228 Comments

• 1.Staal:
  20 Sep 2011, 10:23 am

  The Gio Dragon?.

• 2.willievz:
  20 Sep 2011, 10:28 am

  The X factor is a talent competition hosted by Simon Cowell.

  The Boks don’t need the X factor.

  The Boks need experience and cool heads.

• 3.Staal:
  20 Sep 2011, 10:28 am

  ek laakie dat butch so vir my loer hier oppie blog nie….

• 4.garth:
  20 Sep 2011, 10:40 am

  @willievz(willievz)-2: They need a bit of everything. A good mix.

• 5.Tartan:
  20 Sep 2011, 10:45 am

  Aplon is/was just as likely to have his head removed by a Samoan or Fijian as he is/was to do something special.

  The group stages are the time for workmanlike wins, and making sure the select is sharp and fit, not embarrassing sides you should be beating anyway.

  Aplon is getting his time in against Namibia and that is the best choice.

• 6.Gunther:
  20 Sep 2011, 10:54 am

  Ryan your foundation is streaky.

• 7.seamus:
  20 Sep 2011, 10:55 am

  The bench, in it’s current form, can win us this thing. Unbelievable pace, intensity and physicality get introduced from the 60th minute and no team, not even the Aussies or NZ, can match it.

  Aplon has not really produced in a Bok jersey. Both Lambie and Houggard offer more generally. Brian would need to be dropped from the 22 to accommodate Aplon on the bench, and that isn’t going to happen

• 8.Gunther:
  20 Sep 2011, 10:57 am

  if de villiers comes back to 12 and steyn goes back to 15 (which seems the way they will go sadly) then you can have

  lambie hougaard and aplon on the bench.

  that has more x factor than simon cowell’s onnerbroek.

• 9.stormersboy:
  20 Sep 2011, 10:58 am

  Didn’t we already have this headline?

  It’s like the advert for

  “The best driving CD in the world, EVER!”……..

  Volume 2.

• 10.Monty:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:01 am

  Always held the view since 2008 that the best way for the ABs to win RWC 2011 is for the Bok to retain PdV as coach of SA. we kiwis thanks the god of rugby that The SARFU has blessed the Bok with PdV.

• 11.Gunther:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:02 am

  @stormersboy(stormersboy)-9:

  jeez that’s sounds worse than a cd of extraball narrating deepak chopra’s biography.

• 12.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:02 am

  ryan, i know you say “only new zealand and australia can rival” our bench, but how is our incredible bench a “facet of play”?

  will await your reply.

• 13.>^..^< katman:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:03 am

  I thought Os was the X factor, and that he was staying at home. Is he back on board, and primed for wing or fullback?

• 14.klingon_x:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:05 am

  Brilliant idea. Another WP midget.

  http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/pub/mid//APBatch/20110917/20110917/4586413.jpg

• 15.Gunther:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:06 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-13:

  he has defected and set up a rival show called Bloemfontein’s Got Talent.

  The Orania Broadcasting Corporation has snapped it up.

• 16.>^..^< katman:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:07 am

  Ryan, in his black jumper with it’s little white logo on the chest, and his sannieboel hairdo… I was expecting another impromptu haka there for a moment.

• 17.Gunther:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:09 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-16:

  what’s the fine for a counterfeit hacker?

• 18.>^..^< katman:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:09 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-15: Watch all those posers who rumble their Harleys around Absa Stadium before Cheetahs kick-offs enter under the category “synchronised poepols”.

• 19.stormersboy:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:10 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-11: I think I just threw up a bit in my mouth….

• 20.Gunther:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:15 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-18:

  those guys are seriously talented. apparently they can play metallica’s entire catalogue using just the throttles on their harleys.

  not that anyone can tell the difference of course.

• 21.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:19 am

  @klingon_x(klingon_x)-14: that is a brilliant photograph

• 22.>^..^< katman:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:21 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-20: Perhaps, but I feel that sideshows like that will keep the spotlight off Bloemfonteins’ real talent – the 6-Cadac pancake ladies and the Reitz 4.

• 23.Gunther:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:23 am

  @stormersboy(stormersboy)-19:

  the purge?

  that’s chapter 3.

  

• 24.kapie:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:23 am

  “Gio Aplon is the one X factor player”

  Well, actually there are a couple of creative players on the park such as Hougaard and JP Pieterson.

  However you’re right in your assertion that Gio deserves to be on the field. He’s a real speedster and a very skillful player.

• 25.klingon_x:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:26 am

  @Transformation(Transformation)-21:

  The keo twat club still don’t understand why Ireland dominated their favorite little Aussies. They keep on bitching and whining about the Springboks poor RWC run-up but they are the bunch of clueless c*nts who wanted players of the type Geo Aplon in the team last year.

• 26.stormersboy:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:31 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-23: Binge and Purge.

  Co-incidently the titles of a double set Mettalica album.

• 27.Gunther:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:33 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-22:

  the Reitz 4?

  Are they that new motown band that specialises in Jackson Five covers?

• 28.Staal:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:39 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-27:

• 29.scrumfan:
  20 Sep 2011, 11:45 am

  I was quite impressed at Ireland’s tactic of holding the Aussies up in the tackle. Very clever.

• 30.capebull:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:00 pm

  We have X factors

  Bismark
  Alberts
  Hougie
  Beast
  ens….

• 31.shooter:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:04 pm

  PDV is X factor enough for us to win 2011 and 2015 WC’s

• 32.capebull:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:04 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-12: No one can match our bench,

  Ab’s are so so at lock with Wee Poo after January retired must be the slowest scrummy in WC

  Auz have brilliant 15 rest is so so, maybe not so good after Irish

• 33.Wezwp:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:05 pm

  aplon is better than f hougaard. only difference is he didnt get his chance

• 34.Wezwp:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:07 pm

  if peter is for transformation why didnt gio play in the fiji game.

• 35.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:07 pm

  where is our friend bryce_in_oz?

• 36.coma:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:09 pm

  Ryan has to favour midgets, he works for one.

  Just don’t play him against England, they like throwing them around!!!

• 37.RL:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:11 pm

  As a CapeSader Ryan must think that he died and went to heaven, surrounded by fellow All Black supporters wearing their all black kit, EVERYDAY.

• 38.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:11 pm

  Talking about X factor, I’ll tell you which team has X factor and who has crept in under the radar.

  France.

  Everyone has written off the French as inconsequential and Kiwis assume that this week les tricolores are lambs to the slaughter with their ABs.

  I say never underestimate les bleus’ ability to surprise. Pundits say “do France really want to top the pool?” as if no is the answer. France will peak next week against the AB’s and send a seismic shock of jitters that may send Kiwis and their team into an uncontrollable fit of choking never to recover.

  France want to win this game. The signs are there:

  - France Total underdogs
  - French disarray
  - Reports of dissatisfaction in Camp
  - underperforming first two games
  - ABs overwhelming favourites

  Watch out. Bulging eyes in the Haka will be replicated with bulging eyes in the majority Black clad crowd supporting their “infallible”, “incredible” AB’s only to see this edifice of superiority crumble in the face of French Revolution.

• 39.RL:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:13 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-35:

• 40.shooter:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:13 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-6: I only have a gprs modem so i don’t catch these episodes of brolloks and bittergal live…
  . but this Cute TV thing does not sound very riveting?

