Finding Bok numbers 16 to 30
20 Apr 2006
Keo, in his News 24 column, writes that Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer is 100% correct when he says South African rugby is in trouble, but Springbok rugby is still healthy.
Meyer, speaking to the Rapport newspaper, was reflecting on the Super 14 woes of South African teams and comparing the country’s leading 150 players to the New Zealand equivalent. That looks like a horror story if you are South African, but when it comes to Test rugby, only 15 can start against 15 and only 22 can get a shot at being part of that 15 on any given Test match day.
When Graham Henry finally settles on his 15, there is very little to scare Jake White’s best 15. The problem comes when White starts losing some of his best 15, whereas Henry’s complication comes when he starts losing some of his top 35.
That is the march New Zealand has stolen on its rivals in the build-up to the 2007 World Cup. South Africa, Australia, France and England all comfortably have 22 to 25 Test players. New Zealand now have 35.
White’s challenge this year is to grow his number from 22 to 30 and the only way he is going to achieve that is to give exposure to first and second tier players.
We know the All Blacks will use a squad of 39 to 40 players in their first five Tests and we can expect White to follow a similar path with the Boks. It is inevitable and it in no way cheapens Bok selection.
White’s consistency in selection is commendable but it can also be suicidal if he does not test the depth available to him.
My understanding is he will alternate and mix and match his squads in the Tests against Scotland and France, before settling on two squads for the extended Tri-Nations.
It won’t be a first and second team, but more a combination of one and two, with the odd match featuring the preferred World Cup run on XV.
If you want to feel sorry for yourself as an SA rugby supporter, then continue to follow the Cats and Stormers. If you want a bit of cheer, then start making your own selections about a Bok team.
Even in the Cats debacle against the Sharks, Bok utility back Jaque Fourie was the most impressive back on show. Already there is a Bok positive from the calamity Cats.
In the Cheetahs road show, the doom of defeat is a Bok victory for Os du Randt. The veteran front rower has played more Super 14 than anyone expected and been as good as ever.
The Sharks quartet of BJ Botha, John Smit, AJ Venter and Ruan Pienaar have been imposing, while there have been enough cameos from Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers, Pedrie Wannenburg, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Juan Smith, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana and Percy Montgomery to give every Bok supporter comfort.
Where you have reason to feel twitchy is if you go outside of the Bok match 22.
What can White offer up as an alternative to Monty? Is Johan Roets good enough? Is Brent Russell an option? What of Conrad Jantjes and the Sharks youngster JP Pietersen?
On the wings, Ashwin Willemse is gone, so we are back to Breyton Paulse and Habana. What follows? Fourie as a winger? The Ndungane twins?
The centre combination of De Villiers and Fourie is the best in this country and among the best in the world. If they aren’t there does Wayne Julies, De Wet Barry, Wynand Oliver and Marius Joubert give you the same sense of comfort?
Flyhalf is a problem. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Andre Pretorius and Meyer Bosman are the three in possession. None is a Dan Carter or even a Luke McAlister or a Nick Evans.
Halfback is the one area where the Boks are strong, so too loose-forward, but with no Bakkies and Victor at lock are Albert van den Berg, Danie Rossouw, Ross Skeate, Johan Muller and Andries Bekker good enough to win us a Test against Scotland and France?
Botha, as a tighthead, has warmed the hearts of the selectors, but who is the go to man at loosehead now that Gurthro Steenkamp is also gone for the season?
And finally who takes over from Smittie as hooker? Do you entrust Gary Botha and do you continue to back Hanyani Shimange at the expense of Schalk Brits?
I know that Du Randt, (Bakkies Botha), Matfield, De Villiers, Fourie and possibly Habana would challenge for a place in Henry’s best All Black XV. That’s the good news. However, some players being spoken of as possible Bok contenders would struggle to make a New Zealand Super 14 team. That’s the bad news.
When 15 plays 15, the Boks will always have a chance, no matter who they play. The challenge this season is for numbers 16 to 30 to be as competitive.
146 Comments
20 Apr 2006, 06:24 am
Agreed, especially with regard to the backs. We can barely field seven, let alone choose a squad of twelve or fourteen respectable ones. I’m a little less confident than you are about the performance of the incumbent Boks. Regardless, White must use a large squad to give younger players experience. If he doesn’t do it now, they won’t be prepared for the WC next year. Frankly, the only backs who would have a slim chance of making the AB squad would be JDV and Fourie. The Boks were weak on offense last year and need to step it up or they will be in trouble.
20 Apr 2006, 07:11 am
Keo
This is a problem we’ve created for ourselves. The original concept of the SANZAR competition was to bridge the gap between provincial and national levels. Effectively a commercialised national trial.
As usual, provincialism has screwed this up.
The franchises should never have been allowed the amount of autonomy they currently have. The national coach and selectors are the ones who must have the most influence. Otherwise, what’s the point? This is why the ABs have been so successful in developing a pool of players. They actually have a plan.
Poor Jake has no say or influence in the S14 and yet has to put together a winning Springbok squad based on players coached and trained in whatever fashion the franchises decide.
The Bok sqaud should be the final stage of the selection process. Unfortunately it’s become the first.
20 Apr 2006, 07:38 am
Hell, I feel ‘twitchy’ for the first 22 never mind the rest! To put this more into perspective I feel ‘twitchy’ for what JW will feel is the top 22. I think we have the players to be competitive at the top level but I doubt my idea of the ‘top players’ is what JW (and Keo) has in mind.
Where is AJ in Keo’s ‘selection’?
JdV having the ability to get into the ABs? yeh right. As I said last year (already) JdV can’t tackle (a wet paper bag is a better option).
He moves out of the defensive line in attempts to intercept passes and be ‘the glory boy’. If he has a partner that can ‘tackle for two’ then it may work but SA doesn’t have such luxuries (and I doubt any other team). It has eventually been noted (rugby coaches/managers not always being the brightest) that JdV leaves huge defensive ‘holes’ and these are starting to be exploited. If JdV makes the squad it has to be at wing where his defensive liabilities are not that much of a factor. Fleck had the same problem, great on attack but poor defense (although better than JdV). SA don’t have the team to attack for 80 minutes and defense will have to be a big part of the strategy. This rules out JdV.
Let’s hope that Butch is over his injuries and can play along side Fourie.
20 Apr 2006, 07:39 am
If Australia had the depth of players as S.A. has they would be smiling all the way to the World Cup.
