Usually you are quite an informed chappie… have you forgotten Australia’s first choice hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau…

‘Could lose some pounds’… are you for real… I was fortunate to meet most of the Reds after the Rebels match as a guest of my mate Julian Huxley… the guy is BUILT… not an ounce of fat all muscle… much like his brother only taller and bigger!

As for Ralepelle… the guy tries his best, gives it his all… but is nothing more than a tackling prop (and in many cases just as slow), he jogs along from ruck to maul, never tackles an opponent back (has the highest stats for assisted tackles), has average handling and rarely breaks the advantage line with ball-in hand due to his lack of speed.

Unfortunately for him… none of the above can be improved… ironically IMO Hanyani Shimange was a better hooker.

He simply offers zero impact off the bench Strauss does!

But of course you’re entitled to your opinion, as you are entitle to mine.

If you search the archives a few months back to the start of the year(or ask Transie ) , he came out and said he realised he has not worked hard enough in the off season and it took him a long time to get ready when the season proper started. He said at the time with a looming WC he decided to change for the better which included cutting his Christmas holiday short and saying no to a second helping of his Mum’s Xmas pudding. Instead he went back to Bloem and worked on his fitness.

Funny enough there is a similar article about Coenie, both players shined during the Super 15 in a much improved Cheetahs team.

Johnson played hooker from 2007-2009.Only went back to flank in CC 09′

He even was relegated to playing for the Griffons at some point in time.Only went back to looseforward because the was a huge injury crisis at Cheetahs at flank and lock that year.so Frans Uys was put at lock and Johnson got his chance in loosies and never looked back.

I agree about error and conditioning.That can be corrected in time, I remember for years Bog Joe had problems with his conditioning especially upper body wise-he eventually fixed it somewhat.

Johnson has all the other gifts, he is a natural.Rest he can work on with diet & conditioning along with more games/experience.

Comment was made with tongue firmly in cheek. He has been possibly the most improved rugga player in SA, cant think of anyone who has improved as much this season. Needs to watch his error rate and his conditioning though.

Naka already tried to ruin his career that way by converting him to a hooker a few years back…

When he put him back in loosies, have a look at how Johnson has played in last 2 years….

Leave Johnson at looseforward.

Thanks for the article Transie

Nice touch at end with the father bit…

Johnson is indeed then rugby royalty…..

Kudala babehamba babalandele ngoba babe ne-access kalula.

quota gravy train deluxe con job of note.

and he knows it

New-look Ashley ready for Oz
2011-07-20

J.J. Harmse

Sydney – Ashley Johnson admitted at his first media conference as a Test Springbok that it’s quite intimidating to prepare yourself for a match in the Cheetahs’ dressing room in Bloemfontein.

“There, next to your number and jersey, are the names of all the players who played in that jersey before you. In my last few games for the Cheetahs I have had to step into the shoes of guys like André Venter, Rassie Erasmus and Juan Smith. You can’t do anything else than lift your game,” says the 25-year-old loose forward as he looks you straight in the eye.

His eyes are clearly visible because scissors have been applied to his mop of hair.

“I just decided that it’s time for a haircut. It had nothing to do with being picked for the Boks. It was just time,” says Johnson.

He will be making his Test debut on Saturday after defeats in tour matches against the Leicester Tigers and Saracens on the 2009 end-of-season tour.

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers never lost faith in the skilful player.

“Ashley is a classic No 8 for me. He can get over the advantage line with his driving play and take you forward, and then he forms the ideal link between forwards and backs,” De Villiers explained the selection.

However, there have been a number of dark clouds since those bright moments at Welford Road (Leicester) and Wembley Stadium (London).

“I had to ask questions of myself because Coach Naka (Drotské) was completely right in his assessment that I was too inconsistent to start every Super Rugby match for the Cheetahs,” said Johnson.

“I had to go and work harder and that is why it’s a good feeling to be here now. Saturday will be a special day and it will require a special effort.

“Danie (Rossouw) and Deon (Stegmann) know Test rugby and I just have to fall in if we want to make the combination work. I have played some good rugby of late for the Cheetahs, but you really feel good upon returning to the change room and realising that it’s the standard when you see those names.”

Meanwhile, two members of the Springbok touring team of 1981, Flip van der Merwe and Gysie Pienaar, have sons in Saturday’s Test, with Flip (jr.) and Ruan playing lock and scrumhalf respectively.

Johnson, however, has every right to be equally proud of his father, Archie.

Archie Johnson was a top-notch tighthead prop for the SA Federation team (SA Proteas) and may have been a Springbok in a different era.

Johnson (Sr.) played for the Federation team from 1984 until 1990. He played against England in 1984 and against the South Sea Barbarians in 1988.

Rallapelle is better than Faingaa who could stand to lose a few kilos…Would take both Rallapelle & Strauss above Faingaa and day of the week & twice on a Sunday…Whats next Hanson the back up hooker for Reds in Oz set up??? or Sean Hardman will return??? no….more like “tyrannosaurus rex armed” Adam Freier…..

Talking about kak hookers,try the multiple Wallaby capped & starter “waterpolo champ” Tai McIsaaic

Any more articles on the above Im going f*cking lose it!!
Next pet articles are going to be on: Frans Louw,Sarel Pretorius,Duanne Vermuelen,Johan Sadie,Andy Turner, Nick koster, Gerhard Mostert etc

How about article on:

Dean Greyling
Werner Kruger
Ashley Johnson
Juan de Jongh
Lwazi Mvovo
etc

And their rise to the big time and how they feel at being Boks??

Oh no wait,they cant as Keo journo’s dont have easy access to Boks as they did before after string on BS articles about Div/Boks that led to tap to be closed….Cant write people into teams anymore neither…

Then it would be a competition between Du Plessis, Strauss, Liebenberg, Botha and Brits IF a third hooker goes. No chance of Brits jumping Du Plessis and Strauss, and he couldn’t even beat Liebenberg as the Stormers 1st choice hooker. Botha has experience and he also played overseas, so even there is a tough competition.

I have to slightly disagree with Venter’s statement. Brits is probably currently the best all-round rugby player in England, but not the best no2 in England.

He’s simply a victim of his own versatility.