• 41.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:14 pm

  Its going to be France vs Boks and Kiwi vs Wales semis.

• 42.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:16 pm

  15 Pat Lambie,
  14 Gio Aplon,
  13 Jaque Fourie,
  12 Frans Steyn,
  11 Bryan Habana,
  10 Morné Steyn,
  9. Francois Hougaard,

  This backline, to play Namibia.
  is your strongest possible combo. IMHO.

  Hougaard………………………….youth, enthusiasm, talent and dynamite.
  Morne……………………..a points scoring machine.
  Franz…………………………he got a haircut, and he got a new job.
  Brian…………his contribution nowadays, is not given the merit it deserves.
  Jaquilane ……………An old head, you gotta have ONE.

  Gio and Patsy, they deserve a shot at the big time.

• 43.shooter:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:18 pm

  @Wezwp(Wezwp)-33: haha, funny, good one wez.

• 44.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:19 pm

  What’s new today! Vrede forgets all about form. Wants Pierre Spies dropped for not performing in a Springbok jersey, but says Aplon should be there. Then says Aplon is the only one with x-factor to try make it sound a tad convincing.

  Hard life being a Province supporter (I’m one myself but I prefer to keep both eyes open).

• 45.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:20 pm

  @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-38:

  French will loss.
  It will be a tactical loss,
  to get themselves on the other side of the Maginot Line.

• 46.greatest13gerber:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:21 pm

  Wee have the most powerful benchh of any side. This to me is going to be the key in the sudden death games.

  I havee a funny feeling about the Frogs and Chokers game. The Chokers will be nervouss as hell!!

  andd where did I read on this sitee about Ben Alexander being the Worldsmost underrated tightgheadd?????

• 47.kapie:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:21 pm

  @shooter(shooter)-31:
  LOL

• 48.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:22 pm

  @cane(cane)-42:

  Thanks cane. Hit the nail on the head with Bryan. He doesn’t get any credit because he’s not scoring tries. How can he when he’s not getting the ball? Seems Habana needs to do it all himself from the Boks goalline to justify his place in the team.

  As for Aplon having x-factor. 3 tries in 16 tests, with none of them coming against Southern Hemisphere opposition says different.

• 49.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:23 pm

  @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-41:

  What colour is the sky in your world HG?

  green and yellow!

• 50.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:28 pm

  @greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-46:

  I ain’t nervous Gerber.

  AB’s by 15.

  First we behead them.
  Then pluck them.
  Before we ……………..

  With the giblets in.
  They like it that way.

• 51.shooter:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:29 pm

  g13g ….van waar ge-hasie?

• 52.>^..^< katman:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:29 pm

  @cane(cane)-45: Speaking of the right side of the line, I have a feeling that a plucky Italy up against a spent Ireland is going to restore Pool C to its sensible order once more.

  Meaning we don’t have to throw the Samoa game

• 53.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:30 pm

  @cane(cane)-50:

  I heard from a reliable source on News24 that France will win by 8.

• 54.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:30 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-48:

  Stats don’t always tell the whole truth Hennie.

  Like Jonah………………………..no tries against SA.

• 55.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:30 pm

  The French tight 5 will put the AB’s well and truly in their place this weekend – collectively on their All Black backsides.

  Picamoles will be running at Carter all day until he snaps – mental and defensive frailty exposed forever.

  And let Sunny Bulldust play on the wing where Le Detonateur will explode the “Great” Boxer’s box office myth for all time.

  Dusautoir will show that McCaw has gone as soft and precious as a Truffle.

  Yup, the portents are there. France have a point to prove. La France sont dangereux.

• 56.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:31 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-52:

  Should never throw a game anyway. To lose a perfect record against Samoa would be an embarressment. I’d rather go out against Australia

• 57.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:32 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-53:

  I don’t mind if they do Hennie.

  Better now than later on.

  What side of the draw would YOU rather be on?

• 58.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:35 pm

  @cane(cane)-54:

  I know… but truth is Aplon hasn’t done ANYTHING in a Bok jersey. He looks flash in patches at Super 15 level, but has nothing to his game that pushes him ahead of Habana, Pietersen or even Hougaard. Vrede would like us to believe that he has x-factor, but Aplon only does the minor things that are expected from a back his size. Combine that with constant mistakes and he’s not a starting Springbok at this stage.

• 59.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:36 pm

  @cane(cane)-57:

  I don’t think a team should concern themselves with the draw. Rather take it game by game. If you’re going to lose a game at any stage you probably shouldn’t be considered a favourite to win it.

• 60.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:36 pm

  Oh, and let Warthog Weepu play against Yachvili. This little piggy is going to be led to the butchers market, eyes bulging and tongue out, only to be pork roasted by the Georgian French maestro.

  Its going to be ugly.

• 61.greatest13gerber:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:37 pm

  as longg as Chokerss dont get to the final, I will be happy!!

• 62.klingon_x:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:39 pm

  @coma(coma)-36:

  LOL He goes by the name of the Poison Dwarf.

  “A selfish, untrustworthy, deeply obnoxious or evil person of diminutive size, whose ostensibly unthreatening appearance allows them to fulfil their predisposition for causing unprovoked pain and suffering in an under-hand manner for anyone who has the misfortune to strike-up a friendship them.”

  http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Poison%20Dwarf

• 63.greatest13gerber:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:42 pm

  Hougardd
  Aplon
  Alberts
  Bismack

  off the benchh in the last 30mins be dvastructive

• 64.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:48 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-52:

  The Fear Factor is getting out of hand.

  -AB’s throw game against France to avoid playing SA/Oz in Semi.
  -SA throw game against Samoa.
  -France try to throw game against NZ, but fail to inform Ref of their intention. And win anyway, scoring with a movement that contains 4 forward passes.
  -Italy kick the shiit out of Ireland, because the Mafia have several billion Lira on the upset.
  -Jonny takes the Bookies money, and slots 7 from 7.

  This is indeed a great WC.

• 65.greatest13gerber:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:50 pm

  @cane(cane)-64:

  Not greatt if you aree Samoa or minnoww!..treatedd rightly unfairlyy by organisorss and refs!!!!

• 66.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:51 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-59:

  I agree Hennie.
  Try to win everything.

  I’m sure there is not ONE Coach who would dare do otherwise..

  Except France perhaps.
  They have a history of tactical retreats.

• 67.shooter:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:54 pm

  @cane(cane)-64: funny stuff… cane.!
  but the script still ends for the tragic hero J Smit to hold the cup.

• 68.greatest13gerber:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:54 pm

  Despite such greatt talent and abilityy…The frogss are notoriuss for being crazy and unpredictable

• 69.capebull:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:54 pm

  @Wezwp(Wezwp)-33: Are you seriaas ?

• 70.mshiniwami:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:56 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-58:

  Thats not entirely factual…He was brillaint in the Autumn Tests last year especially vs France. He played a solid game vs NZ in Soweto at 15.Was also one of the few players who came away from 3N away tour this year with some plaudits.

  He did however let himself down vs Oz in Dbn when he came on.And everyone is judging him on that one performance which is a tad unfair…Frans Hougaard has had a couple of howlers in his Bok career already namely vs italy in 09′ and midweek games.Lacked polish last year when he play at 9. but now when employed correctly off the bench he has added that X-factor to Bok armor.I believe the same can be done with Aplon.

