Bones take a beating from Bully Boys
1 May 2006
The bones, consistently accurate in the last eight weeks, took a beating at the weekend as the Stormers and Bully Boys came good.
The bones had predicted victories for the Sharks in Pretoria, while also giving the Cheetahs and Crusaders a win. The Force were also due a historic first Vodacom Super 14 triumph.
The Sharks defeat is the most significant because it ends their play-offs challenge. The Sharks, on the road, will have more chance of success than the Bully Boys, who once again showed their brutality when playing at home. The Bully Boys on the road are more gravel than granite, but in Pretoria they have the ability to grow extra arms and legs.
The intensity of the Bulls in the first 40 minutes was the equivalent of an assault — as Sharks prop BJ Botha would no doubt tell you. The Bulls had the bonus point by halftime, but they did not have the win until the final hooter. The Sharks were given unanimous backing on this site (70 percent of the poll voted in their favour) for good reason. They are a quality side and the manner in which they fought back from 27-3 to be in a position to win the game was revealing of the improvement this season.
When the Bulls’ intensity dimmed on the hour, the Sharks started to find space and a bit of go-forward and their ability to offload in the tackle, change the line of attack and run the support runner into space troubled the Bulls defence.
The brutality of the first 40 minutes, though, was just too much for the Sharks and their championship aspirations were bloodied on Saturday night. Another whose championship could be over is the Crusaders. I know it is a big call. They lost for just the first time in 17 matches and a year ago they were as emphatically beaten in Pretoria, only to then go on and win the championship.
But they look like a side that has hit the wall in the last fortnight and the two epic encounters with the Hurricanes and Waratahs seem to have taken everything out of them. They will struggle to beat the Bulls in Pretoria and the Brumbies in Christchurch could easily do them as well, which would mean they may end up fourth on the table and needing to win twice away from home to claim the title. They’ve done it before, but rarely have they looked so out of sorts in successive weekends at this late stage of the competition.
The Stormers, for once this season, applied the blowtorch for 80 minutes and should have won by more and scored the bonus point. The Stormers pack was dominant and the Crusaders have now struggled against the Sharks and Stormers forwards. I can’t imagine them relishing the prospect of Pretoria this weekend — especially with the Bulls having to win to stay alive in the play-off race.
Crowd support this weekend was brilliant in Pretoria and very good in Cape Town, given the Stormers horror run at home. That 30 000 still made it on a cold and windy evening tells you how strong the brand is.
Individually, there were some fine performances and most of them came from established Springboks. The Bulls lock pairing of Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield were colossal, Pedrie Wannenburg has been the most consistent South African loose-forward all season, Schalk Burger was huge in Cape Town and Gary Botha and John Smit enjoyed a hectic 80 minute struggle in the front row.
Andre Pretorius showed more confidence against the Force, but again his goalkicking was not good enough, while Meyer Bosman would have backed himself to kick the conversion to sink the Blues.
The most pleasing aspect of this weekend’s matches is that every South African team played for 80 minutes, probably for the first time this season. The Bulls and Sharks were hammering away at each other on the siren, the Cats kept the ball for two minutes after the siren to score a match-saving try, while the Cheetahs also retained possession for two minutes after the siren to score a try that put them in a position to win it.
And in Cape Town the Stormers went in front after 30 seconds and never let up.
It was a heart-warming weekend for SA teams and while it won’t be reflected in Super 14 silverware, we could see the results in the international season.
243 Comments
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1 May 2006, 09:42 am
Yep agree Keo, Cant wait for the Tri Nations to start. Only problem is the centre combination??? What to do what to do
1 May 2006, 09:45 am
don’t know about unanimous backing, the bulls at loftus are a tall order for any team.
Stormers result was fantastic, could be interesting to see what that win does to their chances against the Sharks next week.
1 May 2006, 10:03 am
Great weekend. Just some question:
1. Manuels. The notorious TMO did highlited his incompitence once again. He needed a help from Doug Howlet to make a right decision. One can argue that it could go cheetahs way, may be the timing is the question. But Manuels made fool of himself again. He is so incompitent that he is affraid to meke decisions. HOW LONG WILL WE HAVE HIM AROND?
2. Liebenberg (spelling cheetahs hooker). Someone tell him that he’d better thing of not celebration but making it easier for the kicker to convert your try. His celebration cost his team a win. WHAT IS WITH ALL THOSE CELEBRATION? ARE RUGBY PLAYERS BECOMMING SOCCER PLAYERS (CELEBRATIONS, KISSING, HUGS ETC.)?
