Boks among top RWC seeds
25 Nov 2012
New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and France will be the top four seeds for the 2015 World Cup draw on 3 December.
The ratings gap between those sides and the rest are too high for results of the two matches on 1 December (England vs New Zealand and Wales vs Australia) to affect their position as a top seed.
The rankings are being used to rank the 12 directly qualified teams for the World Cup into three bands for the draw with the sides ranked one to four in band one – and crucially avoiding each other until the knockout stage – those five to eight in band two and the remaining four in band three.
England and Ireland are in the second band of seeds for the draw (fifth to eighth in the rankings).
If Wales avoid defeat against Australia, Wales and Samoa will take the other two spots in this second band, with Argentina in the third band. However, if Australia defeat Wales, then Samoa and Argentina will fill these two spots in the second band, with Wales joining Italy, Tonga and Scotland in the third band of seeds.
IRB rankings
1 New Zealand 92.91
2 South Africa 86.94
3 Australia 86.31
4 France 85.07
5 England 81.07
6 Ireland 80.22
7 Wales 78.95
8 Samoa 78.709
9 Argentina 78.708
10 Italy 76.24
11 Tonga 76.10
12 Scotland 75.83
177 Comments
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25 Nov 2012, 09:51 am
Dragon job done
25 Nov 2012, 09:55 am
Semi finals
NZ – France
SA – Australia
25 Nov 2012, 11:10 am
Stupidity from Wales to have sent out a weaker team against Samoa.
Now they’ll in all likelihood be looking at going home after the pool stages come the next World Cup.
25 Nov 2012, 11:11 am
I assume seed 1 goes with seed 5. Seed 2 with 6 etc etc. then Australia could have a very weak pool if they beat wales next week but injuries could be a problem
25 Nov 2012, 11:24 am
fark………………………………….Scotland are down to 12.
Behind Tonga, Italy and Samoa.
Will be an extremely tough WC for them.
25 Nov 2012, 11:27 am
@DEE DAH-4:
Dee Dah,
I think……………………..but am not sure,
that Nations seeded 5 to 8,
are drawn from a hat to see what pool they play in.
25 Nov 2012, 12:34 pm
@DEE DAH-4: @cane-6: It will be a DRAW. Anyone from one pot can get anyone from another pot.
25 Nov 2012, 12:37 pm
@cane-5: yeah very good to see the Pacific Islanders finally get up there and take down some NH opposition. Samoa were hellishly tough in the WC. With a bit more professionalism in their game they will start being a thorn in the side of any interantional team in future.
25 Nov 2012, 12:55 pm
2nd best in the world… Thats one position higher than what pdv quota left hm… Well done heyneke…. Boere is mar rugby kenners
25 Nov 2012, 12:57 pm
Wtf… Samoa above argentina? Argentina drew vs the 2nd best team in the world… Scotland @12????they beat team nr 3 in aus…. Kak story
25 Nov 2012, 13:21 pm
Sorry to be a maths Nazi Keo but you’ve rounded Samoa’s score down instead of up, they are also 78.709
@suffer_guy-10: That’s the system, deal with it
25 Nov 2012, 13:33 pm
Quite a concern for European rugby. If Australia wins, Europe only has three teams in the top eight
25 Nov 2012, 14:33 pm
Hendrik, that wasn’t a weak Wales team. Was their strongest available, with all off the press calling for Warburton to be dropped, which he was for that game. I live in Wales, that wad their best XV for that game.
25 Nov 2012, 14:37 pm
If we draw Samoa again, I know these drawings are fixed.
25 Nov 2012, 14:39 pm
Gap between 1 and 2 could not be bigger.
Still feel Boks have not progressed at all since the Rugby Championship. We don’t yet look like a team that could give the All Blacks a go.
The lack of a variety in the Springboks play , no offloads in the tackle , no counter attacks from deep when it’s on , its been frustrating to watch.
25 Nov 2012, 14:40 pm
@wp_boytjie-15: The difference is pace.
We need to play at a higher pace.
Quicker ruck ball, more phases, wave after wave of attack.
We get enough quality ball to play at speed, but our 9 slows it down as part of the game plan.
25 Nov 2012, 14:46 pm
@willievz-16:
Agreed , just so sick of these old school tactics. The Sharks team from the Super Rugby playoffs would beat this Bok team. I’d bet money on it.
25 Nov 2012, 14:58 pm
Suffer guy and Transie are having a laugh if they think,between them,that they can vote 19 times for the kings to win the Saffa conference next year.
. Bully bloggers also very confident after the naming of Matfield as forwards and attack coach I see. 
. Poor Cheatahs.Nobody fancies them.