• 71.capebull:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:56 pm

  Why do banks charge you for insuficient funds , if they know there’s insuficient funds ?

  Why does Tarzan have long hair and no beard ?

• 72.greatest13gerber:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:57 pm

  Francios Pienaarr
  John Smit

  Great captainss…But were neverr Best in theirr position or greatt playerss!!

  Uli is greatestt 2 by the wayy

• 73.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:58 pm

  @greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-65:

  ****.

  There are 5 Teams in each Pool.
  Meaning one Team will get the short end of the stick, in every pool, every round.

  The higher you are seeded, the less likely you will have to play 2 games a week.

  Seedlings favour the Higher Seeds in all Pro-sport, Golf, Tennis, Boxing, you name it.

  RWC is no different.

• 74.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 12:58 pm

  @greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-68: Yes, and thats why this weekend will be fun… If only to see the great post mortem, ref blamegame, and woe-is-me after the deed is done. We might be lucky enough to have sightings of legendary Soozie too.

  We might also be lucky to see a decent fight… I reckon Servat will teach Squeaky “Clean” Kevvie a few home truths.

• 75.WP Till I Die:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:02 pm

  I would love to see Poppa69′s response to this? This from a real Maori! (Not a first-generation Samoan-Kiwi like Nonu!)

  “Haka ‘hijacked by rugby’

  Auckland – A New Zealand Maori leader has backed controversial comments from South Africa coach Peter de Villiers that the haka is “overused”, saying the traditional war dance has been “hijacked by rugby people”.

  Peter Love, trustee of an organisation which administers Maori reserves, told Fairfax media that Maori culture was being “abused” and was especially unhappy with a wave of haka “flash mobs” surrounding the Rugby World Cup.

  “I’m concerned our (Maori) culture is being abused by the overuse and inappropriateness of the haka when it is performed outside special occasions,” Love told Fairfax, in comments reported on Tuesay.

  “The haka in our culture is something which is regarded as special and should not be bastardised by sport. Peter de Villiers is dead right when he says it is losing its respect.”

  Love, whose uncle is a former New Zealand Maori Rugby Board chairman, added that haka flash mobs, including more than a dozen in recent weeks with one in Barcelona and another at the Sydney Opera House, were misguided.

  “The haka is a challenge, not something which is performed as an expression of delight,” he said.

  “Who told those people they could do that? The haka is an orchestrated representation of our culture when it is used in an appropriate place, but it is being abused.”

  De Villiers courted controversy when he said the face-pulling, foot-stamping dance and chant performed before rugby games by New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa to intimidate opponents was becoming over-exposed.

  “For me, about the World Cup especially, there is too many haka around,” de Villiers told the Dominion Post newspaper. “It is unique, to me, and is losing its intensity, but that is only me.”

  “People are becoming so used to it. It is not a novelty any more and they don’t respect it.”

  De Villiers’ comments prompted an immediate response from the All Blacks, with centre Ma’a Nonu saying, “it’s part of our history, our tradition.

  “We’re proud of it. I don’t really care what he thinks,” Nonu said.”

• 76.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:03 pm

  @capebull(capebull)-71:

  Hey I got that one 4 days ago capebull.

  We must know people, who know people, who may quite possibly, know people we know?

• 77.greatest13gerber:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:03 pm

  @cane(cane)-73:

  yess, thankk you.

  still feel for Georgiaa and Samoaa in regardss to treatment by refs.

• 78.WP Till I Die:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:04 pm

  @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-74:

  Justice 4 Kevvie!

• 79.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:05 pm

  @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-75:

  I agree with Mr Love.

  Totaly.

• 80.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:05 pm

  @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-38:

  Agree with you Heavens. Already stated on the other thread i’m backing France to beat All Blacks, i gave a whole lot of reasons and just to sum it up quickly again:

  NZ’s scrum hasnt been performing, even put under pressure by Tonga.

  Carter hasnt been that great with goalkicking, and in this match he’ll go into a kicking dual against the two scrumhalfs France selected at 9 & 10.

  Thompson at 8 for NZ gives them an unbalanced backrow, if France’s captain and that big #8 step up they can take this facet if their tight 5 gains parity in the tightloose.

  Allain Rolland will be officiating this match, which is a late night kick-off.

  France will shake the AB’s again.

• 81.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:06 pm

  @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-78: Yes, Total Justice.

  Servat gonna have Mealamu a la carte…

• 82.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:07 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-70:

  Fair enough I just don’t think Aplon has ever been accurate enough in anything he does. Lots of flair but we don’t need that, we need precision. More a sevens player or back-up winger then anything.

  Next year also I don’t see much room for him unless Habana has a meltdown.

  14 backs at this World Cup. That cuts to 12 in a regular 26-man squad.

  Out goes: Fourie du Preez, Butch James, Odwa Ndungane & Gio Aplon
  In comes: Johan Goosen, Johann Sadie

  Only changes I’d like to see them make

• 83.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:07 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-80:

  You forgot to mention that France has looked like **** thus far.

  If I was in your presence.
  And if you had a spare 500 rand.
  Woiuld you be so bold?

• 84.BillTong:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:08 pm

  Probably not the right thread, but couldn’t resist. Early contender for “Post of the RWC 2011″. From “Pot Hale” on the aussie site “The Roar”.

  Classic – thought I’d share it!

  I was just thinking about all the conspiracy theories of who might throw a match in order to get into a perceived favourable path to the final.

  First up is NZ/Fra.

  Might Henry throw the match to get into a quarter playing England and a semi against Wales or Ireland?
  Crazy Marc might have other ideas though and ensure he stays in second spot to grill the Rosbifs and trounce Ireland once more in the semis. He puts Yachvilli and Parra in the front row just to see what happens.

  Meanwhile, along comes P Divvy and his troops against Samoa. Maybe he should come second and get to play Ireland in the quarters, and then play Eng in the semis (if they haven’t been beaten by NZ or France who are now thinking of throwing the game against Tonga to get their second place back.)

  Meanwhile Kidney is slowly plotting as it comes down to the final pool match against Italy. He’s been up all might trying to work out the permutations, and whether he should cross over or stay onside because Eng are now on the other side having beaten France who decided to beat Tonga after all. He’s still trying to work it out when Semezato scores in the corner to win the game and Italy go through since Ireland forfeited the match against Russia cos they forgot to turn up as they were too busy working out whether they should get a bonus point or not.

  Meanwhile, when no one’s looking, Dingo Deans sneaks into the trophy room and nicks Bill – Julia Gillard awards him Convict for Life status as Sydney goes into meltdown. Quade Cooper retires from the game and says he’s moving to New Zealand where he’d be appreciated.

• 85.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:08 pm

  @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-75:

  There you go! But when an Afrikaner says it he is from a long line of murderers and rapists. I’m still waiting for an apology from that piece of s**t.

• 86.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:09 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-80: Rolland is going to be a huge factor. Suarez McCaw is not going to have free reign to rewrite the laws.

  I reckon France will target and pressurise 8, 9, 10 big time.

  It will be fun.

• 87.capebull:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:09 pm

  @cane(cane)-76: True,

  Has anyone noticed how much longer the NH refs let the guys fight for the ball at ruck time ?

  SH will almost blow imediatly for holding on ?

