Dewaldt Potgieter would be ideal on the bench, if he weren’t injured – he can genuinely cover all the requirements of 6, 7 and 8. Deon Stegmann is our next best specialist no.6/fetcher – must use him in ‘rotation’ with Heinrich in Tests going forward, when Heinrich may be due a ‘rest’… J eg – the European tour in November – let Heinrich get a proper rest in the off-season (after playing in all the Tri-Nations Tests) – and take Deon to Europe… Another ‘plus’ – is we then build more players with Test experience…

We must learn not to ‘over-burn’ our best players – good player management is crucial to longevity of form and career… J Never under-estimate what Prof Tim Noakes has been trying to impress for 12 years – the importance of an ‘at least’ 2 month consecutive rest period… J

Looking ahead (I know it’s so soon) – and wanting to rest our entire current run-on pack (including John Smit – especially if we want to prolong his career to RWC 2011 – crucial!) for the Nov tour to play France, Italy and Ireland – how’s this for a pack, and forward bench – to go to Europe…? J

1) Heinke vd Merwe (will be back from injury)

2) Chiliboy Ralepelle (P Div will go with him – and he will become a really good hooker anyway). By having powerful props support him – he will learn, without being ‘hurt’.

3) Jannie du Plessis

4) Danie Rossouw

5) Andries Bekker

6) Deon Stegmann

7) Schalk Burger (capt)

8) Ryan Kankowski

Bench: Andries Strauss; Gurthro Steenkamp; Johan Muller; Dewaldt Potgieter.

I’ve not chosen CJ vd Linde – as I’m not sure he’ll be available for a Nov tour – if he is – then CJ at tighthead – with Jannie on the bench. J Making Schalk captain could just be a master-stroke in bringing the best out of him again – he is a born leader anyways… J

Imo not enough pictures of disappointed Lions players and/or fans.

One thought I had, and it might be symbolic of the team that we have at the moment..
The colour of the cover’s photo of morne and the team reminded me of that old photo of a dejected Jack Van Der Schyff after he misses the game clinching kick against the lions back in ’55, which had the same colour tone.Same colouring but totally contrasting outcomes after a pressure do-or-die kick.

When reading your article on morne, it reminded me of another contrast between that day and this..Morne mentions how he quickly put up his hand for the kick when he saw frans steyn in the corner of his eye…The difference then was that poor Jack didn’t want to be the one to kick it, but was persuaded to write his name in the history books for the wrong reason.Apparently he had trouble dealing with it afterwards and dissappeared.

Hope Jack was watching Morne’s kick and that it helped ease those demons he had to live with, wherever he is…

Then again, the French do enjoy him… as well as frog legs…

One which I just so happen to read while sitting on the bong, and without a doubt in this issue it was the Gavin Rich article.

Appropriate.

Good piece on the Kings, enjoyed that.

Regarding Tiger – I find him the most down to earth champ, considering how far he’s ahead of his peers. But this Open was a breath of fresh air without him on the weekend. I feel sorry for Staurt Cink though. No one will remember that he won the 2009 Open – only that Tom Watson lost it.

very good.

Actually it was nice to see Tiger bomb out for once. He could do with a strong helping of humility.

Speaking of which, Im a big fan of Roger Federer but all that gold trimmed poncey naval formal attire he wears on to the court makes him look like an Arabs bathroom on acid. Quit the humble poop Fed and back to playing between the white lines huh.

Please say yes! I’m suffering here

i am sure you would get a lot of support from it – i recall the last time it was mainly the folks in south africa who didn’t want an online version.