3. Kaplan. Everytime Kaplan officiates the bulls he wants to yeloowcard them. We have seen worse offence without yellow card awarded. And How brutal Stayn can be? WHAT IS WRONG WITH KAPLAN’S RELATION TO THE BULLS?
4. Sharks fans. After reading the whole last week how Sharks are going to murder, ahniliate, crash the bulls. DO SHARKS FANS HAVE EVOUGH GUTS TO SHOW UP THIS SITE, EAT THEIY HUMBLE PIE AND ADMIT THAT BULLS ARE BETTER TEAM?
1 May 2006, 10:04 am
Keo
I reckon the Sharks fightback was more the result of Heynekes’ changes than an improvement in their own game. The Bulls totally dominated them and did’t allow them to play in the first half . If the same Bulls players had stayed on longer it would have been a massacre.
1 May 2006, 10:23 am
David
The fact of the matter is they did not stay on and the Sharks looked and finished the game in the ascendancy. It’s the same as me saying that if the Bulls started with this line-up then the Sharks would have won – they didn’t. And give the Sharks their due, they did win the second 40 minutes of the game, which shows you that they are a quality team. Not many would have shown the character come back after those first 40 minutes.
Now listen to me preaching to you, and me not even being a Bulls or Sharks supporter.
Amen…..
1 May 2006, 10:44 am
The Bulls once again made the mistake of relaxing. The Sharks played some enterprising rugby but had the Bulls stayed at the same intensity levels they would not have come close. Unfortunately that is the case with all our teams. Once well up they cannot deliver the killer blow. This thing also carries through to the Boks. That old addage how you practise is how you play is true.
1 May 2006, 10:45 am
It is very quiet here today. Is it because of the holiday or all the Sharks supporters hiding?
1 May 2006, 10:48 am
the bulls had an awesome first 40 – but lets not get carried away here – they are a shadow of the team that reached the semi’s last year.
the bulls chucked it this year, and its a shame – if they did not chuck the points against the reds, chiefs, blues, and force, they would have topped the log after saturday’s win.
now that would have been very sweet wouldn’t it.
1 May 2006, 10:50 am
ciccino – you don’t like making it easy to understand your posts do you?
1 May 2006, 10:57 am
What a wonderfull weekend of rugby from the South African teams. We are in for a very good international season. I think Jake will have alot of tallent to pick from and we will have a strong steady bok team. Oustanding play by some of the players we been writing off so far. All of a sudden they are back and things are looking good. Lets hope all the players stay injury free. Oustanding play by the Bulls at home. Stomers suprised all of us. But it was good to see them win again.
1 May 2006, 11:06 am
Yes, things are way too quiet.
If there is one thing to get SA fans at one another’s throats, it’s Bok selection.
I posted this after Saturday’s game.
_____
So who should be in the Bok squad?
http://sarugbyview.blogspot.com
We’re getting close to that time of the season again. And Bok “selectors†everywhere are getting tense about who deserves the green and gold.
Here’s my early selection with second choices in brackets.
First Choice Second Choice
1. JD Moller – Stormers [Lawrence Sephaka - Cats]
2. John Smit – Sharks [Gary Botha - Bulls]
3. BJ Botha – Sharks [Eddie Andrews - Stormers]
4. Bakkies Botha – Bulls [Johan Ackerman - Sharks]
5. Victor Matfield – Bulls [Ross Skeate - Stormers]
6. Luke Watson – Stormers [Wikus van Heerden - Cats]
7. Schalk Burger – Stormers [Juan Smith - Cheetahs]
8. Pedrie Wannenberg – Bulls [Joe van Niekerk - Stormers]
9. Ruan Pienaar – Sharks [Fourie du Preez - Bulls]
10. Jaco van der Westhuyzen – Bulls [Meyer Bosman - Cheetahs]
11. Bryan Habana – Bulls [Odwa Ndungane - Sharks]
12. De Wet Barry – Stormers [Wynand Olivier - Bulls]
13. Jaque Fourie – Cats [JP Nel - Bulls]
14. Breyton Paulse – Clermont [Akona Ndungane - Bulls]
15. Percival Montgomery – Sharks [Bevin Fortuin - Cheetahs]
I’ve tried to follow Jake White’s logic of considering the incumbent and the impact of their team and Super 14 positional selections on their performance. I have also condsidered the incumbent in Joe van Niekerk’s case – he has played to little rugby to be included purely on form – although he is beginning to look good.