  NH refs let guys dive in of their feet no problem, our cc refs will get heart attack

• 88.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:11 pm

  @greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-77:

  Hey, at least ALL their players get to experience and cheerish the RWC.

• 89.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:14 pm

  @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-75: Ooooooh now this one is going to p*ss of Black Panty

  he’s already told Chch that he is NOT a real kiwi hehehe

• 90.mshiniwami:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:15 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-82:

  Johan Goosen has played all of 3 matches in a diluted CC….The hype is premature in my view.Good looking young player but lets not get ahead of ourselves…Sias Eberson had a few decent games in S15 this year and many were calling for him to be a Bok,now he is on bench behind Goosen.Lets be practical.Sadie is looking very good as well.But we shall see,he likely has to usurp de Jongh which is unlikely. Gio also has 2 years now of Test experience,also Mvovo is a another promising prospect with Bok colours already. Elton Jantjies is playing very good rugby for table topping Lions and has Bok colours already as well.

  Plenty of other options.

• 91.WP Till I Die:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:16 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-89:

  Save the post! Would love to hear their take on it?

• 92.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:16 pm

  @BillTong(BillTong)-84:

  ANYBODY WHO MISSED THAT:

  GO BACK NOW.

  NO ………..NOW.

• 93.mshiniwami:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:17 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-82:

  Lionel Mapoe was also playing brilliant rugby at 13 for Lions and also very capable on the wing-09′ was very much in the same position as Sadie is in now. getting back to his best.

• 94.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:18 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-90:

  Goosen is going to be the best flyhalf in the world. I never personally called for Ebersohn to be a Springbok – he’s not physical enough runner and his defense is poor. But Goosen to me looks just brilliant. A bit premature? Yes. But it won’t be after a brilliant S15 from him.

  Sadie, depending on who the coach is probably, could walk into the squad. Especially now that he is playing for the Bulls.

  End of the day S15 performances will matter, but I can see these two being 2 of the very best.

• 95.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:19 pm

  @cane(cane)-83:

  Remember last Friday Cane? I gave you a few reasons why i said Ireland would beat the Aussies, you answer was: I just won’t happen.

  Both teams aren’t at their best yet which means there’s no clear favourite. People are picking NZ to win based on reputation, rankings and past experiences.

  Funnily enough past RWC experiences should be an indicator that this won’t be easy for you guys.

  Like @Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-86: pointed out, you won’t get quick ball from the rucks with Rolland handling the game as NH refs allow a certain degree of spoiling at the breakdown.

  Also, with the game at night you quick but risky passing will be much harder to execute in sticky conditions just like it happened in Brisbane. Add to that the pressure factor, grudge match scenario, McCaw playing on and off and the focus on his 100th match – France might just sneak it if you don’t dominate them upfront. If there’s parity there your backs won’t have a free run i’m afraid.

• 96.willievz:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:19 pm

  Play Aplon at 15 and we will lose the kicking battle.

• 97.mshiniwami:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:23 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-94:

  Do you remember Gaffie du Toit for Griquas in 98′???

  -If you ever saw him play that year you would have also proclaimed him to be the best 10 in the world in yrs to come…But we all know where that ended.

  The hype around Sadie & Goosen is a fair bit much for me.Good young players,but I dont want to see another Aaron Cruden type capitulation. Let them develop before open-ended proclaimations.

• 98.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:24 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-89:

  chch is a Cantabrian.

  A real Kiwi yes,
  but a biased one nonetheless.
  The red and blacks cannot help themselves.

• 99.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:25 pm

  @willievz(willievz)-96:

  Yip, Aplon is now fighting for a backup wing spot against Ndungane. They’ll only be needed if either JP or Habana breaks down.

• 100.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:25 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-95: One hundred percent right!

• 101.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:26 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-95:

  I do WP.
  I do.

  And I am humbled to be in your presence.

  8)

  (you got lucky WTF)

  8)

• 102.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:29 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-95:

  P.S.

  I wondered how long it would take for you to turn up ……………..
  to tell me…………..

  “I told you SO”.

  8)

• 103.vlam:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:31 pm

  Aplon is ka k! Should not even be at the world cup. If some springboks are shot down by bloggers for only being good enough for super rugby and for not using their bok chances, Aplon should get the same treatment. What has he done in a bok jersey? A win against Italy and a placid france at newlands? People love him because he is always the “underdog” because of his size. But why risk on defence when you have wingers who can do what he does and are able to kick and defend. You can say he has heart, but is it effective? Not. And for all his “attacking worth” he doesn’t really score tries at the moment now does he? But apart from al my personal worries over him, his fullback positional play is not up to scratch at all. Just another wp bok, popular choice but with no substance.

• 104.WP Till I Die:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:32 pm

  @cane(cane)-101:

  Good on you, mate.

  By the way, I’m glad to see you’ve managed to not do as you promised to do a few years back – i.e., Wayne Barnes is still running around on rugby fields fully intact.

  

• 105.RL:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:32 pm

  @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-75: what does a Pakeha like Nonu know about the haka.

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-94: I was watching highlights of that FS match … Goosen is a freak of a talent, those SBW offloads and kicking those 60m penalties … wow.

  I must admit, if Elton wasn’t around I would be calling for Goosen to be the next Bok 10.

• 106.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:32 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-97:

  Fair enough. I don’t think Johan Goosen has the confidence issue that Gaffie did though. Gaffie was good because he was probably the quickest flyhalf to ever play the game and could kick pretty far, but what went on his head we’ll never know.

  Grey College ex-pupils just seem to get the job done at an early age with no confidence issues. Wouldn’t mind bringing him in as an understudy. “He’s a 1st overall pick”. Make sure he knows exactly what is expected of him and then let him fly.

• 107.willievz:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:35 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-99:

  I don’t have a problem with him on the wing, but I agree he is behind Ndungane in selection – the latter illustrated an industrious workrate against Fiji.

  Aplon is not the best option for the Boks at 15, even though he is IMO a better fullback than Lambie.

• 108.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:36 pm

  @RL(RL)-105:

  Lions supporter? Must be

  Elton not mentally strong enough for my liking. He’d be an ideal candidate to go play for the Bulls. They would teach him to think like Morne.

  At this stage I’d make him my #3 flyhalf behind Morne (#1) and Goosen. But you definitely don’t go in with two youngsters at 10. Morne is still our best option. He can run a bit, he just needs a game-plan that lets him.

• 109.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:37 pm

  @cane(cane)-102:

  LOL, to be fair I also called that Samoa would beat Wales, than Samoa played the opposite game of what I was expecting opting for an arm wrestle where they would’ve had a much better chance at making it a free for all.

  All the signs were there that Aus were rip for an upset, their tempremant got tested and they came up short whereas the Boks prevailed vs Wales.

  Have the AB’s learned from the 07 debacle or will that burden be too heavy to carry? We’ll know soon enough.

• 110.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:37 pm

  @RL(RL)-105: I hope the next bok coach understands that he must place Lambie at 15 and allow Elton, and Goosen to compete for 10. This could be a very exciting Bok backline.

• 111.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:38 pm

  @willievz(willievz)-107:

  Odwa did an good job against Fiji, but also showed a few reasons why he shouldn’t be facing the All Blacks or Australia. That one kick he was far too slow getting back and very nearly turned over possession close to our own goalline. Doesn’t have much confidence kicking the ball etc. I’d select Aplon over him any day, but Odwa a lot better player then many give him credit for.