Australia has to make do with what they have at there very limited disposal and always put a very competive team on the field at all levels.
We just do not know how to develop our players to their full potential! It’s been happening for all to long now and somebody as to change that right now or we’ll continue to lag behind other nations interms of depth and skills.
Why is it that we in this country cannot do the same?
The coaching structures at all levels must be looked at and adjusted. Coaching academies must be started from junior levels right through to the top.
Coaches must also be sent on advanced coarses to improve our standards through out.
Act now SARU!
20 Apr 2006, 07:48 am
Keo,
I dont think JDV will even get close to be selected for a AB team nether Bryan Habana. Matfield dissapointed in the lineouts for the Bulls. The Bulls make the line outs to complicated. Throw the ball just on Bakkies or Matfield and forget about all the tricks. Schalk Brits is probably SA’s best rugby player. He must play for the Boks, he is better than Smith and Gary Botha.My bok team.
15 Jaco
14 Paulse
13 J Fourie
12 JDV
11 Habana
10 A Pretorius
9 Pienaar
8 Wannenburg
7 J Smith (c)
6 Burger
5 Matfield
4 Bakkies Botha
3 Bj Botha
2 Schalk Brits
1 Os
20 Apr 2006, 07:50 am
I agree, the Boks can beat any team,including the ABs.
Unfortunately we will have the S14 cloud hanging over us which means no confidence whatsoever.
How good is this World Cup really ? Does it mean anything ?
Won’t it be better to work on a log where the top finisher is crowned world champ? Even with different seasons for different countries surely you could devise some formula.
We are forever hearing how anything can happen in a final. In the RWC you play quarters, semis and a final. Doesn’t that then mean that the world champion is the luckiest of the top teams ? Which reduces the RWC to a sideshow.
Also think of the impact it has on other games. From now till the RWC we have to watch teams ‘experiment’ and try out new players. That’s not worth watching.
I’m not going to pay R 500 to watch the Boks practise.
20 Apr 2006, 07:50 am
So JW’s stubborness only to use his main 22 for two years in a row for the end of the year tour has proved detrimental. In 2004 the Boks were a tired team come November, same in 2005 whilst Henry made use of the opportunity to give others experience. It would not have cheapen the Boks jersey. JW won us a few tests, but he is lacking in strategic vision.
20 Apr 2006, 07:50 am
Iceman Australia is far better administrated and managed, fact!
Iceman SA is still trying to get over the fact that the blackman can vote.
Heyneke Meyer hasnt exactly said anything that is unbeknown to the SA public has he, any idiot can see that!
OCO Butch James should coach!
Rob Fleck should be involved in SA rugby assistant backline coach!
20 Apr 2006, 07:51 am
In spite of JW’s consistency he has already handed out more than 30+ caps in 2 years. Remember Mentz, Julies and Gaffie played against Ireland in a winning series? I think we are covered to face Scotland and the rest of the 2nd tier nations, but the challange is the top 5 teams and currently only NZ can face any other nation with it’s B team.
20 Apr 2006, 07:56 am
Our scrumhalves would make the All Blacks
20 Apr 2006, 07:58 am
I think we have the players. I back our players to do the job, giving they get the right skills training and gameplan. Now, a professional player shouldn’t be getting skills training, they play rugby as a job. But the fact of the matter is, they are lacking these skills and if Jake can get 30 players to concentrate on, then he should start immediately with their skills development. Also I think SA players don’t grasp the concept of professional rugby. It seems they think, all they must do is go to gym and practice. Fact is, you have to become a student of the game. Australia and New Zealand players are students of the game.
Here’s the players I think Jake must work on, injuries witholding:
15.) Percy Montgomery/Conrad Jantjies
14.) Akona Ndungane/Tonderai Chavanga
13.) Jacque Fourie/Marius Joubert
12.) Jean de Villiers/Wynand Olivier
11.) Bryan Habana/Brent Russel
10.) Jaco van der Westhuysen/Andre Pretorius
9.) Ruan Pienaar/Fourie du Preez
8.) AJ Venter/Joe van Niekerk
7.) Juan Smith/Luke Watson
6.) Schalk Burger/Pedrie Wannenburg
5.) Victor Matfield/Ross Skeate
4.) Bakkies Botha/Danie Rossouw
3.) CJ van der Linde/BJ Botha
2.) John Smith/Schalk Brits
1.) Guthro Steenkamp/Os du Randt
To me, this looks like a very good squad, given they get the right coaching and management. I really do believe in a year, this squad if developed properly are world beaters. So, I back the SA players and I back Jake White. I do think Jake should seriously reconsider his backline coach. I think Pieter de Villiers will do a much better job. After all he was the backline coach when SA won its first tri-nations.
20 Apr 2006, 08:00 am
There are few, if any. international class No 10.s in S A Rugby.
Look how the Sharks have improved since Tony Brown arrived. Although he has passed his sell by date unfortunately he has exposed the lack of fly-halfs in the country.
20 Apr 2006, 08:02 am
All interesting comments without any degradation yet.
JdV had one or 2 good moments on the weekend for example but proved himself as a clutching at straws option for flyhalf with one or two really por moments that cost the team dearly. His attempted clearance kick (and Schalk Burgers) both resulted directly in tries and were nowhere near the touchline. He would need extensive training for that. Even at 12 ,Ive not seen Mauger ever clear so badly and the only time ive ever felt entirely confident in JDV’s play (agaisnt the best opponents) is him at wing.
We desperately need to be grooming saomeone as a 12 to back him up….be it WO ,be it Brad Barritt ,im not sure but they need a lot of training as does JDV.
Certainly Jake will include AJ?? ,Akona for experience,Barritt too and I think there’s no prob investing in Naas Olivier and JP Pietersen too.Getting a blend of dangerous attack and defiant defence is key and being able to switch from one to thenext seamlessly ,not after a half time talk.
There is time pre 2007 RWC ,but yes Jake must go beyond the borders of his chosen ones and build a larger base.
20 Apr 2006, 08:06 am
Mclaren,
Paulse???????
20 Apr 2006, 08:10 am
I’ll play flyhalf for SA
20 Apr 2006, 08:12 am
I dont think Jake will move too much away from his core players. and lets not forget we have ex-springboks like andre snyman playing awesome rugby overseas, shaun sowerby playing good rugby in france, AJ playing brilliant rugby. so i dont think we have to worry about our bok side. it will be a good side with good combinations. although a weekness is 10 and experience of fringe players
20 Apr 2006, 08:16 am
Stoffel, it would only be a matter of time before the ABs poach you.