At front row I think I’ll be caned by some for leaving out OS, but I believe JD Moller has won aclaim from opposing sides. BJ Botha is the popular new cap on the other side of the scrum. Many will feel Sephaka and Andrews are quota selections as reserves, but I have been impressed with their recent form. I also believe Sephaka has not had enough starting game time. He looked particularly good against the Force.
Ross Skeate is selected out of position (5 instead of 4) as cover for Victor Matfield – but that is because I see them as similar players – modern athletic locks.
Johan Ackerman is a great backup for Bakkies – imagine playing 60 minutes against Bakkies and the Ackerman comes on – there’s some “enforcer†for you!
Combinations are important. Besides this, I think that starting combination of Luke Watson and Schalk Burger are deserved in their own right. Both have played with 80 minute commitment every match. Pedrie Wannenberg breaks the provincial combination as starting eigth man – he has been immense for the Bulls.
Ruan Pienaar makes my starting scrumhalf spot – he is a huge talent. Fourie du Preez makes reserve as an incumbent.
Flyhalf is tough because we have not seen Jaco van der Westhuysen play there domestically. But his touches look good from fullback, and Jake picked him from Japan as flyhalf previously. It is a tough call for reserve flyhalf, but Andre Pretorius has played in a losing side and Meyer Bosman is the incumbent “future†player.
Centres – what a headache! No one has set the world alight this season. Barry has started playing again since being dropped from 13 and then returning at 12. He gets the spot as incumbent and with a glimmer of hope. Jacques Foruie gets 13 – without us seeing him there for the Cats. You know what they say about class and form – hopefully it’s true. The Bulls pairing get the reserve spots. One has to worry about creativity here though. If only Habana had some game time at centre. There is no place for De Villiers based on his utterly inept defensive performance this Super 14. Joubert might have class, but his form is so long gone that he cannot make this squad. I somehow think Jake White will go with the incumbents though.
I would take a pasting on the Keo boards for my wings, but I think they’re deserved. Habana picks himself. Paulse’s experience in France could be huge factor for the world cup. I have no idea how well he has played for Clermont though. He makes the spot as incumbent. Akona Ndungane has showed hunger and commitment with flair on attack for the Bulls. Odwa Ndungane makes my reserve spot together with him showing similar hunger and flair to that of his twin brother.
Monty has had a quiet Super 14. He hasn’t exactly done anything wrong, but he needs to look to join the line more on attack for the Boks. Fortuin is another new cap as reserve – he’s tried hard for the Cheetahs and looked good.
1 May 2006, 11:15 am
Alibaba
Neither am I. I was just trying to point out that when Heyneke decided that the game was won and pulled off players he allowed the Sharks in. What should be worrying the Sharks is that up until that point they were totally outplayed by the Bulls 1st choice side.
Ciccino
Steyns first warning was an identical tackle to the one de Wet was yellow carded for.
I agree totally with you about Liebenburg. I was also wondering what he was up to not going closer to the posts. I think Rassie might have something to say to him.
1 May 2006, 11:19 am
Storm_saam, not a bad team.
Juan Smith must be in the starting lineup though. Os still has lots to offer and Odwa is no where near international standards yet.
There’s still space for JDV at 12 I think. Barry IMO is our 3rd choice 12, behind JDV and Olivier.
Paulse, no way, Jake will play him but his lack of pace is still a problem for me.He was average in France if you ever saw him play too.
1 May 2006, 11:26 am
stormsaam,
not bad, but Os is still JW’s first choice at 1. Think loose trio has to be Burger, Smith and AJ. Agree Barry at 12, but JdV on the wing instead of Paulse.
1 May 2006, 11:28 am
i never believe in playing guys in positions they are not regarded as the best.
or let me put it this way, why play a guy in another position just to accommodate another player that has performed well?
for that reason alone i will not play schalk at 7, he is my 6 and that is it, luke has been brilliant recently and is beginning to regain the form that he had at the sharks which is great – but he is not in schalk’s class as an opensider.
as to my number 7, juan was brilliant before he got injured, so it is not a joe scenario who has not been at his best for quite some time. joe is looking hungry again which is great for us, but lets see if he can string two more performances like that together against the best in SA at the moment. then he can be considered a serious contender.
juan, if fit will definately slot in at 7.
i also rate pedrie highly, but AJ deserves a mention here. but you also have to option of bringing AJ on as impact player later on. i guess who you start with will depend on conditions and opposition.
in fact, a loose trio of schalla, juan and pedrie has a very nice ring to it.