• 112.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:39 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-108: The problem with the Bulls, they’ll not only harden him but revolutionize his game, and that’ll be the end of Jantjies.

• 113.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:39 pm

  @willievz(willievz)-107:

  Yes in Super Rugby Aplon is more dangerous as there is a bit more space but in Tests Lambie is ahead, add to that he can do an ambulance job at 10 and as last resort centre.

• 114.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:41 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-109: You won’t go wrong betting on the blackness! They will be primed to exact a past wrong.

• 115.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:42 pm

  @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-104:

  Actually,
  Barnsie got a bit of a raw deal, over the PENALTY that wasn’t, in the Wales/SA game.

  He should still rot in Hades.
  but perhaps,
  not as close to the fire as Bakkies and Butch.

• 116.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:42 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-111:

  Enjoyed how Odwa took down that rampaging prop when he came straight at him down the touchline. That’s Odwa in a nutshell.

• 117.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:44 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-112:

  Not much room for him there anymore either, but I think he needs to be playing a more co-ordinated game. Mitchell trying to let him play like Spencer, and that’s not going to work in the long run. They’re going to get thrashed again at S15 level again also. Then Mitchell will walk away blaming everybody else. I can see it now!

  *He’ll have a point. At least in the forwards he’s made a good job of putting average players together to do a good job. No Springboks want to play for the Lions these days.

• 118.RL:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:45 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-110: I hope that the next Bok coach understands that Taute is the best 15 by a mile, I also hope that the next Bok coach keeps Lambie on the bench as the utility player. :grin.

• 119.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:45 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-114:

  Only a few seasons back a ‘no-name’ French team went to NZ and beat them in your first test of the year. Their tackling was ferocious, they rushed you in defence and the winning try came from an intercept after they had you forcing passes out wide.

  Sounds so familiar doesn’t it?

  But if your pack somehow rises to the occassion and dominate the French upfront, then you’ll be in the pound seat.

• 120.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:51 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-109:

  Quade Cooper cost the Wallabies against the Bog-Leapers.
  Both on attack and defence.

  But, so what.
  that is Quade.
  This Wallabies Team is something special I think.

  They are the Youngest Team in this Tournament.
  And Ironically, Ireland the Oldest.

• 121.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:55 pm

  @cane(cane)-120:

  May have lost to Ireland, but they are going to be even more difficult to beat at the the next World Cup considering most of their players are around 23 years of age.

  Australia with depth? That’s something I’m scared of.

• 122.Steel Shark:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:55 pm

  De Jongh is as much a game breaker as Gio IMO.

  Love Gio as a player one of the most exciting players we have produced in years and the little guy has the heart of a lion, but IMO he simply isn’t big enough for test rugby. I’m not a guy who subscribes to every player should be the size of Danie Russouw but yeah even I recognize it.

• 123.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:58 pm

  @cane(cane)-120:

  They’re a special team when they’re fresh but two instrumental players in QC and Genia has seen too much rugby the last 12 months.

  Add to that Samo who’s a good player but not suited to this physically demanding matches, he gets exposed in a similiar fashion to Spies when his pack is on the backfoot.

  Moore and Pocock will lend bite to their pack but i think by the team they reach the QF their forwards as a collective won’t be able to contain a rampaging Bok unit.

  The AB’s can at least be comforted should they lose by the fact that it makes their draw easier, and the pressure will be on the coaches who’ll stop fiddling around and settle on a team. Then the real AB’s will be seen.

• 124.RL:
  20 Sep 2011, 13:59 pm

  @cane(cane)-120: the chokers have a team older than the Boks, but kiwis and their convict brethren have the balls to bait the Boks by calling them old.

• 125.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:01 pm

  @Steel Shark(Steel Shark)-122:

  Spot on. Gio gets tossed around. He doesn’t play beyond his size.

  de Jongh on the other hand is just as likely to make a line-break. And he plays like he’s the size of Danie Rossouw.

  First they need to decide who the reserve tighthead is. I believe CJ should be on the bench, but I’d go for a 5-2 split.

  If it were a 4-3 split they need to leave one of CJ or Beast out.

  That would mean cutting one of Butch James, Jean de Villiers/Pat Lambie (depends who starts) or Juan de Jongh. I’d say leave Butch out.

• 126.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:02 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-121:

  Don’t they remind you of the Boks in 2007? The difference is we had a settled captain who had a big influence on the team, some old calm heads and a deadly goal kicker.

  Aus keeps changing their kicker and neither one of O’Conner, Cooper or Beale can be seen as reliable enough to win them a match in a goalkicking dual when the pressure is applied in a tournament like this.

• 127.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:06 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-126:

  I’m sure over the space of 4 years they’ll settle on a kicker (presumably O’Connor). Then if they can sort out their front-row, nr. 8 and inside-centre position, they’d be very near unstoppable.

• 128.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:09 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-117: A bit unfair, I think that Jantjies plays a more measured game then Spencer, Quade Cooper is more Spencer-esque. Jantjies game is more well rounded, and makes good decisions. I think the Lions playing together through the Currie Cup will have a positive effect for the next super series, I’m not saying they’ll win but they won’t be scraping the bottom of the heap.

• 129.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:10 pm

  @RL(RL)-118: I like Taute, he brings variation to back play. Lambie can also be fitted at 12 if need be.

• 130.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:12 pm

  @cane(cane)-83: Um, yes. Definitely

• 131.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:13 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-127:

  That would make them dangerous as they’d still be able to get points when conditions don’t allow for too much running.

  All three of them are good kickers but one should be seen as the #1 kicker whether he has an off week, right now they’re giving O’Conner a go but as soon as he has a bad game with the boot they’ll give Beale or Cooper a go next time.

  But O’Conner did take over the kicking when he came on vs Italy so if they can persist with him whether Beale or Cooper kicks 10/10 this weekend (O’Conner is out injured) then they’ll reap the rewards later.

• 132.willievz:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:13 pm

  Quick question: How do we define a “game breaker”.

  Is is necessarily someone who takes more risks and can speed the game up, or can it also be someone who can close the game down by means of intelligent decisions?

• 133.>^..^< katman:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:13 pm

  @BillTong(BillTong)-84: Fck me, that’s funny.

  Even funnier is the top article on the Cape Time back page this morning. It tries, quite seriously, to summarise the pool standings and explain some possible permutations, and ends up sounding even more confused than this post.

  If you want to qualify second from any pool here by throwing games, you’d better have your maths cap on. Because keeping track of who needs bonus point tries and who needs to lose by less than seven will make on-field Duckworth Lewis (without the handy table) look like nursery rhymes.

  And let’s face it, our sports stars very seldom get calls from MENSA. I mean, remember Herschelle forgetting how to honour his crooked word to the bookies?

• 134.David:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:14 pm

  @Steel Shark(Steel Shark)-122:
  According to a report in the Star, Hougaard is the smallest player in the squad, not Aplon. Everyone who feels that he’s a better option tend to ignore that fact. If size was the criteria then Hougie shouldn’t really be a serious option, either.

• 135.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:15 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-119: Lets not forget that the ABs that year had a lot of players missing. I think Mils was captain, Liam Messam was at blindside, and Tanerau Latimer was the openside flanker, Isaac Ross at lock, and Rodney So’aolo was at the back and then moved to openside in the trinations. Donald was also fooling around at 10. It was all too much to bare, terrible period for AB rugby.