20 Apr 2006, 08:17 am
ERT,
So correct my man…
20 Apr 2006, 08:19 am
Paulse has served SA well, he ism not upto the new era of “kidz” playing wing, his pace is gone & all he has left is his good defensive reading of the game.It is time to blood youngsters, like the TWINS, cause CHAVANGA & NOKWE at this moment in time lack BMT – they are out of their depth & the coaches must work with these guys.
There is NO substitute for pace and if SA HAVE EXCEPTIONAL pace on the wings and at 13 then we will cause ripples in the rugby world.FORGET ABOUT PAULSE, PLEASE.
20 Apr 2006, 08:20 am
Stoffel,
Dont say that to loud.. in this country you might just get a call up to run crash ball into Jerry Collins
20 Apr 2006, 08:23 am
Stoffel keeop watching FLASHDANCE buddy!
20 Apr 2006, 08:27 am
I’m optimistic too. There are enough players who have done Springbok duty over the past two years and performed well. They may appear out of form with their S14 teams, but I don’t believe they have suddenly forgotten how to play. Every year we go through this despair but forget that S14 is actually a summer competition and nothing like Test Rugby.
20 Apr 2006, 08:28 am
ddrek
I agree with you. I’m also interested to see how Butch James performs as he could be the logical backup for JdeV. He would also provide an extra kicking option if Jaco plays 10 and Percy drifts out of the mix for JP Pietersen.
We also forget that AJ is a more than adequate replacement for Bakkies, if needed.
20 Apr 2006, 08:29 am
There is this promising guy from Boland called Dale Sandton, he’s not a youngster anymore but if Jake want to make the quarters in the World Cup it is time to get this guy in the squad. He lacks pace but got great BMT.
20 Apr 2006, 08:33 am
Moegrat
You’re right. I’ve also heard he’s prepared to cry for the cameras when they play the national anthem.
What more could you ask for?
20 Apr 2006, 08:36 am
Ive been watching BJ Botha lately, I must say hes impressive. Solid in the scrum and enjoys making tackles etc.
20 Apr 2006, 08:39 am
do you guys think that danie rossouw is good enough to play for the boks? my personal opinion is actually that francios van schouwenberg is actually better than pakslae? what do you guys think?
20 Apr 2006, 08:41 am
Edwill
How did we win that Tri nations ? Not through good backline play. Jake should get the best there is in the country… We cant have Allister Coetzee coach the Springboks, we dont need quota coaches as well.
20 Apr 2006, 08:41 am
I see in the papers this morning the Blue Bull supporters are striking in Pretoria. Imagine what its going to look like on Monday when they have lost against the Cats
20 Apr 2006, 08:42 am
ktb
since when has paulse been good at defence ?? The only time he stops a player is when someone trips over him. Paulse is THE most over-rated player in south africa.
20 Apr 2006, 08:43 am
moegrat,
what are you talking about?
20 Apr 2006, 08:47 am
The King
Well, I certainly do remember a certainly Joost van der Westhuysen, Henri Honnibal and Pieter Rossouw combination in a move unheard of in backline play that lead to a try, winning the game and ultimately winning the tri-nations.
Please don’t question the abilities of Pieter de Villiers. Do me a favour, go look at his track record but more importantly go look how the backs he’s coached performed…
20 Apr 2006, 08:51 am
the toi toi in Pretoria. Isnt it Bulls supporters??
20 Apr 2006, 08:53 am
Ya, PdV did such a great job with the falcons
20 Apr 2006, 08:59 am
the lack of quality play from the cats backs and the lack of attack from the boks backline tells me the coach isnt the right guy for the job. seriously there needs to be a good look at our backline coach.
20 Apr 2006, 09:05 am
15.Jaco vdW
14.JP Pietersen
13.Fourie
12.JDV
11.Habana
10.Petoors
9.Pienaar
8.Smith
7.Pedrie
6.Schalk
5.Victor
4.Bakkies
3.CJ
2Smit
1.Os
16.BJ
17.Gary
18.Rossouw
19.AJ
20.Fourie DP
21.Snyman
22.Percy
20 Apr 2006, 09:18 am
edwill
Sorry, I thought you were speaking about Alister Coetzee
20 Apr 2006, 09:23 am
No question SA has enough depth in my mind..
20 Apr 2006, 09:33 am
You guys rave that we have esufficient depth. Yes Akona and his twin plays well and so does a few small wings. BUT, if the line is not open ahead of them, then no try. Have you seen how easily they take them out. Our wings doe not have the strength for a hand-off, do not sidestep Gear of NZ and all the other good qualities. Watch the game and see how easily NZ swat our wings. Like flies. No space, no grace
20 Apr 2006, 09:36 am
Agree with Ert. SA wings only want to intercept and don’t want to create tries
20 Apr 2006, 09:39 am
If one of the centres get injured, Jake should play Habana at centre (remember that is his first position)..I think that Chavanga should cover at wing, if given time he could become really good. You could see that every time Chavavnga ran the ball against the Chiefs it looked as if something was going to happen, he was by far the fastest guy on the field, just needs to work on his technical aspects of the game.
World cup squad:
15. Percy (JP Peterson)
14. Paulse (Chavanga)
13. Fourie (Habana)
12. JDV (M. Joubert)
11. Habana (Fourie) (Snyman)
10. Pretorious (Jaco)(Percy)
9. Pienaar (Bolla) (Fourie)
8.) Juan Smit (Big Joe)
7. Venter (Watson) (Big Joe)
6. Schalk (Watson)
5. Bakkies (Skeate)
4. Victor (Skeate)
3. CJ (Fast Eddie)
2. John smit (Britz) (Shimange)
1. Os (Guthro)
20 Apr 2006, 10:03 am
How many times must I tell you plonkers this: JW will be great with the boks as he was the last couple of years!
I cannot remember us winning the s12 when we won the tri nations!!?? Get it into your thick sculls…JW will get the confidence and commitment to unheard of levels for the boks (I mean all the stormers boks are waiting for is the national season if you look at their form..)
So you will be singing his praises after this Tri nations again!
GO JW!!!
