Comments on: Venter to captain Boks

By: HOUGAARD SKOP GAT

HOUGAARD SKOP GAT — Fri, 26 May 2006 09:40:41 +0000

I would rather play Wikus and make him captain, AJ is a great leader dont get me wrong but I think Wikus deserves a chance???

By: Hmmm

Hmmm — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:35:49 +0000

Fuzzy,

AJ is ranked 8th best loose forward of the series.

Made 59 passes and 9 offloads of which only 7 were ineffective in 903 minutes (11&3rd out of the 13 games).

He further stole 7 lineout’s and won 47 on own through.

Had a 89% tackle strike rate, etc.

I would say that is what you need from a no 8, making an impact with minimal errors.

By: spokie

spokie — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:35:40 +0000

Viva AJ!

By: Andre_WP

Andre_WP — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:16:34 +0000

You guys think the game will be on tv ?

By: Biscuit

Biscuit — Fri, 26 May 2006 07:12:50 +0000

Either the media are dumb and getting bum information or they are using their platform to influence Bok selections

Gavin Rich says that Wikus is heading for the captain’s spot
He also says that this would break up the 1st choice loosie selection of Schalk Burger, Joe van Niekerk and Juan Smith. No mention of AJ.

Andrew from keo.co.za says it is going to be AJ Venter.

http://www.iol.co.za says it is going to be “Victor or Schalk likely to captain Boks” – Matfield looks out now

So 3 ‘repuatable’ sources are punting 4 different captains.
I could find more.

In some ways I find this good news in that clearly White is not leaking his decision as these guys are clueless.

My guess is that given the relative unimportance of the World XV game and the injuries we are going to see the top side rested.

By: capebull

capebull — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:38:40 +0000

Big Joke , no way bring back Skinstad

By: Koos

Koos — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:36:08 +0000

So Fuzzy, if I am right you LIKE Fabio?! Yes!

By: Snotmossel

Snotmossel — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:35:30 +0000

Whatever Fuz!
Still, couldn’t help to giggle on your 205 comments. The question remains : Who do you make captain if Yawn Venter is not the man? And please someone else besides Big Mama’s Boy Joe!

By: Fuzzybear

Fuzzybear — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:32:40 +0000

I think I watched AJ try about five back flip passes to Britz this year for the sharks and not one worked.
He’s hard player but like his website http://www.ajventer.com abit ******* stupid. Watch the forwards light up the field yawn. Cant wait to watch yawn scrum after scrum after AJ trys to drive from back of scrum in his white boots and bleached hair, **** me Id rather watch paint dry.

By: Snotmossel

Snotmossel — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:17:21 +0000

Fuzzy

Big Joe needs to “mature” or more bluntly..grow up! Yes, he does have more flair and creativity than AJ, but I doubt whether captaincy will help the maturing process. I just can’t see him having the players respect from a captaincy perspective. Maybe from a players respective.

By: pale_toe

pale_toe — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:15:06 +0000

fuzzy, i think you may be right. always had the feeling jake white was eyeing JvN as leadership potential. the problem is his injuries have made it difficult for him to be a permanent fixture in the side.

By: kevin w

kevin w — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:10:20 +0000

The Cats actually had more success without Wikus – AJ did well with the Sharks before John Smit came back.

Anyway Wikus will probably burst into tears if we lose – he came pretty close a few times in the super 14.

By: pale_toe

pale_toe — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:10:12 +0000

they say tru leadership abilities are only refleted when times are bad. and to be honest the last couple of years have really been bad for the cats, and has wickus really shown any ability to rally his team to some kind of cause?

By: Snotmossel

Snotmossel — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:10:01 +0000

Pale
My thoughts exactly.
Wikus may be rated as a captain and has the “track record” as a Cats/Lions player. However the Test arena is different picture.
AJ is one of the “old hands” in the Bok-camp and captaincy is not new to him. As mentioned earlier, I even rate him him as a better captai than Matfield, even with me being a Bulls supporter!

By: Fuzzybear

Fuzzybear — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:07:45 +0000

For interest sake out of that starting lineup I wouldnt play a few of those players.
Rossow, Venter or DuToit. I think JW is sometimes far to biased towards players he “likes” as to form players.
I would play Bosman against Spencer, he might even come on.
I would play that young chap Pieterson from sharks onwing in place of Gaffie.
I would play Big Joe at 8 and make him captain.

Your probably laughing but Big Joe needs to mature as an individual and that would be defining moment for him.

AJ in my eyes is laughing stock in personality, no real respect, and in play abit of a cart horse and this season has made some basic bad decisions for the sharks in both loose and tight play.

Joe definatly has more flair and vision and guys would pasionate, as he always is about the big event.

I just think AJ is too old school wanna be south coast shick with out a clue.

By: ciccino

ciccino — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:06:10 +0000

agreed DurbanShark,
AJ had bigger impact on his team then Wickus. But I still rate wickus as a very good player. It is just his bad luck that he was playing and captaining bad team with the bad coach. He and Jaque Furie were the only players who were giving their 100% in every game. Actually if Wickus had played for the bulls he would have been everyones first choice blindside flanker as he was a couple of seasons ago when he was drafted to the bulls.

By: pale_toe

pale_toe — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:05:24 +0000

snot, i agree, i think the leaership potential in the team is spread pretty thin. that is why you would probably turn to your more experienced players – monty, aj, snyman. only thing monty can lead is a procession to the nearest hair salon. snyman is a new inclusion to this squad and may not rally have the respect yet from the players. that really ony leaves aj.

By: pale_toe

pale_toe — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:01:41 +0000

yes, you will probably find him on the bench. phase him in over the next couple of games – barring any injuries i suppose.

By: DurbanShark

DurbanShark — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:01:22 +0000

I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE CATS UNDER WIKUS VAN HEERDEN PERFORMED SO DISMALLY YET NOW HE SHOULD BE BOK CAPTAIN. HOW VERY STUPID THINKING FROM JAKE WHITE AND WIKUS SUPPORTERS. COME ON GUYS THE MAN WHO PERFORMED BETTER THAN WIKUS IN THE SUPER 14 IS AJ. HE HAS MORE ABSOLUTE POWER THAN WIKUS. WIKUS SHOULD BE RELEGATED TO CLUB RUGBY AND FIGHT TO BE PART OF THE LIONS SET-UP AGAIN UNDER ELOFF. WIKUS SIMPLY CANNOT PERFORM. THE CATS FINISHED ALMOST LAST IN THE SUPER 14. GIMME A BREAK GUYS!!!

By: ciccino

ciccino — Fri, 26 May 2006 06:00:13 +0000

Well, June 3 has no meaning, exibition match, the best opportunity to look at your 2d string players and gime game time to those who hadn’t enough in the s14. Or am I wrong?