my ideas and theories on inside backs and centers are a bit different than the norm, so i will not comment on that. but your choices are logical but conservative.
if jaco bring his form of 2004 with him that backline might just gel.
os for moller. you cannot buy experience, os has this and moller not, os in fact looks very good at the moment and play for very long periods.
sephaka has not set the world alight but i guess you can blame ludeke for that seeing he was almost never picked.
from what i saw of van schouwenburg i would have him there and there abouts as-well. skeate seems to disappear against good opposition.
ruan is also very vulnerable defensively which is why he will not be my number one choice. your channel one defence is important. fourie, although performing at 70% from what we know he can will still get the nod.
ruan, with neil who is regaining form gives us enough depth. bolla also had a good start to the S14.
ndungane (bulls) above paulse but this is a toss up for me too. experience is vital but we also have to consider form, don’t know what form breyton was in recently.
1 May 2006, 11:31 am
LS:
I think Juan Smith and Luke Watson could be rotated and their game time managed.
I’m not sure Os has ever really fully recovered from a leg injury sustained last year.
I don’t think Odwa’s far off it. His pace and workrate is great. WHat all our wings need though is positional sense, and I guess that’s where Odwa needs some work.
I can’t see JDV at 12 after his performance there for the Stormers. Barry looks a different player since returning there. Clearly Barry;s strength is not his creativity but we should take NZ’s lead and bring our wings through that channel on the loop to create space.
I haven’t seen Paulse – as indicated. His pace looked better in the latter games he played last year. But as indicated, I think JW will pick him as the incumbent and due to his French experience.
1 May 2006, 11:39 am
PA / LS:
Obviously, bringing Juan on means Burger can go openside.
I think his game at blind-side has improved though – he seems to have upped the aggression and is running better support patterns.
AJ has shown experience and commitment this season. But now and again still has a brain explosion – his charge into a Blues players’ kidneys evidences this. I’d still give BJ the nod. If he continues his upward trend and expands the form to his attack, he’ll be tops.
I also think De Kock has played two awesome games recently (Chiefs and Crusaders) but Fourie gets my nod as a wet-weather backup to Ruan. Ruan gets my top-spot through sheer talent. But I think that the game situation might dictate who you put on.
1 May 2006, 11:46 am
schalk is okay on the blindside, he is brilliant on the openside.
luke can definately be his back-up.
we really do not have that many 8th men who put their hands up – this is a concern.
if ruan ups his defence, he is up there, but for now, too many shortcomings in his game to be first choice.
i disagree on AJ, i think he has been a revelation this year. plus he can back up lock and loosie.
1 May 2006, 11:46 am
and take my word, i am no fan of AJ.
1 May 2006, 11:47 am
PA – Schalk, Juan and Pedrie is also a very real possibility. All quite similar players though. Burger is more in your face, whereas Juan and Pedrie are both rangey-ball carriers.
1 May 2006, 11:47 am
Ruan was annonimous this weekend. Talented but still much to learn. FDP is the best allround N9 at present.
1 May 2006, 11:49 am
Plenty of options, but will interesting to see what JW does in the NH conditions.
1 May 2006, 11:50 am
cab,
i know, that is why personally i believe pedrie would be a brilliant loosie (7) with joe/AJ at the back.
1 May 2006, 11:51 am
Most scrumhalves become anonymous behind beaten packs! The way the Bulls played this last weekend, it would have taken a miracle for Ruan to look good!
PA – to bring in AJ, are you saying you’d leave out Joe, Luke or Pedrie?
1 May 2006, 11:53 am
I think AJ is earmarked for the bench as backup for 7,8 and Bakkies. Schalk, Juan and Joe will start with Pedrie as backup for AJ.
I doubt whether JdeV will lose 12 with de Wet on the bench and JdeV to wing if needed. Jake is too confident of his defensive pattern to believe Jean is a weak link.
Jake has an interesting problem with the front row. Sephaka and Eddie have been tried at 3 because of a lack of a genuine tighthead which solved Jakes quota problems. BJ, as a genuine 3 specialist screws up Jakes options for more black representation.
Because of this I think we’ll see Ricky at 9 and Solly or Dulane thrown into the mix.
We might also see JP Pietersen on the bench as backup for fullback or wing instead of Julies.
1 May 2006, 11:57 am
David:
If I were to change my selection of Odwa above, I’d bring in JP Pietersen for him.
I rate Solly – but given the performance of the others above and debate about bringing in AJ – together with lack of game time, I think it’s tough to pick him.