20 Apr 2006, 10:05 am
Madie,
wat van Macneill Hendriks (spelling) hy kan sy teenstander beter afstamp as Paulse!! terwyl jy nou vir Jouba, Chavanga, JdV, Bolla, Eddie, Skeate, Big Joe, insit – hoekom nie sommer die Wet ook nie en maak hom sommer kaptein.
20 Apr 2006, 10:06 am
bok team A & B & C
15.percy/jatjies/jp pietersen
14.tonderai/breyten/ondugane
13.fourie/marius/cooke
12.JDV/barry/julies
11.habana/ondugane/giscard
10.pretorius/jaco/bosman
9.fourie/ricky/ruan
8.aj/joe/pedrie
7.juan/j.cronje/g.vosloo
6.schalk/luke/??
5.victor/bekker/barend
4.bakkies/skeate/muller
3.bj/guthro/jannie du plessis
2.john/brits/shimmie
1.cj/os/ollie
20 Apr 2006, 10:17 am
Keo,
Why when discussing Bok options do you always throw Paulse’s name into the mix. You clearly haven’t seen him play recently. His performances in Europe have been mediocre and his defence, in particular, has been abysmal. His return to South Africa was inevitable, because his sojourn in France has been a complete failure. Put simply, he’s well past his sell by date. He was undoubtedly once a brilliant player, but he has lost pace, and the care with which he positions himself to avoid “contact” is becoming embarrassing.
20 Apr 2006, 10:19 am
Mmmm, question… but why does an island no bigger than Kruger Park have more depth in their rugby than us…???
20 Apr 2006, 10:20 am
Seriously hope Jake can bring some good rugby back to SA… we have been missing that of late.
20 Apr 2006, 10:23 am
Grrr u have been missing good rugby of late because of cats.. Luckily Sharks play better now!!!!!
20 Apr 2006, 10:26 am
My thoughts on the extended squad:
Fullbacks: Percy, Pieterson
Wings: Habana, Snyman, Chavanga, Ndunhane, Pieters
Centres: JDV, Fourie, Cooke, Joubert (Snyman)
Flyhalves: VVDW, Pretorius
Scrumhalves: Pienaar, Du Preez, Ricky
Loosies: Burger, Smith, Big Joe, AJ, Sowerby, Watson, Pedrie
Locks: Big Vic, Bakkies, Skeate, (AJ)
Front row: Os, CJ, Botha, Guthro
Hookers: Smit, Britz, Botha
20 Apr 2006, 10:28 am
Grrr(46)
cause our couches (from junior level up) all suck and NZ coaches dont
O ya, and they ar taught to catch a ball, throw a pass and sidestep. We are taught to go to the gym and the try and run over everybody
20 Apr 2006, 10:28 am
Reds
They have, but couldn’t watch the Sharks game… Congrads thou! Like I said before I wish they would have relegated the Cats. Then I could have gone and supported the Sharks. Now, I’m doomed for another year.
20 Apr 2006, 10:28 am
Agree David with post 2,
SA B team, 5 new caps
1. Steenkamp/EA 2. Brits 3. BJ
4. Ackers 5. Rossouw
6. Wickus 7. AJ 8. Sauwerby
9. Pienaar 10. Russell
12. The Law 13. Snyman
11. Willemse/Jantjies 14. Mentz 15. Roedts
20 Apr 2006, 10:29 am
OCO. What a good idea. Drop JdV and play Butch James. In fact, James is such a good idea that we should clone him and play him at every position.
20 Apr 2006, 10:29 am
Yoda
You have a point my young padewan…
20 Apr 2006, 10:30 am
yoda you forget the other important lesson sa rugby teach don’t run and create tries wait and intercept……
20 Apr 2006, 10:31 am
Grrr, the reason NZ is so good at rugby (comparatively), is that the nation eats, drinks, sleeps rugby. That is there focus. They same can’t be said of SA.
20 Apr 2006, 10:32 am
Reds
About that, I’m I the only one seeing Habana as a HUGE defensive liability???? Yes, he is fast but this waiting for an intercept is going to get us in trouble…
20 Apr 2006, 10:34 am
Pussycat
I treid to eat, sleep and drink rugby but got all blocked up. Not enough fibire….
20 Apr 2006, 10:41 am
Grrr(57)
Yes it does seem that way, but I think its part of there gameplan. Both wings do this and they havent stopped, thus I make the conclussion that this is part of their game plan, otherwise heyneke would surely have had a talk with them
20 Apr 2006, 10:41 am
Grr I definitely agree with u.. apart from intercept tries what else did Habana do? He is very fast don’t get me wrong but like the discussions in the media over and over again…Sa don’t know how to play creative rugby anymore
20 Apr 2006, 10:56 am
Put Habana in a AB backline and he wouldn’t have to feed off intercepts. FACT
20 Apr 2006, 10:57 am
We are in trouble.
It’s scary to see that Keo names almost the entire Cats backline as possibilities for a Bok team. (Jantjies, Fourie, Julies, Pretorius, Januarie)
If the Cats backline perform so dismal in the Super 14 why would they be any better in the Bok setup ?
20 Apr 2006, 11:02 am
Provvas (42) Plonkers hey! JW is short sighted. Andre Snyman – for heaven sake get motivated guys into the team. England made mistake of ‘exclusive’ team – once the core retired the team sucked, unlike Henry and his AB’s.
Also, we will win a game or two, BUT we need constant wins against AB’s and Oz. Our backlines get sufficient ball in S14. They do not know what to do with it. Unlike NZ teams that look threatening every time the ball goes to the backline. Someone said a good team has good players in no 2,8,9,10 and 12. See our S14 sides that battle and compare their players in these numbers.
20 Apr 2006, 11:03 am
what is the obsersion with Jean Devillers? He is playig **** from start to finish. He definitly won’t smell a NZ S14 team.
20 Apr 2006, 11:14 am
i think the fijains that nick mallett is going to bring in will help improve the size of our pool of quality players a lot for 2011 world cup,
the fijian with griffons could actually play for the springboks in 2 years time, akuila nacolaiviu, watch out for him in next year’s super 14 with cheetahs! great winger
20 Apr 2006, 11:17 am
Rudebud #62 that doesn’t bode well if you consider who the Cats backline coach is
Lets hope it is Ludicrious with his input ******** it up.