25 Nov 2012, 15:03 pm
well well well…
having read about this, unsurprising, bit of foul and DANGEROUS play i felt it worthy of having a look, so i did.
and all i can say is, wow!
wow
i am apalled…
apalled to the core
there is no place in rugby for this sort of thing, and sincerely hope no one will even think of comparing greylings assault to this. he at least had the guts to face his opponent and attack him from the front. say what you want macaw at least could see and know his assailant was coming.
and lets even forget for the moment that macaw’s assailant was rightly or wrongly reacting to yet another instance of outright, dishonest illegal play (cheating) on the part of macaw. so, at the least we have an understanding of where the motivation came from for that attack.
this however… was shameful and cowardly…
but in no way unsurprising.
i can only ask, how much longer will this blight continue on a game we all love..?..
enough, i say… enough…
25 Nov 2012, 15:07 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-19: no,you are wrong .McCaw did not see that thing you call a Blue Bull launching at his head.
25 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
@wnbb-20:
yes he did.
he knew he was coming and he milked it as much for the reaction as he wanted to penalise all the same.
25 Nov 2012, 15:12 pm
@wp_boytjie-17: The old school tactics do have a place, but I agree that it is executed too liberal at present.
But – and this is the main concern – unless we undergo a metamorphosis in the way we think about the game, about trusting ourselves to play at a higher pace and aiming to score more tries, then we will not succeed.
And judging by the way our coaching staff talks, their ideologies, and their mandates (forwards coach as attack coach, etc), we are not well poised or equipped to cross the Rugby Rubicon.
25 Nov 2012, 15:17 pm
Andrew *****’s incident yesterday is the most cowardice I’ve ever seen in sport.
And the most disgraceful.
Not even Pieter van Zyl, Ben Johnson, Richie McCaw or Lance Armstrong come even close to this.
25 Nov 2012, 15:18 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-21: in your opinion off course.
. Your man is a disgusting piece of human filth and I ,for one,am glad that he won’t see another Bok jumper in his life time. 
25 Nov 2012, 15:20 pm
No,Simon,you did not write this article.It’s a nearly 100 percent copy and paste job from the official IRB website.
25 Nov 2012, 15:26 pm
@willievz-23:
disgusting really, but not unsurprising as far as the ab’s are concerned.
‘just another’ act of taking out/targetting key or talismanic players early in the game in order to disrupt and unsettle their opposing team.
this one however ranks up there as one of the most cowardly, shameful and disgusting instances of dirty play i have seen by them.
the thorn, umaga, mealamu incidents are arguably not as bad as this one.
25 Nov 2012, 15:27 pm
@wnbb-24:
why the smileys..?
whats so funny..?..
25 Nov 2012, 15:39 pm
Good super rugga season awaiting us…..
1 Dean Greyling, Dawie Steyn, Mornè Mellett, Juan Schoeman
2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, Willie Wepener, Callie Visagie, Bongi Mbonambi
3 Marcel van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Frik Kirsten
4 Flip van der Merwe, Paul Willemse, Jacques du Plessis, Schalk van Heerden, Mike Williams
5 Juandrè Kruger, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Grant Hattingh, Cornell Hess, Marvin Orie
6 Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Wiaan Liebenberg
7 Arno Botha, Jacques Potgieter
8 Pierre Spies, Shaun Adendorff, Jean Cook
9 Francois Hougaard, Jano Vermaak, Ruan Snyman, Rudy Paige, Lohan Jacobs
10 Mornè Steyn, Handrè Pollard, Louis Fouchè, Tony Jantjies
11 Bjorn Basson, JJ Engelbrecht, Sampie Mastriet
12 Jan Serfontein, Francois Venter, Ulrich Beyers
13 Wynand Olivier, William Small-Smith
14 Lionel Mapoe, Akona Ndungane, Travis Ismaiel
15 Zane Kirchner, Clayton Blommetjies, Jürgen Visser
25 Nov 2012, 15:43 pm
Question regarding the Springboks defence during these NH tours… I know our backline has been awful on attack, no doubt about that, but had the backline been defending better without Habana in the setup? I’ve noticed how the wings have been effective in coming around and covering the spaces behind the defence, as well as coming up to the line at the right times, unlike Habana who has a habit of leaving his post and flying up into the line, creating huge gaps (like in the Springboks vs ABs at home this year)… I cannot help but feel we need a better wing that Habs.
25 Nov 2012, 16:02 pm
And in other news: Andy Robinson has resigned as Scotland’s coach after their loss to Tonga
25 Nov 2012, 16:53 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell-29: Interesting comment.
I am unconvinced though.
Firstly, the Boks played against weaker opposition and attacking units than in the Rugby Champs. These units mostly tried to attack us by going through the defence rather than around it. Therefore, our wingers did not need to form the umbrella on the drift as often as needed.