1 May 2006, 11:57 am
Pedrie should be in the starting line up.
He has played very good rugby all season, and is faster and fitter than AJ.
1 May 2006, 11:59 am
storm,
if joe performs agains the sharks and bulls as he has done recently he will be my first choice 8.
juan first choice 7 with pedrie as back-up
schalk and luke taking care of #6
if joe fades, it is a toss up between AJ and pedrie on who you will start at 8, the other one to come off the bench – this will depend against which opposition you play and also conditions.
1 May 2006, 12:00 pm
only if he hands his cell-phone in at the captains practice stan!
1 May 2006, 12:02 pm
AJ, like david said, is possibly best coming off the bench since he can cover so many positions.
i’ll reserve comment about joe until he is up against pedrie and AJ in the next two weeks.
he has the best opportunity possible to prove he should be first choice 8.
1 May 2006, 12:07 pm
Forget Ruan Pienaar as an option.
JW has invested heavily in Conradie,Januarie and DuPreez.He’s not going to throw away the past 2 seasons work.
If anything Pienaar has shown in the past 2 weeks that he has absolutely no tactical game in his repoitoire and his kicking out of hand is shocking.He was subbed against the Blues and Bulls very early.
Like Faan Rautenback….I fancy BJ Botha and Ackerman’s international aspirations may well be buried at Loftus.
1 May 2006, 12:07 pm
If Joe is fit he is the best N8 in the country if not Pedrie is the next and AJ as utility forward. Luke is too inconsistent Schalk is better option at N6, and Juan or Cronje at 7.
1 May 2006, 12:09 pm
Storm
I was including Solly and Dulane because Jake has to maintain his commitment to including a higher proportion of black players. I think we’ll see one or both used in rotation with Schalk.
1 May 2006, 12:09 pm
PissAnt Schalk Burger is JUST NOT FAST ENOUGH to be an international class openside.
He is nowhere near as fast to the breakdown as guys like McCaw, George Smith, Phil Waugh or even Neil Back. A HUGE FAILING in SA rugby – playing TOO LARGE and TOO SLOW players on the openside. This has been identified here in the NZ press as a major weakness of SA teams (and rugby fans here are amazed that SA continues with this FAILED ploy. Most SA coaches and fans just don’t get it. Schalk arrives at the breakdown two or three seconds behind his Australasian counterparts.
Now Luke Watson – now you’re talking. An openside of international class. Has the potential to do for SA what Neil Back did for England. In the early days some in the England camp thought that Neil was too small, but he soon proved his worth and became a regular in the England team for almost a decade, was a major reason for the 2003 world cup success.
Luke could do the same for SA. Mallet realises this. Now Jake White needs to be enlightened.
1 May 2006, 12:14 pm
Ciccino I am one of those Sharks fans you refer to.
I give the BULLS credit for a GREAT performance on the day. But NOT FOR ONE SECOND do I believe that their brand of rugby will work consistently or lead to success away from home.
The Sharks however could go on to WIN THE S14 (in future years) if they persist with this exciting style, a mix of powerful forwards and backs who have the skill and confidence to move the ball around the field and run a variety of angles on attack.
1 May 2006, 12:14 pm
Delek
Jake won’t realise it because he believes in the doctrin of ‘a Good Big one will always beat a Good Little one’ …
1 May 2006, 12:15 pm
For me it is a straight selection between AJ or Cronje.No need for them both in a squad with so many versatile backrow options.
AJ is more experienced but a sicknote and as St.M ,so often, annoyingly but truthfully points out…..a perrenial loser.
Cronje is younger, I’ve yet to see him injured and part of a winning culture.
But hey….I’m a Bull, don’t believe anything I say.
PS: Don’t be suprised to see Luke Watson lose out to affirmative action. Dlulane to replace Solly in the mix. Albeit, I’d be far more comfortable seeing Dlulane start than see Solly T start.
1 May 2006, 12:15 pm
PA, not a big fan of pedrie, but he has played well, there is only 1 position for him tho for the boks, no. 8. This is who i’d select from for each position if we were to adopt an NZ-type stategy of more specialised flanker positions.
6 (openside fecther)
Burger, Wickus (personally i’d pick Grobelaar and Henro over Watson, think Baywatch is the best 6 in SA but thats probably Vaalie bias)
7 (blinside ball-carrier enforcer)
AJ, Cronje and Rossouw
8. (8th man – mixes qualities of 6 and 7)
Smith, Wannenburg and big Joe
1 May 2006, 12:20 pm
David (33)
I think that problem takes care of itself with the selection of wings and props.