20 Apr 2006, 11:18 am
why do all other countries believe in the benefit of having a kicking 12, except SA? JDV is an outside back. The fact he can pass isnt enough to bring him any closer to the action. we need people who can kick and pass and tackle. In SA we have players who can only do one thing. i.e kick well, or pass well, or tackle well, or run well. Why are our players so one dimensional? we need skilled players who can run kick pass tackle side step and sprint all in one.
20 Apr 2006, 11:23 am
munkiboi those skills are taught out of any promising youngster coming through.That or we have a problem with our rugga players being unable to multi-task.
20 Apr 2006, 11:24 am
Munki
Not entirely in agreement with you.
Honiball was one of our best flyhalves and he never really kicked. The kicking option should only be to the gameplan. SA teams should go back to playing the running game and develop and coach the players to this extent.
20 Apr 2006, 11:33 am
Best news ever, I have just received mail from Strompies coach, if they beat the Reds with a bonus point they will come back with 10 points, the best tour in the history of the Strompies.
He wants to know why all you Strompies are so upset ? Mooi man..
20 Apr 2006, 11:34 am
Read this from NZ Rugby Post. Written in 2005 but very relevant in 2006.
DUMB FOOTY ON THE VELDT by Don Cameron
Purely in the interests of sporting research I have been examining the greatest of the Super 12 rugby mysteries – why the four South African teams who draw on such a vast reservoir of talent cannot win the tournament, and seldom even reach the play-offs.
The trigger was watching the Bulls play the Brumbies at Canberra a week or two ago. Although the pride of Pretoria was narrowly beaten by a below-strength Brumbies outfit, the Bulls showed distinct signs of class – sturdy loose forwards, tidy set-play and some imaginative back play to suggest the Bulls fliers had actually read a post-1995 coaching manual.
To check whether the tactical lights were actually alight in the Republic I watched the Bulls playing the Highlanders at Carisbrook on Friday.
The weather was coolish, the pitch a bit tacky, the smallish crowd wondering how their bonny boys would fare against the giants of the veldt. It was not even a contest. Tactically and physically Otago were light-years ahead of the Bumbling Bulls. Faster of handling, of foot, of appreciating the ancient art of backing-up the ball-carrier. Nick Evans was the star, but he had many clued-up helpers. Otago were sparkling, the Bulls played dumb rugby. Real dumb.
But not half as dumb as the Stormers against the Brumbies. The Brumbies, minus George Gregan and missing several injured star players, had a bunch of eager-beaver lads in their backline – with only Stephen Larkham and Clyde Rathbone of recent stardom.
The Stormers had huge forwards, and rolled out even bigger, beefier men from the reserve bench. They had virtually the Springbok backline. They were a little sharper than the Blundering Bulls, but were even dumber in their choice of tactics. Rathbone used to be a South African under-21 star before taking his enormous talents to Australia.
The home-based South Africans might accuse Rathbone of treason, but that is no excuse to try and knock his block off every time he has, or is near, the ball. Rathbone apparently has a large store of intestinal fortitude. He kept bouncing back until he took a savage blow (when making a dummy run) across the upper chest which evidently affected his ability to breath.
The Stormers madly pursued Rathbone and anyone else who came into their tackling sights and if there was an award for madness De Wet Barry would have won the gold medal… and the silver as well.
South Africa for ages have turned out what look the perfect rugby material – big and often fast forwards, beefy midfielders, fleet-footed wings and an endless chain of ace goal-kickers.
Do they only lack the substance between the ears?
20 Apr 2006, 11:35 am
Nick the Mallet must forget about the Fijians , get Geo , he suffered a few cracked ribs after a tractor fell on him, his on his way back to the farm, he have to buy a new tractor though.
20 Apr 2006, 11:48 am
Now to add to Don Cameron’s point – playing Schalk at OPENSIDE FLANKER is simply DUMB RUGBY. He would never be selected in this position in NZ or Aus – he is just too slow. SA needs a speedster like Watson in this position but most SA coaches have no idea about modern loose forward play.
Will Jake or SA coaches realise this? The answer is an emphatic NO. Dumb rugby on the veldt will continue.
20 Apr 2006, 11:53 am
I’m somewhat amused to read the critisms of Jake White.
SA were the laughing stock of world rugby in 2003 and a year later his coaching won the 3N for SA. In 2005, inspite of the success of South Africa from the previous year, there was a line of critics whinging about him blooding new players.
Last year SA were the only team in the world to beat the ABs and in both home and away games they scored more points than the ABs. So much for his ‘mistake’ of blooding new players.
Now JW talks about sticking with his core 22 and suddenly there they are again, his critics, lamenting the fact that he’s not looking at new players. Wake up and smell the roses people (including you journalists), the man knows what he’s doing. Because even if he isn’t picking the best players isn’t it strange how they can compete and win against the best in the world.
Actually just a little piece of useless information that JW’s critics don’t seem to know – Jake White’s record against the All Blacks is Won 3 Lost 1, and against Australia, if I’m not mistaken, Won 4 Lost 1. There isn’t another coach in South Africa at the moment who can come close to those stats (even the great **** Muir) –
Bulls…Stormers…Cats….Cheetahs….Sharks…
20 Apr 2006, 12:00 pm
Don Cameron is an idiot, he’s merely pandering to his dumber compatriots with some outdated view that south africans are these gigantic lumering oafs devoid of thought.
Absolute rubbish, the other teams are easily our size (in fact England and Oz were bigger) and our backs are some of the smallest in world rugby. Its a pity we dont have some of the old day mentality where we were big on forward domination and small on introspection, dumb powerful rugby is the last world cup was won.
Apart from the aussies, South Africans are the shrewdest sportsmen around. If the kiwis are so smart, with all their talent, when was the last time they won a world cup?
20 Apr 2006, 12:02 pm
Awaiting the bones Keo…
here are my predictions:
Chiefs to win Cheetahs
Stormers to win Reds
Crusaders to win Farts
Brumbies to win Canes
Blues to win Sharks
Bulls to win Cats……but not with nore than 8 points….
20 Apr 2006, 12:03 pm
Delek…it’s not the way Jake whats the Boks to play! Well at least not in the last two years. Aus and NZ play differently to us, Jake has always said he thinks the Boks has certain strengths and he wants the Boks to those strengths.
20 Apr 2006, 12:04 pm
Jake wants rather
20 Apr 2006, 12:06 pm
sorry…I’m about as good as the Stormers at the keyboard today
20 Apr 2006, 12:26 pm
Why is the depth in rugby so **** in RSA when you have more senior players than both rugby codes in Australia combined? It partly must be coaching and i hate to say it, a few RL defence coaches wouldn’t go astray at S14, CC level.