Secondly, on the few occasions where the opposition did attack us wide, we looked vulnerable, especially on Hougaard’s wing (particularly against Ireland and yesterday against England). Poor finishing and running lines spared our blushes. On a faster surface, and with better finishers, we would have been smoked.
JPP, on the other hand, had an outstanding defensive tour, apart from his yellow moment against the Paddys.
Habana is still part of the very effective Stormers defensive unit, and for me, he should play for the Boks in 2013.
25 Nov 2012, 17:23 pm
fark me, Mouritz Botha has now become ‘Maurice Botha’ in the english press:
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/rugby_union/4663266/England-15-16-South-Africa-Match-report-and-pictures.html
talk about anglicising words and names…
25 Nov 2012, 17:51 pm
@willievz-23: Eddie Butler article in todays Guardian
TITLED.NZ PLA YLOVELY RUGBY BUT ARE NOT LOVELY SPORTSMEN.
EXCERPTS.
They are a hard hearted bunch,and this echo of former times when they
ruled by fear and ferocity is the one single obstacle to their place in our
hearts.
in the second minute there had been no time for a feud or a slight to develop
which would have brought a mist down over Hores eyes.The eariness
of the vmoment did not prevent him from felling an opponent from behind
with a swinging arm.
They play lovely rugby but are not lovely sportsmen.It is a charge that has
followed them through the ages.The glitter of their skills is countered by
their cynycism.
Not mischief making so don,t shoot the messenger.
I still think that they are a magnificent team.
The above is paraphrased,but ensured accuracy.
25 Nov 2012, 17:51 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-32: What’s wrong with it?You bully boys should be used to such fancy girly names up there in Danville and surrounds.
25 Nov 2012, 18:36 pm
@willievz-31: Habana and JPP are two of the only guaranteed backline starters who can turn defensive into swift counter-attack. The Boks of old must be crying in frustration and clutching their armchairs in anger.
25 Nov 2012, 18:39 pm
Bring back the Bok backline play of old!
Hard, uncompromising but skilful forwards, a 9 who provides swift service and can run with the ball, and a backline full of pace and flair.
25 Nov 2012, 18:40 pm
@mikeybrass-36: We need people like Ray Mordt, Carel or Venter as our backline coaches.
WTF does Matfield know about attacking backline play. He kept getting his arse whipped by Australia.
25 Nov 2012, 18:55 pm
@ryecatcher-33: Well,thats it for the EOYT.
Let provincialism hold sway for a couple of months.
25 Nov 2012, 18:59 pm
@ryecatcher-38: Darn right. Next up, Hoymeyer Versfield and Dirtbin
25 Nov 2012, 19:08 pm
@ryecatcher-33:
hi Rye,
exactly, they are a filthy team who play a dirty game, without fail.
i have no respect for the more appealing aspects of their game because this is what i judge them on… cheats and all too often dirty cheats too.
the only reason they couldn’t beat us pre-isolation was because we took it to them when tried the ugly stuff and were not afraid to punish them for their behaviour.
i honestly don’t know how they can feel good about themselves when beating us with such pathetic handicaps in the modern era. if the playing fields were level they would be shown up for what they are… fakers…
@wnbb-34:
seriously, no half decent self respecting parent would ever name their son ‘Maurice’….
25 Nov 2012, 19:09 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-40: I don’t see what’s wrong with Maurice?
25 Nov 2012, 19:10 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-40: We also had a decent backline in those days.
25 Nov 2012, 19:10 pm
@mikeybrass-39: LOL.Enjoy your website.
25 Nov 2012, 19:12 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-40: Hello pal.Did not want it to degenerate into this.Stay well
25 Nov 2012, 19:12 pm
@ryecatcher-33: It wasn’t good at all. I hope the judiciary come down on him with their full weight and hand out a ban similar to that given to Greyling or Higgenbotham, i.e. 1-2 matches. He’ll have to miss the England test and a pre-season super rugby match. Any less would be a disgrace
25 Nov 2012, 19:14 pm
@mikeybrass-41: WP had a rosy cheeked
Bishops boy(I think) at lock named Selborne.Bakkies must have laughed.
25 Nov 2012, 19:22 pm
@mikeybrass-41:
seriously..?. ‘Maurice’..?..
its just not right
@mikeybrass-42:
yes, true… that we did.
@ryecatcher-44:
i know, that’s not who you are.
stay true
cheers
25 Nov 2012, 19:23 pm
@phil72
Does that bulls super rugby squad for 2013 really fill you with confidence? Compare to sharks and stormers squads, and bulls have little hope of winning sa conference IMO.
25 Nov 2012, 19:26 pm
@ryecatcher-46:
25 Nov 2012, 19:29 pm
@peanut_g-48:
It really does… as history has proven, the bulls can win a super rugby tournament if and when they have a descent squad!!! History has also proven that the other SA teams cant?
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