Lawrie and Eddie have both played both sides of the scrum – so give versatility. Eddie is also beginning to play like a Bok for a change.
If you do go for a black loosie, I’d certainly go with Dlulane after this weekend against the Sharks – he was immense.
With wings, you can easily pick four black wings on merit.
The above squad has 7 out of 30 black players on merit.
If you increase that, where do you go? Shimange instead of Gary Botha? Dlulane instead of Luke? It all becomes a bit difficult.
Naas was talking up AD Jacobs – but I think he is kuk. Defensively frail. Jantjies has class but has had no real chance to show anything in the Cats – and who would he take out Fortuin, so that doesn’t help.
1 May 2006, 12:20 pm
Delek
“But not for one second do I believe that their brand of rugby will work consistantly or lead to success”
3 out of 4 of the last CC’s.
S12
2003…..6th
2004…..5th
2005…..3rd
2006….???
When all is said and done, not to bad is it?
In fact, the Natal team of the 90′s took a decade to do what the Bulls have done in 4 years?
1 May 2006, 12:21 pm
delek,
i would like to see time over 10 and 40 meters before i would entertain that thought.
luke has done brilliantly well in the last couple of games and the boy has certainly put in some hours if you look at how he bulked up.
somehow i would tend to disagree on schalk’s speed, he is everywhere, not only come ruck time but in defence as-well where luke is somehow anonymous.
cab,
smith at 8?
i would swop your 7 and 8′s
1 May 2006, 12:23 pm
Adi Jacobs….like Brent Russel, is great in broken play.
Internationl structure and defences…….don’t think so?
1 May 2006, 12:24 pm
Cubicz that doctine SUCKS!! Used by many coaches to justify leaving out excellent smaller players such as Luke Watson and playing instead a crash ball, no risk 1950′s style of rugby.
Thanks for reminding me of that and helping to REV me up
1 May 2006, 12:25 pm
Luke Watson looked pumped up last Saterday.
That boy is the pack leader.Forget Britz and Van Niekerk.(Burger is never lead…he is unleashed)
Also, why does everyone consider Skeate the “soft” lock option in a hard/soft combination.
He looked pretty hard to me?
1 May 2006, 12:27 pm
just watched the bulls sharks game. bully boys, well done. in the first half the bulls would have beaten any team in the super 14. too bad for my sharks but the better team won on the day. sharks showed balls to not give up.
it was no shame to lose that game. the bulls were awesome, it just pisses me off that they cant always play like that.
1 May 2006, 12:28 pm
StP:
Probably for the same reason Matfield is the soft option in the Bakkies/Matfield combination – it’s all relative!
I must say, for a lock as young as Skeate, he has some fantastic career ahead of him.
1 May 2006, 12:28 pm
I think it comes down to the same style that the Bull’s use compared to the Sharks with forward domination verse running into gaps or space.
I mean if you watched the England Oz game last year at twickenham the Pom’s should have thumped the Ozzies by at least 40 points … unfortunately their backline had the same skill level of the Bulls and they only won the game in the last 5-7 minutes through brute force.
The change will only come in SA rugby when the fans realise this too …
ps have you worked out what my blogg name means?
1 May 2006, 12:31 pm
PissAnt some of Schalk’s games in NZ last year (when he played openside) were analysed on the Reunion Rugby show and he was truly slow to the breakdown. He is too bulky to be a really effective openside.
Look at the effective international opensides of the last fifteen years or so – from Michael Jones to Josh Kronfeld and the others I mentioned earlier, they all had athletic but NOT BULKY frames and were superfast. SA just has not been trying to develop this kind of player, probably because of the ‘larger syndrome’ that Cubicz refers to above.
1 May 2006, 12:34 pm
SA’s best openside flankers over the last 10 years have been Rassie Erasmus and Ruben Kruger …
1 May 2006, 12:34 pm
PA, reckon Smith can play 7 if Burger is at 6, but in NH conditions would make a very good 8. Great hand-off, good vision, athletic, better hands than Cronje – think its his ideal position, especially if one wants to accomadate AJ or Cronje at 7.
Musn’t underestimate the role of big ball carriers, look at the roles Worsely and Corry play for England, Collins for NZ, White for Scotland, Lyons for Oz (Palu and Tawake for NSW and Brumbies). Not necessarily the fastest blokes, but add alot of momentum to the pack and maul.
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