20 Apr 2006, 12:35 pm
the year the boks won the trinations was only on bonus points. their win loss record was the same as Aus and NZ.
here are my wallabies and Aus A teams
Wallabies
1. Young
2. Paul
3. Blake
4. Sharpe
5. Vickerman
6. Elsom
7. Smith
8. Lyons
9. Gregan
10. Larkham
11. Rathbone
12. Giteau
13. Mortlock
14. Tuquiri
15. Latham
16. Freier
17. Baxter (sadly)
18. Chisholm
19. Heenan
20. Cordingly
21. Mitchell
22. Rogers
Aus A
1. Holmes
2. Nau
3.
4. Kanaar
5. Campbell
6.
7. Waugh
8. Tawake
9. Sheehan
10. Norton Knight ( barnes out after super 14)
11. Gerrard
12. Staniforth
13. Turinui
14. Sailor
15. Hewat
16. Shepherdson
17. Moore
18. Wallace Harrison
19. Croft
20. Henjak (sadly)
21. Shepherd
22. Johanson
20 Apr 2006, 12:36 pm
Aus A
3. Robinson
6. Palu
20 Apr 2006, 12:36 pm
A few RL league coaches wouldn’t go astray on attack either, with some handling skills and running angles.
But we have the talent to fill 2 and maybe 3 very good sides at S14 level, the problem is when its stretched to 4 and 5 sides, and when a pool system is not used. Players like Rossouw, Spies, Van Scoewenberg, Russell, Barry, Davidson, James should not be on the bench.
Also, i have a problem with a prop like Kees Lensing not being able to play for SA, the oke is afrikaans FFS, the kiwis are able to drawn on a massive rugby pool in the PIs. A front row of Lensing- Brits-BJ is as good as anything in the game.
20 Apr 2006, 12:38 pm
Brumby,
Aus A
6. Palu 7. Waugh 8. Tawake
- superb will boost your pack big time.
20 Apr 2006, 12:40 pm
Guys, check out this site on the All Blacks :
http://stats.allblacks.com/atoz.asp?group=M
Now that is how you honor your national team and keep the young cowboys of today in perspective with their tradition and legacy.
If only our Boks got such love…
20 Apr 2006, 12:50 pm
Reckon Freier might be given a start at 2, Paul and Cannon are ****.
20 Apr 2006, 12:53 pm
cab. Paul is not ****. he was our player of the year a couple of seasons ago.
20 Apr 2006, 12:54 pm
just my opinion.
20 Apr 2006, 12:54 pm
BoksForever
looking at the stats on that sight I have to say apartheid really fucked us
20 Apr 2006, 12:55 pm
I can only laugh at some of JW critics. He is definately the best coach in SA. He’s record speaks for it self. Remember he takes the same players the S14 coach’s battle with and turn them into better players. Now tell me how is it possible for him (JW) to get best out of a player, but the Provincial coaches-who spent more time with the players can’t do ****…..
IN JAKE I TRUST!!
20 Apr 2006, 12:56 pm
agree bloem leeu, excellent coach, sure most of the players would love to play under him.
20 Apr 2006, 12:57 pm
Paul is past his best around the park, esp in the loose, and some of his set piece work leaves a lot to be desired. Teach Nau how to throw and watch him soon become the best no2 in the world.
20 Apr 2006, 12:58 pm
thought the brumbies might take the tahs, but sounds like a bit of a rout in the 2nd half, was everyone fit for the brumbies?
20 Apr 2006, 13:05 pm
Wallaby pack with more oomph
1. Young 2. Freier 3. Blake
4. Sharpe 5. Elsom
6. Palu 7. Smith 8. Tawake
9. Gregan 10. Larkham/Rogers
12. Giteau 13. Mortlock
11. Tuquiri 14. Rathbone/Dell 15. Larkham
20 Apr 2006, 13:06 pm
My Team for the 3 Nat: Form only!
15. Percy / Pietersen / vd Westhuizen (when on form is a fullback)
14. Ndungane(Bulls)/ Jantjies
13. Fourie / Cooke
12. Snyman / none of the other 12′s stood out
11. Habana / JDV
10. Pretorius / Bosman
9. Pienaar / January / Du Preez
8. Smith / AJ / Wannenburg
7. van Heerden / Watson
6. Burger / Baywatch Grobelaar
5. Matfield / van Schouenberg
4. Bakkies / Rossouw
3. BJ Botha / van der Linde
2. Brits / Smit
1. Os / Sephaka
My 5 cents
20 Apr 2006, 13:06 pm
The sharks seem to be better with depth nowadays then the other sa teams,perhaps the academy they have set is paying dividents.
20 Apr 2006, 13:08 pm
everything went pear shaped when Larkham pulled his hammy and went off.
Paul is only just back from his injury and it takes a while to get back into shape. All of the hookers in Oz struggling with throw. Nau and Saia Faiangaa will help us in the future
20 Apr 2006, 13:09 pm
elsom instead of vickermann no way.
20 Apr 2006, 13:09 pm
bloem leeu,i think butch james would make a superb NO12,we wait and see how he performs in the vodacom cup and in the currie cup,i doubt he will get a run in super 14 this year.
20 Apr 2006, 13:10 pm
Cab
Larkham went off within the 1st ten or so minutes.
Brumbies slowly unravelled from there
Second half just was the landslide of a few rocks and pebbles that started falling in the first half.
ps.
Has nobody else thought the Sharks youngster Brad Barrit is good enough to challenge Jean De Villiers for a Springbok spot?
20 Apr 2006, 13:11 pm
yeah Larkham and Latham solid as, brilliant player.
need more punch in that tight 5, not two lineout specialists.
20 Apr 2006, 13:11 pm
cab.NO10 for australia should rather be larkham,don’t get me wrong, mat rogers is awesome,but injuries are starting to creep in for him.
20 Apr 2006, 13:12 pm
ps. I think there’s only been cameos from current Boks.
Especially the lack of class shown in the midfield incumbents has scared me.
20 Apr 2006, 13:13 pm
SIGH…
Cab
Still on the ‘enforcer’ wagon I see.
