Fetching more contradictions
29 Jun 2006
If Solly Tyibilika is a merit selection then Santa Claus is for real.
And if the convener of selectors Peter Jooste actually thinks the average rugby fan believes the nonsense he put forward as justification for Tyibilika’s inclusion, then I have overestimated Mr Jooste because what he offered as an explanation was nothing more than an insult.
Tyibilika is not a merit selection, purely by definition of what Springbok coach Jake White has repeatedly told the media constitutes an openside flanker in his national game plan.
White insists that he does not believe in a fetcher. He told us the only two fetchers he knew were his sons, who fetched the beers from his fridge on a Sunday. Jooste must have missed that because he justified Tyibilika’s inclusion on his ability as a ‘fetcher’ and the team’s need for a ‘fetcher’.
White has defended his omission of Luke Watson on the basis that whoever plays openside flank, which White tells us is not a fetcher, has to be physically imposing and has to be a lineout option. White argues that Watson is not a lineout option, lacks height to be an option for a kick-off receiver and is not physical enough to play the openside role.
Watson is 1.85 metres and 102 kilograms. Tyibilika is 1.88 metres and 100 kilograms.
Neither player won more than two lineout balls in the Super 14. Neither is ever used as a kick-off receiver.
Watson was a form loose-forward in the Super 14. Tyibilika could not make the Sharks squad and then could not get a start with the Wildebeeste in the Vodacom Cup. On form the one man is running hot; the other is simply on the run.
Tyibilika was not in the mix for the World XV match, when White used Wikus van Heerden as an openside option. Van Heerden was ordinary against the World XV, but White defended his performance, saying it was one of the positives. He’s yet to invite the player back again.
White also told the media Van Heerden would captain the side in John Smit’s absence. When Smit was out he gave the captaincy to Jean de Villiers. White also said that if Burger got injured then Van Heerden was the obvious replacement. Burger is gone and Van Heerden can’t make a touring squad.
We at least know that Tyibilika will start against Australia as a fetcher. Jooste has confirmed this. Hopefully Jooste will have told White that Tyibilika’s fit to fetch the beers from the team room fridge because White’s teams, according to the Bok coach, have never played with a fetcher.
If Solly is confused in Brisbane, it will be with good reason. White will be expecting him to be physically imposing, to be a ball carrier, to be a kick-off receiver and to be a lineout option. Whereas Solly’s strengths are his pace and not his physical confrontational abilities.
Solly Tyibilika is not a merit inclusion, just like Luke Watson is not a merit omission.
And the more White and his selectors contradict themselves with each passing week, the more obvious the prejudice becomes.
372 Comments
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30 Jun 2006, 09:23 am
Skwatta, Tyibilika has never been on the losing end for the same reason as Julies. They were never good enough to play the top sides, they play wales,japan and friggen affies 3rd team.
But on the other hand, Tyibilika could bring speed and does seem a rather strong bugger, I’d love to see him perform well and prove his critics wrong. I’d say give him a chance to prove himself.
Would’nt it be great to see both Ndungane’s on the wings stating a test for SA?
Two of the most consistently good wings in S14 that I noticed.
30 Jun 2006, 09:29 am
Jake_White..so why on earth does our coach use these in the “easy” tests and does not give them a chance against the more powerfull opposition.In solly’s case he has played aainst the likes of aus in tri nations and performed very well against the likes of phill waugh and smith.We didnt lose that game iether.
30 Jun 2006, 09:55 am
Skwatta, You dont pick a player based on one performance! Visagie over CJ and BJ Botha? You need your head read mate. This is the problem with people. They see one good performance, and all of a sudden he deserves the green jersey.
I like Visagie. The man is a beast. But he is not the best option. It would make no sense calling him in based on that one performance.
As for Skeet, he has a future, but he is not ready. You cannot justify his selction over Bakkies, Matfield, Muller, Ackerman or Rousouw. Sorry mate, we will have to agree to disagree on this one
I agree that Jakes selections have been a little strange, but lets be honest. Would you select “form” players consdiering who is coaching them in the provincial setup? There is a hell of a lot more to selection policy then we understand.
However, Pienaars ommision left me dumbstruck.