• 136.David:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:18 pm

  @willievz(willievz)-132:
  I think it’s generally someone who with a moment of brilliance regularly breaks down a solid defence.

• 137.TheAgent:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:18 pm

  I like Aplon, but Hougaard is playing the X-factor role.

• 138.stormersboy:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:21 pm

  @David(David)-134: I’d be amazed if Aplon is bigger than Fransie, even with his mullet taken into consideration. Fransie is close to 1.8m tall and at least 90 kg’s. Actually not that small for a scrummie.

  Aplon is quite a bit smaller than that,

• 139.RL:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:21 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-129: yes Lambie can sit on the bench together with Hougaard and the 2 of them can cover all of the positions from 9-15, allowing a 5-2 bench split.

• 140.Tartan:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:22 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-127:

  Wallabies front row (and consequently scrum) is going to be a problem for them until they stop playing props out of their favoured positions.

  And, having been over there a number of times over the years and seen first-hand how they coach the scrum through youth levels, I doubt we will see anyone with great front row technique come out of Australia for a while anyway. Too many uncontested scrums because coaches can’t or won’t teach the basics.

• 141.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:23 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-128:

  They’ll be lucky to win 3 games. This CC is nothing on what they’ll face in the Super 15. Just not enough quality in that side.

• 142.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:25 pm

  @Tartan(Tartan)-140:

  Don’t be surprised if a South African prop ends up playing for them. Jake White said he’s surprised there’s not more Saffas playing in Australia, and he’ll probably try bring some over for the Brumbies. Might be the prop from Maties 3rd-team.

• 143.RL:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:29 pm

  @Tartan(Tartan)-140: the Boks will go into the QF against the convicts with 3 faties on the bench … if it is wet and cold expect the yellow bellies to be moered up front … relegating their show pony backs to match observers.

• 144.David:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:30 pm

  @stormersboy(stormersboy)-138:
  You’re right. Just checked. 1.79m v 1.75 and 75kg v 90kg. Wonder where the Star got their figures?

• 145.cane:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:30 pm

  @RL(RL)-124:

  True RL,
  we have balls.

• 146.hendrikp:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:30 pm

  @RL(RL)-143:

  In Wellington, it’s not always wet, but it’s always cold.

• 147.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:30 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-135:
  Ye that wasn’t the greatest AB team of all time and that wasn’t a first choice French team either.

  But i really feel you guys are still vulnerable when the heat is on and a team doesn’t step back in the front battle.

  And when you can’t rely on quick ruck ball you’re pivot won’t have that extra bit of time and space to break down defences with his tricks and good decision making.

  Both teams will secure their line-out ball but man if they can get on top of you in the scrums which i suspect will happen, we’ll have an Ireland vs Aus part 2.

• 148.mshiniwami:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:31 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-106:

  How many Grey College ex pupils have played 10 for the Boks in the pro era?One as Far as I know: Frans Steyn & he was abysmal as a 10,none more illustrated that his performance for Babaas vs OZ..in 2007. Sias Eberson is also a Grey College ex 10 who has his fair bit of confidence issues as well as deficiencies in his game. And there are more “1st overall picks” that BOMB than make it-keep that in mind. Dont want to get that section of American culture of over hyping young prodigous talent before its good/mature enough to handle big leagues.

  So its not a “School character trait”,its a individual thing when it comes to confidence etc. Goosen looks promising but again easy with the hyperboles.

• 149.RL:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:33 pm

  @David(David)-134: Hougaard is bigger than both Aplon and Lambie who are both pygmies.

• 150.Gunther:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:39 pm

  @David(David)-144:

  do you?

  

• 151.Guns:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:39 pm

  @David(David)-134:

  David dont believe what they press says that is ****. Hougaard is allop thicker more muscular than Aplon. Aplon is around 78kgs were as Hougaard has been recoded as 86-90kgs and he plays like a possessed deamon. Hougaard is like a pit bull terrier, he will overpower most players his weight or slightly heavier/taller.

• 152.Guns:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:40 pm

  allot* demon*

• 153.Tartan:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:43 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-147:

  Effectively having two no9s on the pitch at the same time for France points to them possibly looking to kick. I expect them to front up and make it very scrappy.

  @RL(RL)-143:

  Also with Aus moving Cooper to fullback in first phase defence, should the Boks decide to kick at that point, there’s no worry about Beale running it back, and Cooper looked pretty uncomfortable when pressured under the high ball against Ireland.

• 154.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:44 pm

  @hendrikp(hendrikp)-141: Hard to speculate now but I think they’ll be more articulate on both defense and attack, the big issue with the Lions has been their inability to focus for 80 mins.

• 155.Helen:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:49 pm

  Bissy is not a better hokker than John Smit. Throw-ins, scrumming and captaincy are things we can not compromise on. John Smit should play a full 80 mins.
  Agree, Bissy is a great player and makes a huge impact off the bench, but if he’s allowed to play a slightly looser game at blind side flank, he’ll get even more involved in the game and we maximise his defense, , running, cleaning and stealing abilities. I’d like to see him replace Burger or Spies after 40 mins.

• 156.RugbyCraze:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:49 pm

  I am so glad that one of the most brilliant rugby players will get a chance to shine in this world cup! Since his university days, Gio constantly surprises even the most cynical doubters! Look at the two tries against France, especially the first one where he simply bounced off a 100kg + centre from France on his way to the tryline! I think there are a place for players like him, Brent Russel, Christian Cullen etc…

• 157.Guns:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:51 pm

  If Boks are going to beat Auz they need to completely man handle them from start to finish, simple. Brussow should be fitter and better come quarters as should bakkies and F Steyn more settled at 12 if hopefully left there. The question is, will Pocock and Moor be 100% or are they seriously injured, if so they may be slightly off the pace come Quarters. Quade & Guniea may also start feeling effects of too much game time unless rested before.

• 158.Mike H:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:52 pm

  Ryan you really have become someone that reads the post popular comments on here and then states them as your opinion.

  AT least Keo aint as much of a populist.

• 159.Helen:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:53 pm

  Ryan, should consider that the X factor (whatever that is), does not apply to world cups.
  We didn’t win in ’95 or ’07 with X factor players and guys like Lomu and Skinstad were made to look average when it counted.

  Instead, it is honest, hard working and solid players who collectively make the difference when it counts

• 160.Guns:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:53 pm

  Guthro is another who can make a big difference if he continues to up his game, he is a very large force when operating at full capacity!

• 161.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 14:58 pm

  Frans Steyn at 12 – X factor
  Donkey – Definitely not

• 162.Bouts:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:15 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-155: Helen, I’ll give captaincy and lineout-throw to John as you said, but there is no way you can seriously think John is a better scrummager!!!?

  Not that I think Bismarck is the best scrumming-no2 in the country, but he is leagues ahead of John in that regard.

• 163.Guns:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:19 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-155:

  I think the point there Helen was to be able to have Beast,Bismark in addition with 2 flanks all playing like loose forwards.

  Why have 2 strong loosies when you can have 3 or 4 ? Provided they cover the front row sufficiently.

  I must say its a juicy prospect – Bismark at 7 but I dont think now is the time to test it.

• 164.Bouts:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:19 pm

  Ryan, I agree about Aplon, but who do you leave out?