20 Apr 2006, 13:13 pm
DavidSp,
yip probably didn’t help that it was in sydney, thought they could sneak it with everyone fit. what was the battle like upfront? anyone standout in the battle of the loosies?
20 Apr 2006, 13:14 pm
ps Tomcat
That Barnes youngster at the Reds is starting to show signs that he may be the one to follow in Bernie’s footsteps in two or so years. Can’t believe he’s just 20….
James Hilgendorf and Rogers are makeshift flyhalves to be blunt.
If you REALLY want an enforcer I suppose that Radike Samo monster at the Brumbies wouldn’t be a bad bet.
20 Apr 2006, 13:15 pm
davidsp.i think barrit might still lack abit of experience,but in time most definetly a challenger for de villiers.
20 Apr 2006, 13:15 pm
DavidS,
Oz is a perfect case in point. Best backline in the world, great flankers (not a huge elsome fan as a 6 tho), but tight 5 get demolished at test level. They more than anyone need a presecne at 4 and at 7.
20 Apr 2006, 13:16 pm
Cab
Funnily enough I thought Waugh and Smith cancelled each other out.
Kanaar was pretty good.
20 Apr 2006, 13:18 pm
sorry there 6 is our 7.
Smith is probably the best fetcher in the game apart from McCaw so he’s a defnite at 6 (their 7). Elsom is ok, but miss a wrecking-ball like WillyO at blindside, hence Palu and 8 is either mr jowles, Lyons, or the younger Tawake. (quite like John Roe, but such is the insipid nature of the tight 5, cant play him)
20 Apr 2006, 13:19 pm
Tomcat
But he was showing pure class this wekend against the Cats. He broke the line every time he took the ball up.
But then again he was doing that against the Reds too.
At one point he was leading the Fantasy League stats with successful tackles too.
20 Apr 2006, 13:23 pm
Samo was fantastic, but the aussies dont seem to like him. Seem to know alot about backline play, but would’nt swop their forward know-how for all the tea in china (fetchers excluded – Smith is bloody awesome).
20 Apr 2006, 13:23 pm
David
remember,these stats are not reflecting international games,which we all know are on a level of their own.
but maybe you right,perhaps it would be interesting to see how barrit performs on international level,who knows,maybe a spot in the tri-nations team,we shall wait and see.
20 Apr 2006, 13:23 pm
I am not convinced that we have a front line 3, 6,9SOUTH AFRICAN STYLE] 8, 10, 12 14.
20 Apr 2006, 13:27 pm
The one thing you have to give the poms, much as it irks me, is they have learnt to do the basics very well. Cant fault their pack, massive scummaging 3 in Julian White, enforcer 4 in Johnson (and now that dirty bugger Grewcock, Shaw in same vein) and physical ball carriers in Worsely, Daglo and Corrie.
Simple rugby, which has crushed us and the aussies, combine that pack with aussie backline skill and you’re cooking. Enter the kiwis.
20 Apr 2006, 13:27 pm
davids
what do you think of jp pieterson?
20 Apr 2006, 13:33 pm
Samo was injured for a season and had a sluggish preseason his own fault really.
i think you will find that the lineout was also a problem for us last year. Sharpe really struggled with getting clean ball. harrison was a big loss in that area
20 Apr 2006, 13:37 pm
biggest failing is OZ scrum and ruck/maul go-forward momentum. In short, need more physicality, all the skill in the world don’t mean a thing if you’re pushed off the ball.
20 Apr 2006, 13:43 pm
Come now Cab. How can you claim that South African sportsmen are shrewd. That’s UTTER NONSENSE. The ability of SA rugby players to read a game and change tactics is virtually nil. When the going get’s tough SA players look like BAMBI in car headlights.
A guy like Don Cameron is just frustrated and amazed. Even though he’s a Kiwi, he wants to see SA teams competing well(the old and respected enemy), but incredibly to him and other Kiwis, although possessing ample raw talent, SA teams perform dismally and play this RUBBISH, slow, old fashioned power type game with huge loose forwards. And year after year they persist, even though they keep losing. Very shrewd.
20 Apr 2006, 13:50 pm
P.s Cab I know you’re a knowledgable rugby man. Yet you and 90% of SA fans cannot see what is wrong with SA rugby. IT’s VERY OBVIOUS to Aussies Kiwis and even Poms.
The game SA coaches prefer is static. The ball is not moved around enough. The emphasis is on physical domination rather than scoring tries.
Come on man how can a nation like Aussie that pours much less effort and resources into rugby union show up the SA S14 teams so badly week after week. The Aussies play a dynamic, attacking game not this lumbering slow power rubbish.
20 Apr 2006, 13:52 pm
very shrewd Delek, some very cutting edge moves from the boks over the years.
Our players are simply being outplayed at the moment in the S14. Its like Tim Lane said, what can you do with XV buggers that won’t tackle.
JW has made the national side very competitive, certainly the most competitive team to play in NZ for the last 3 years. We have players like Jean de Villiers who have a tactical rugby brain, which is as good, if not better than anything on the international circuit.
As I say the current world champions have huge loose forwards, its still a simple game up front, the only SA S14 teams competing are those with powerful packs, the sharks and the bulls.
20 Apr 2006, 13:53 pm
Delek,
You can lead a horse to water.
20 Apr 2006, 14:01 pm
Delek (and Don Cameron), you are 100% correct.
CAB, you say that “our players are simply being outplayed at the moment”. bru, our boys have been outplayed for the last 6-7 years and perhaps even longer. we play stupid rugby, its as simple as that. you just have to take off the patriotic blinkers and you’ll see it. the kiwis and ozzies know it, some of us south africans know it, but the rest need to catch a wake up.
sure, our guys are as talented as the rest, but we have stupid conservative introspective coaches coaching a stupid outdated style of rugby and our s12/s14 teams pay the price.
20 Apr 2006, 14:07 pm
Cane you’re sensing my frustration. Man, I’d love to see the Boks do well, but most SA coaches and fans seem to be in a time-warp.
I played club rugby in SA, England and NZ in that order. I was amazed and delighted when I played in NZ. Although I played for a few different teams, the emphasis of every team was to move the ball quickly to the player in the best position to attack. So different to SA where the whole idea was just to power forward with the ball. The NZ approach is VASTLY superior and more enjoyable for players and spectators.
P.s Cab don’t forget that England had Neil Back at no.7, a rather speedy dude even in his old age.