30 Jun 2006, 10:04 am
Keo, good article.
Your post no 22 in reply to 21 is spot on and is particulary damning of the Bok “Brains Trust”
I expect the bok pack to earn the same ridicule the Aussie pack reaped last year.
30 Jun 2006, 10:11 am
Dean,we havnt seen much of visagie lately and based on the fact that he was included in the worldxv is reason to believe tht he has been playing well wherever he is playing.I would include him for the tests at the beggining of the season and establish if he is a 1 hit wonder or really deserves a place in the boks.And speaking of deserved places I happen to think Wynand Olivier is useless and does not deserve his place.The question is that who can replace him ?
30 Jun 2006, 10:30 am
Stormsaam – post #266 is a great post buddy! Three cheers to you!
Mshiniwami – post #331 raises loads of valid points. Another a good post.
Reality of this site: Filled with dinosaurs still stuck with their old regime mentality.
Reality for the old regime dinosaurs: Times are changing whether they like it or not. They have no voice in the real world, so let them b*tch and scream in this virtual world.
As for Keo, hope you get back your spine and stop playing to your right wing audience.
30 Jun 2006, 10:35 am
Skwatta, sheesh we disagree on quite a bit here. I think Olivier is the real deal. Hes is a youngster, but he is one hell of a prospect. He has pace, defends well. I think as backup to Fourie and Jean, he is our best bet.
Visagie cant compare to either BJ or CJ. CJ has been superb, and is still only 26!!! Not to mention BJ, who was the best SA tighthead in the S14. Visagie had a cracking game against the Boks. But he is not even my number 2. His play in the loose is questionable.
30 Jun 2006, 10:38 am
356 4 the win
30 Jun 2006, 11:09 am
How does a player like Solly feal? He must know his only there because of the colour of his skin…. Poor bloke, can’t blame him to much, but saying that, if it was me I would like a explenation on why I was selected ahead of some other, in form players….
Sad thing is – no one is going to give me a job I do not deserve just because I am white.
30 Jun 2006, 11:27 am
I say…….
Why not just send some of the witou’s to a tanning salon.
If all were bronzed up a bit the team won’t look all that pale and the impression would be that it is non-white represented!
30 Jun 2006, 11:29 am
saffa_guy………
What up?
30 Jun 2006, 11:30 am
Hmmmmmm – thats inspired, motivated and involved…..
How do you come up with that **** ?
30 Jun 2006, 11:33 am
It just hits me Ig……
Sometimes very hard though!
30 Jun 2006, 11:39 am
And by the way Ig,
I Simply liked it Better and Faster!
30 Jun 2006, 11:40 am
Hahahah…..
30 Jun 2006, 12:18 pm
dean…Can you honestly say that wynand is gonna make the cut when he comes up against mortlock,pleasehe is not good enough defensively and predictable in attack.Idummy outside,step inside…oh wait that was ettienes move as well,guess they make them like that at the bulls.I just hope he dummy outside and step into collins cuz thats bye bye wynand
30 Jun 2006, 14:55 pm
*****, who can step up against Mortlock? He is the best outside centre in the world at the moment (peeps gonna scream O’Driscoll at me, but Im sticking with Mortlock at the moment)
Look, Wynand is still a very young player, but he will improve. I rate the lad highly. Not the most imaginative on attack, but that will come with experience. He gets the basics right though.
30 Jun 2006, 15:39 pm
I hope wynand gets a chance during the Tri nations cuz that put alot of my doubts about him to rest.At tri N level basics should be good attack and good defence without compromise.
30 Jun 2006, 15:56 pm
only a stormer fan can refer to somebody as a “peep”
30 Jun 2006, 15:59 pm
nothing wrong with stormer fans and their peeps.It seems Dean is blue bulls fan
30 Jun 2006, 22:41 pm
“How does a player like Solly feal (sic)? He must know his only there because of the colour of his skin…. Poor bloke…”
Perhaps the SARU cheque with lots MORE zeroes than he’d get doing a regular job makes it quite tolerable?
But what Solly feels is what ALL quota players feel.
30 Jun 2006, 23:15 pm
Post 337. No problem! But expect to get hammered even by the minnows. Hamba Kahle
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