; ineffective in the scrummage even if he adds something around the park. Can't see him dealing with the Bokke front row unless he has one last great game in him. James hasn't really impressed, but he's ahead in my book. Full back? Hook? Does he play Big George at 13 or on the wing?

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

No idea why he has put Jenkins back in, the scrum wasn't brilliant by any means against the Aussies but it was the best it has been in the competition.

I do agree with Morgan and Lydiate though.

'Lies to the masses as are like fly's to mollasses...they want more and more and more'

Ironically, injuries have forced Meyer to pick the side he should have picked all along instead of the ageing has-beens. The loss of Matfossil and Jean DeVossil among others have meant the likes of Jessie Kriel, Serfontein and other youngsters getting opportunities and the Boks have improved no end since Japan because of it. Plus, FDP is having an Indian Summer of vast proportions. Still the best pure passer at 9 in the tournament. I do think Wales have a chance; this one will be close. I would take the Bokke to win if I had to make a bet but I think it could go either way. Wales have selected the right side, Gethin apart.

ABs-France will be violent and titanic. I don't think the French were too interested (surprise, surprise) versus Ireland but this is a team that does it when it feels like it and there is massive unfinished business between these two, not least from the RWC Final four years ago. France will turn up, and when the French turn up they give anyone a run for their money. I see this as another one that'll be very close. If I had to make a bet I'd take the ABs but it could go either way.

Ireland-Argentina is another one that is incredibly close. Argentina has arguably the best pack in the tournament and finally, they now have a back division that's test quality. If they get their noses out in front, they could quickly run away. Once again, I think it'll be incredibly close but I'll just about tip Ireland, partly because I've had a feeling all along that they would be the NHs last team standing.

Not really worth commenting on Straya-Sweaties. What's the over/under? About 50 points?

So, to summarise a la Sash:

Bokke by 5 or less
ABs by 7 or less
Ireland by 5 or less
Wobs by more than 30

(and I know this is heresy but I think if someone offered to trade a Palace-West Ham ticket for SA-Wales, I'd probably take the offer :-) )

Edited by sydtheeagle (15 Oct 2015 11.57am)

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

Sash,

Not a tangent at all. My take with additions is:

Props

Kieran Brookes - In
Dan Cole - Maybe pile
Joe Marler - Maybe pile
Mako Vunipola - In
David Wilson - Out
Alex Corbisiero - In if he could ever get fit
Nick Auterac - in, if only to monitor development long-term
Paul Hill - England U-20 World Cup winner, ditto the above
Alex Waller - maybe pile
Henry Thomas - In

Hookers

Jamie George - In
Rob Webber - Out
Tom Youngs - Maybe pile but really, can't throw, can't hook and lacks the bulk to scrummage so long term, probably not
Dylan Hartley -- in
Luke Cowan Dickie - In

Second rows

George Kruis - In
Joe Launchbury - In
Courtney Lawes - In
Geoff Parling - Out
Dave Attwood - In

Back rows

James Haskell - Maybe pile as last resort at 8
Ben Morgan - In
Chris Robshaw - Out
Billy Vunipola - In
Tom Wood - In
Mario Itoje - in, and starts Six Nations
Matt Kvesic - in and given a proper opportunity
Carl Fearns - Maybe pile
Jack Clifford - in, if only to monitor development long-term
Dave Ewers - Maybe pile (for now)

Scrum halves

Danny Care - In, probably short term
Richard Wigglesworth - Out Out Out Out Out (just in case I'm being too subtle in any way, Out)
Ben Youngs - In
Lee Dickson - In, probably short term
Joe Simpson - In In In In

Fly halves

Owen Farrell - Maybe Pile, but NEVER as a 12
George Ford -In
Danny Cipriani - In

Centres

Brad Barritt - Out (see Richard Wigglesworth)
Sam Burgess - Out but may return at 6 in a years time
Jonathan Joseph - In
Henry Slade - In
Ollie Devoto - in
Eliot Daly - maybe pile
Luther Burrell - maybe pile
Manu Tuilagi - in
Tom Collins - in, if only to monitor development long-term

Back three

Mike Brown -In
Alex Goode - Out (see Richard Wigglesworth)
Jonny May - In
Jack Nowell - In
Anthony Watson - In
Ben Foden - In
Marland Yarde - in
Christian Wade - in

My starting line up for the first six nations game:

Brooks
Hartley
Cole
Launchberry
Atwood
Wood
Kvesic
B. Vunipola

T. Youngs
Ford
Nowell or May
Devoto
Joseph
Watson
Brown

subs:
M. Vunipola
George
Thomas
Kruis
Morgan
Simpson
Slade or Tuiiagi
Cipriani

Edited by sydtheeagle (15 Oct 2015 4.48pm)

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.