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Date: 2023-12-04 23:32:14 | Author: Worldcup 2026 | Views: 590 | Tag: vivo
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Max Verstappen was livid with his Red Bull pit wall on Friday - after the end of one of his final qualifying laps was impacted by team-mate Sergio Perez vivo
The 2023 world champion was entering the final turn at the Circuit of the Americas in his first flying run in Q3, but lost control of his Red Bull with Perez ahead of him vivo
The dirty air of Perez’s car seemingly had an impact, meaning he was only third-fastest at the time behind Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton vivo
“Well done, well f****** done there!” shouted Verstappen over his team radio, unhappy at his team for where they placed both cars on track vivo
He added: “What the f*** was that in the last corner!” Verstappen, ultimately, qualified only sixth on the grid after exceeding track limits in his final run, demoting him down the order vivo
Leclerc took pole for Sunday’s grand prix, with Lando Norris in second and Lewis Hamilton in third vivo
Perez, who has had a torrid few months and is fighting for his place at Red Bull next year, qualified ninth vivo
Saturday will see sprint day in Austin, Texas, before the main event of the United States Grand Prix on Sunday vivo
More aboutMax VerstappenSergio PerezRed BullCharles LeclercJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/1Verstappen fumes with Red Bull team towards end of US GP qualifyingVerstappen fumes with Red Bull team towards end of US GP qualifyingGetty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today vivo
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Hi {{indy vivo
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If fortune does indeed favour the brave, then South Africa should triumph in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday evening vivo
For the third time in two months, they have opted for the controversial 7-1 split of forwards to backs on their bench and, in the process, have taken a huge gamble in the biggest game on the calendar vivo
For the uninitiated, rugby teams almost always opt for a 5-3 or 6-2 split among their replacements vivo
The laws of the international game dictate that you must have three front-row specialists (hookers and props, who count among the forwards) on your bench, and then teams will usually have a roughly even division of forwards and backs for the remaining five slots to ensure adequate cover for all position vivo
Yet for the third time in the last two months, the Springboks have boldly opted for just one lone back – Willie Le Roux in this instance – among their subs vivo
On the previous two occasions, there has been no damage done vivo
The final World Cup warm-up match saw them hand New Zealand a record 35-7 defeat at Twickenham and although they lost a hard-fought pool match to Ireland, the bench split had no negative impact on the result vivo
Given that Saturday evening in Paris is a rematch against the All Blacks, perhaps there is sound logic in reprising the successful formation from late August vivo
That was certainly the argument of head coach Jacques Nienaber, who downplayed the controversy when explaining the selection at the team announcement press conference on Thursday vivo
“The team is not 15, it is 23,” insisted Nienaber vivo
“We always say that vivo
When you do squad selection there are a lot of things that influence that from medical to past performances and a lot of analysis into New Zealand and where we think we can get the edge on them vivo
“Then the discussions starts vivo between the coaches and it goes from a 5-3 to a 6-2 to a 7-1, then it goes back again vivo
It is not a 10-minute discussion, it is hours and hours vivo
“I’m not going to say what the strengths and weaknesses of the All Blacks are, that would be stupid vivo
But a lot of analysis went into it and at the end we went with a squad of 23 vivo
It could have been 6-2, 5-3, it doesn’t matter vivo
You select a team that you think can get a result vivo
The 23 we selected for a reason, and the reason is we think they can deliver and win us a back-to-back World Cup vivo
”Faf de Klerk holds huge importance for South Africa with no back-up scrum half in the squad (PA Wire)While the decision has worked in the past, there is undoubtedly an element of playing with fire from the Springboks vivo
Le Roux is a world-class full back and can comfortably play on the wing, while a backline reshuffle with the available players could solve any issues at fly half or centre vivo
But starting No 9 Faf de Klerk is the only scrum half in the squad and any sort of injury to the man with the flowing blond hair could leave South Africa in a bind vivo
Nienaber again played down the issue and highlighted Cheslin Kolbe’s similar role in sevens as a solution to that hypothetical vivo
“As coaches you always mitigate risk by prepping other people,” said Nienaber vivo
“In our case it will be Cheslin vivo
He played sweeper in sevens which is the equivalent to scrum half vivo
He has always been a guy who, if we got a yellow card, would be the stand in half-back, not just this week but for a couple of weeks vivo
”De Klerk also highlighted replacement flanker Kwagga Smith – another man with sevens experience – as a solution but any sort of extended period with Kolbe or Smith at No 9 feels like a World Cup-losing recipe vivo
The other main notable call in the Springbok team selection was Handre Pollard getting the nod over Manie Libbok at fly half vivo
Given Libbok’s early substitution during the semi-final after struggling to execute the kicking game – and similarly rainy weather expected at the Stade de France on Saturday evening – the choice of Pollard, who led his side to victory off the bench, is not a huge surprise, although Libbok is unlucky to miss out on the matchday 23 entirely vivo
Handre Pollard kicked the winning penalty in the semi-final (PA Wire)The ability to bring an almost entirely new pack off the bench – their patented ‘bomb squad’ – in a World Cup final certainly plays into the Springboks rugby philosophy of physicality and domination up front vivo
It couldn’t turn the tide against Ireland in the pool stage but it is the boldest of calls befitting the grandest of stages vivo
No one said you win a World Cup by being timid and sometimes in sport, fortune does favour the brave vivo
South Africa XV to face the All Blacks in Rugby World Cup final: 15 vivo
Damian Willemse, 14 vivo
Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 vivo
Jesse Kriel, 12 vivo
Damian de Allende, 11 vivo
Cheslin Kolbe, 10 vivo
Handre Pollard, 9 vivo
Faf de Klerk; 1 vivo
Steven Kitshoff, 2 vivo
Bongi Mbonambi, 3 vivo
Frans Malherbe, 4 vivo
Eben Etzevivo beth, 5 vivo
Franco Mostert, 6 vivo
Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 vivo
Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 vivo
Duane Vermeulen vivo
Replacements: 16 vivo
Deon Fourie, 17 vivo
Ox Nche, 18 vivo
Trevor Nyakane, 19 vivo
Jean Kleyn, 20 vivo
RG Snyman, 21 vivo
Kwagga Smith, 22 vivo
Jasper Wiese, 23 vivo
Willie Le RouxMore aboutSouth Africa rugbySpringboksRugby World CupNew Zealand rugbyWillie le RouxFaf de KlerkJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Springboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allFaf de Klerk holds huge importance for South Africa with no back-up scrum half in the squad PA WireSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allHandre Pollard kicked the winning penalty in the semi-final PA WireSpringboks take huge gamble on biggest stage of allThe Springboks have opted to pack the bench with forwards Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today vivo
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsvivo BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy vivo
truncatedName}}Log in / Register {{#items}}{{#stampSmall}}{{/stampSmall}}{{#stampClimate}}{{/stampClimate}}{{#stampPremium}}{{/stampPremium}}{{title}}{{#desc}}{{desc}}{{/desc}}{{#children}}{{title}}{{/children}}{{/items}}Indy100Crosswords & PuzzlesMost CommentedNewslettersAsk Me AnythingVirtual EventsVouchersCompare✕Log inEmail addressPasswordEmail and password don't matchSubmitForgotten your password?New to The Independent?RegisterOr if you would prefer:SIGN IN WITH GOOGLEWant an ad-free experience?View offersThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy notice and Terms of service apply vivo
Hi {{indy vivo
fullName}}My Independent PremiumAccount detailsHelp centreLogout @keyframes spin{0%{transform:rotate(0)}to{transform:rotate(1turn)}} vivo