  After the first 2 games, it is obvious Hougaard and Sarel Pretorius should have been our two no9s for this World Cup, but the deck is set, so we’ll just have to live with what we have. Du Preez, like Habana, can’t seem to find form and Ruan we won’t even discuss.

• 165.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:21 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-155: When did you change your mind on John Smit?

• 166.RL:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:25 pm

  @Tartan(Tartan)-153: indeed, Ireland played “boring” Bok rugby and got moered, Boks play it better than Ireland.

• 167.stormersboy:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:27 pm

  @Bouts(Bouts)-162: I think you’ll fimd that John is widely considered to be a far better scrummager than Bismark.

  In fact, he’s possibly one of the best scrumming 2′s around.

  Bismark is better in the loose and at turning over ball for sure, but then they are quite different in their style of play and ancilliary roles when they are on the field.

• 168.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:28 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-155: what happens in the minutes betweeen lineouts and scrums where john is blowing hard and basically just walking from ruck to ruck? we can’t afford passengers like him for 80min.

• 169.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:29 pm

  @Mike H(Mike H)-158: like you read everything jake says and make it your opinion?

• 170.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:50 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-168: You give Helen one thing, she does come up with pearlers. Now she wants the no.1 hooker in the world to play flank off the bench!

• 171.ashampoopaloo:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:52 pm

  Some absolute Jake the Fake arsewipes here but better not let their sour judgment of current proceedings spoil the real evolution this team has undergone the past 4 years.. they still going on like its Jakes team when it is ANYTHING BUT..!!

  In fact Smit, CJ, Botha, Matfield, Roussouw, Burger, De Villiers were all at Staaldraad with Keohane long before White was even considered…

  Chiliboy, Spies, FdP, Habana, Fourie, JPP, F. Steyn, Pienaar were added by White though they all came through junior rugby ranks and were natural selections having represented junior Boks before..

  PdV has added Steenkamp, Beast, (Greyling, Kruger, Vd Merwe, Mostert, Hargreaves), Alberts, Brussow, Louw, Hougaard, M. Steyn, Aplon, Lambie, Ndungane, (Basson, Kirchner) etc.. etc..

  and what you see is the culmination of Bok rugby having been projected and evolved through the rugby system…just like it has always been and always will be.. just as C. DuP developed a team for Mallet to prosper with and C. Dup was never given the lattitiude to enjoy the success he deserved with them..

  As regards Smit vs Du Plessis.. no debate.. Bismark still owns the No. 2 position hands down.. ONLY place Smit has any credibility in starting is for the level headed leadership that everyone is supposedly so dependent on

• 172.ashampoopaloo:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:55 pm

  Bismark to flank is the most stupid thought process ever, as if we have a dearth of good loose forwards…

  They looking to hide the inadequacy of Smit by playing Bismark to ride shotgun and mop up all the deficiency that Smit leaves behind..

  Totally thick suggestion.. obviously made by someone who has never played nor has much of a clue as to what rugby actually demands from a committed player perspective..

• 173.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:56 pm

  @ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-171: jaque fourie was picked by straeuli, not so?

• 174.Great White Shark:
  20 Sep 2011, 15:57 pm

  @ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-172:

  De Villiers?

• 175.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:23 pm

  Out in NZ, Aus, Eng and even here at home the media still doesn’t believe this Bok side has the quality to successfully defend their title. I

  It all feels like last time around, even after we beat Eng 36-0, they still weren’t touting us as potential champions.

  Even when we came up against Argentina in the SF, people were backing them to upset us, a team who has never beaten us in their entire rugby history.

  Now they’re telling us the Toddler Wallabies will see us off with ease in the QF after they got manhandled by a very mature Irish side who similiarly to the Boks have for the 1st time since 2009 their best teams available, in that same year these two teams were the best around in their respective hemispheres.

  Aussies will get punished, when will the rugby world realise this Bok team means serious business and that mantle of defending champions might just be the difference between them and the rest of the contenders.

• 176.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:28 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-147: You are getting excited and running away with it. Let’s wait until they play, however, I can assure you they’ll be no happy frogs that day my friend!

• 177.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:33 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-176:

  Maybe not, unlike the Aussies the French have no fear of facing NZ on their home soil.

  Maybe NZ will come out all fired up, smashing the French pack, sending out ball wide to Kahui who’ll chip and regather and offload to Nonu. All will be well then.

  But if not, and you get tackled hard with the ball spilling lose, France pushing you hard in the scrums and kicking their penalties from it, it will be a long day for the AB’s.

• 178.rabooby:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:36 pm

  Why is FDP not playing, thought he needed game time ? or have the realised that he may not be his former self and will be giving hougart some time at 9 so that he can take over when we play Aus.

• 179.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:37 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-177: The ABs will play a structured game, they’ll play in the right areas of the field certainly in the opening stanza to leave no question out there as to who has dominance. The kicking game will be utilized in variation especially if the frogs decide to press align on AB set piece ball. This game will be no picnic, the ABs will be preparing for the knockout stages, it’ll be brutal, accurate, and final.

• 180.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:42 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-175: they look at PdV and think “there’s NO way they can win it with that clown at the helm”

• 181.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:44 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-179:

  If the AB’s play that sort of game from the start then I agree they’ll take it. That second half against Aus last time out was the blueprint for how they can win the tournament, the oppurtunity to go wide will present itself if they can play a pressure game and not throw the ball around before they’ve gained territorial and physical dominance.

  If I see the AB’s play like that I’ll start getting really nervous.

• 182.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:47 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-180: The Boks were contenders from day 1, I have mentioned this many times on this blog. However, cannot understand why the boks would not want to drop the Samoa game go the easy route to the final.

• 183.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:50 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-179: no the ABs will want to RAZZLE DAZZLE france like they did the last time the side met in Marseilles and the walloped the frogs by 5 tries. the game was the “tipping point” in the evolution current free flow AB game plan!

• 184.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:51 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-180:

  It’s only that controversial Chris Rattue who’s vaguely mentioned that PDV might be a genius in disguise and that’s he’s not so silly as he’s been made out to be.

  I don’t think Div is a genius of a coach though and none of the current lot are even Henry because he has so much talent at his disposal any good and experienced coach would have that record.

  There hasn’t been plenty of them in the history of the game actually. Clive Woodward has something like 8 years to build a RWC winning team? John Mitchel’s side was brilliant but he lost it when it mattered most, similiar to Nick Mallet.

  Who has been a genuis of a rugby coach really???

• 185.Linga Linga Paradise Lodge Mozambique:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:52 pm

  France have selected their B team for the All Blacks match in order to arrange a better chance to the play-offs…

  http://www.ruggaworld.com/2011/09/20/frogs-do-some-horsetrading/

• 186.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:53 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-182:

  The Boks won’t drop that match even if it meant playing Ivory Coast in the QF.

• 187.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:53 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-181: The ABs will earn the right to go wide, the forwards will get heavily involved in this game, remember there’s Dusautoir looking to pilfer and they won’t want him roaming around freely, therefore, there’s then a requirement to go through numerous channels up the field through the forwards, variation will be key though they need to move contact points and get the french pack defending across the park en masse, Jerome Kaino will be key.

• 188.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:55 pm

  @Linga Linga Paradise Lodge Mozambique(UKBokSupporter)-185:

  What B Team?