20 Apr 2006, 14:10 pm
Delek,
fair points, but will disagree with the conventional wisdom from abroad, which seems to have sprung up from national stereotypes more than anything else. We not as narrow-minded as you think and are amazed with your modern fetcher play and the quick hands that seem to be a league influence. However, we have a different style and perhaps are smart enough (you might call it stubborn, but its effective) to realise to play to these strengths.
i would also suggest that the SA game, with its more physical forward-oriented game with 1-off runners SA, brings alot to the much-maligned candy-floss criticms of the S14 and is more in line with the NH style. In 2002, England came close beat the kiwis with 13 men on the field, in new Zealand, the reason, pack dominance.
Its a simple game and 90% of the time the team that wins up front, i.e. who dominates, is going to win. The aussies are exceptional at getting away with sub-standard packs such is the brilliance of their backline, but their best teams are based around powerful packs with tough buggers like Willy O, Richard Harry, and the like.
Why are the Bulls so difficult to beat at home, or england at twickers, one reason, their monstrous packs.
20 Apr 2006, 14:11 pm
Where is the BONES!!!!
20 Apr 2006, 14:13 pm
Sorry it’s late here. Bed is calling. Look forward to continuing the debate soon.
20 Apr 2006, 14:18 pm
cheers Delek,
McCaw is a superb player, close to one of the best of all-time, amazingly refined and modern player, massive difference to any team, but we simply do not have a player like McCaw.
We have Schalk Burger, what he lacks in refinement he makes up for in guts, workrate and physicality. Different styles. Its not stupid rugby and we fielded a pretty decent national team for the last 2 years. What would be stupid is to try and change to a playing strategy to a style that is counter-intuitive to our talents.
20 Apr 2006, 14:23 pm
time warp my ***, take the blinkers off yourself Davo.
20 Apr 2006, 14:25 pm
Bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones, bones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20 Apr 2006, 14:27 pm
StM,
if you read any of this, you’ve still got a **** team.
20 Apr 2006, 14:29 pm
Quin!!!
Where you been mate?!!!!
20 Apr 2006, 14:31 pm
I wouldn’t bag the Aussie locks. Sharpe, Vickerman, Chisholm, etc.. can hold their own against anyone.
They have no shortage of real quality loosies either. Smith’s a master. Lyons is a great No.8.
And their backs? Gregan, Larkham, Giteau, Mortlock, Tuqiri… As good or better than any team in the world.
Only two things missing – a front row and DEPTH.
20 Apr 2006, 14:31 pm
TAXI !
20 Apr 2006, 14:32 pm
yes coffee
20 Apr 2006, 14:35 pm
I’m pissed off!!!
We haven’t had a single article since 7am…
What the **** is going on?!!!!
20 Apr 2006, 14:38 pm
…it’s just a step…to the left…
20 Apr 2006, 14:40 pm
and all together now..LETS DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN! yea rockin mate.
is it friday yet…this is ridiculous it sure as noodle doesn’t feel like a 4 day week.
20 Apr 2006, 14:45 pm
Langman
Sorry man I have been working up a storm
20 Apr 2006, 14:47 pm
that right coffee, the old time warp chestnut, tad patronising, up their bum.
20 Apr 2006, 14:53 pm
hee-hee
20 Apr 2006, 14:58 pm
I agree about the “dumb SA players” point. When a Kiwi youngster enjoys his rugby, he keeps playing and can make decent living off it – even playing club rugby (hell, even bartenders earna decent wage there). And when his ten year career is finished, he can earn a decent wage as a salesman/bartender/etc.
BUT If a SA youngster decides to go the rugby route, he can’t make a decent living off club rugby (and then his career is only ten years). He must be the best in the province or live like a pauper. And when his rugby career is over he must have made millions to be able to retire or buy a business, or become a salesman and move to the townships.
The net result is that when a clever SA youngster who can play is faced with the choice: Rugby or University, there is realy only one choice. Rugby (and perhaps coaching too?) is then left to those not-so-sharp knives with bulging muscles in the box to see if they can eke a living out of it. Only very few of our professional ruby players nowadays can claim to have degrees, or even be capable of getting them. In the old days of amauteur rugby, the doctors and lawyers played Bok rugby in their spare time for fun. This is not possible nowdays because of the time and conditionng required.
20 Apr 2006, 17:06 pm
CAB, post no 129: “time warp my ***, take the blinkers off yourself Davo.”
nice rebuttal.
thankfully for SA Rugby, dickie muir and Jake (to a lesser extent) aren’t as introspective.
20 Apr 2006, 17:31 pm
yip, luckily thats why Jake has been accused of a preoccupation with size and why the sharks are doing so well with Ackerman at 4, a monster scummer at 3 in BJ and AJ the old enforcer in the backrow. luckily indeed.
dont got me wrong i like the fancy stuff to, and the sharks are playing great rugby.
20 Apr 2006, 18:22 pm
Mclaren, Youre an idiot!!!
how can you tell me that young ruan pienaar is better then the experienced and skiller ricky janurie, or that Jaco is better then percy. or that Schalk is better then Smit, we need a captain. i’ll reserve my opinion on this matter
but maclaren is an ***.
21 Apr 2006, 00:45 am
And the coaches cannot be “one-trick ponies”. During the off-season they have to work out NEW moves and strategies that the opposition has not worked out the counter to. Now that the Oz and NZ coaches have worked out that a flat grubber kick and chase counters Jake White’s excellent “rush defence”, has Jake worked out a second trick to stay ahead of the game? He won the 3N (albeit on bonus points only) at his first attempt, but a year later he had to hand over the silverware back to NZ (again, only on bonus points, to be fair).
But Graham Henry has taken THREE full test teams not for a tame little hit around against Italy or Romania, but for a Grand Slam end-of-season tour when his men were all clapped out after whitewashing the British Lions and then wrapping up the 3N with only one defeat in the whole season.
All three of those Grand Slam teams won their tests and accomplished the grand slam mission, including putting England away at Twickenham.
And this is two years out from the Rugby World Cup — now that speaks of proper planning. Not “resting” your key players and handing a full test jersey a bunch of aspirant second-raters who are out of their depth and **** it all up and lose their “gimme” test and so blight the jersey they wear!
PROPER planning means you don’t concede test defeats. Not under ANY circumstances. You might not win each test by massive margins by carefully blooding new test players, but you do not, ever, plan to “build a team” if it involves losing tests on the indelible permanent record.
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