  The team I saw this morning was looking good with all their first choicers selected. They relugated their usual 10 to the bench and will be playing a scrumhalf there with an eye on a kicking battle.

• 189.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:57 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-183: The ABs have frequently mentioned since 2010 that they have to play complete rugby at the WC to have a lasting effect. They won’t leave anything to chance against the french, it won’t be a boring game purely because the ABs are incapable of boring but it will be very structured. Make no mistake, they will go wide no question but the circumstance has to be right.

• 190.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 16:58 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-187:

  If they do that then they will lay down a big marker for this WC, let’s hope for your sake that’s what the coaches have in mind.

• 191.Tartan:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:00 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-184:

  Considering Woodward’s other “achievements” before and since that RWC, there’s a school of thought that says his real talent was in picking a good no2 and being a great motivator.

  You don’t need to be a genius anyway, rugby is a very simple game at the end of the day.
  Kick away bad ball, keep your opponent on the back foot, take the points on offer and go wide and through gaps when the chances come.

• 192.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:01 pm

  @rabooby(rabooby)-178: i suspect FdP’s shoulder is not fully healed from surgery. in 2009 when he was sublime he was taking injections before game to kill the pain. now he is shying away from contact.

• 193.Tartan:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:05 pm

  @Linga Linga Paradise Lodge Mozambique(UKBokSupporter)-185:

  Considering their entire front row is carrying injuries (and Mas is out until the quarter finals at least), the only position in the forwards where fitness hasn’t really been considered was at no8 – but Picamoles has been playing well enough.

  The rest of the team is strong. Traille at no15 is possibly questionable, but everything else is solid. Anyone who takes issue with a no9 at no10 just doesn’t know much about French rugby.

• 194.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:06 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-189:

  The problem is they’ve mentioned it but have only sporadically produced it. You could argue they haven’t had to rely on it to win too many games since last year.

  That’s why my only worry for you guys is will your team be able to execute that sort of game all of a sudden in a match of this calibre?

  Maybe they can since it’s a much more simplified than say the Boks trying to run at the Aus in our potential QF.

  The trick is you have to be dead accurate or else you’ll be open to counter attacks like the Boks were in 2010 when our kicking was slighty off.

• 195.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:07 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-184: Henry, Smith, and Hansen are the real deal together, especially if you add Mike Cron to that, you probably have the three front line attack, forwards, defense coaches in the world in one team. Separately, I don’t think they’d be as successful, however, with the three of them testing each other over 8 years on rugby analysis, theory, and implementation they’ve built a considerable body of intellectual property for the ABs that no other team has. Hansen and Henry worked together for sometime in the Welsh set up and Smith has already coached the ABs and had a scintillating career at the Crusaders. These guys have proper rugby pedigree at provincial, super, and international levels. What distinguishes the three wise men is that they are what is termed revolutionary coaches, they look to expand how the game is played, they intend to optimize the skill level of players in order that they are equipped to implement a sophisticated game plan.

• 196.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:11 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-194: The ABs have been practicing application in lieu of the French game, Smith stated today that they’ve been working on the French game plan over the last week at practice, they’ve formulated a practice model that incorporates the various strategies of the French in their matches in the 6 Nations and the WC. These guys are not taking this lightly, they are going to put the heat on the French, and I don’t see how the French will live with them.

• 197.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:12 pm

  @Tartan(Tartan)-191:

  The team that gets that right will win this damn thing !

• 198.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:12 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-189: well this weekend ids going to be the acid test for the cartel…talk is cheap my friend.

  as i say i won’t be surprised if the ABs start with a blitzkrieg of free flow rugby like they did in Brisbane, only now with an awareness that if it doesn’t yield high returns in th 1st 15-20 minutes then switch to direct rugby.

  remember all of this still hinges on the personel the AB will have on the pitch…if anything happens to thorn, kaino, vito, then ABs will see their cloacas.

• 199.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:14 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-195: jonga iposi yakho…

• 200.Tartan:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:17 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-196:
  If the All Blacks have managed to see a central French strategy then they know more about the way the French will play than the French themselves.

• 201.HongKongSlong:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:18 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-198: I think you are right to a degree, but brisbane they were also forced into that style by losing their back row players. Not completely sure, but I think they had 4 All Black 2nd row players on the park in the 2nd half? Doesn’t lend itself to their normal style. But for sure they will ask the forwards to win the game if the backs can’t do it straight away.

• 202.wpstormerbok:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:20 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-195:

  They are good coaches but they’re not that far ahead of the pack in international terms. Henry struggled with Wales and lost a B&I Lions series, and what about that 0-3 against SA in 2009?

  Wayne Smith did well at Super level, so did Henry, but so did Deans and he is an example that with limited stocks he’s struggling just as Henry did in Wales.

  I don’t recall anything revolutionary about what they’ve done at international level, for that to happen it must be something that changes the course of tactics and the way the game is played.

  To me they still look like the AB’s of years gone by, explosive runners with forwards and backs handling the ball with ease, a high level of skills with an educated boot at 10 and game breaking free running back 3.

  Gotta run guy, was good chatting.

  May the Power be, with PDV.

  BOKKE!!!

• 203.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:22 pm

  @Tartan(Tartan)-200: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/all-blacks/news/video.cfm?c_id=1503165&gal_cid=1503165&gallery_id=121605

• 204.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:23 pm

  @wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-202: I’ll wait for your return chap.

• 205.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:24 pm

  @HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-201: they had vito, richie, whitelock as loosies and thorne & boric as locks if i remember well.

• 206.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:26 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-198: Not to worry my friend this weekend is under wraps, we’ve got this…..

  Ndizaku cheka iposi ngoku.

• 207.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:34 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-199: Armstrong kwedini!!!!!! Unehlanhla ude ubone isiskolo sam.

• 208.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:38 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-207: ndigqibezela i-dining hall entsha kraca pha ngoku…imi phakathi kwe graham ne holland phezu kweladama lokuqubha lidala.

• 209.Transformation:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:39 pm

  okay ndiyaqhawula ngoku igym iyandibiza.

  iyakubonana ebusuku

• 210.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:45 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-208: okay ukwi-construction ishishini ye family yakho?

• 211.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:45 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-209: For sure.

• 212.PissAnt:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:53 pm

  Uhm no Ryan…

  He does not need to be in the 22. Or in place of who? Hougaard? JPP? Habs?

  Can you see Gio make a try-saving tackle on the line like JPP did on Saturday? Or rip a ball in a tackle like Odwa? Does he have the positional play of any of these guys? The impact of a Hougaard from the bench? The work rate of Habana?

  If you give me a choice between the names mentioned above and Gio, I would choose the above going into the play-offs

• 213.HongKongSlong:
  20 Sep 2011, 17:59 pm

  @Transformation(Transformation)-205: I think Ali Williams was also playing, but he may have been subbed off.

• 214.Tartan:
  20 Sep 2011, 18:01 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-203:

  Yeah, but “expect the unexpected” isn’t exactly having a special plan haha.

  It’s correct of course that the forwards will decide the match, but that holds true for most games. Once/if it gets to the French backs though it’s anybody’s guess what they’ll do with it. For better or worse.

• 215.mpundulu:
  20 Sep 2011, 18:42 pm

  Tartan: the French are unpredictable no question, in-between WCs the ABs traditionally wallop them, however at WC the story changes. Therefore, to ensure that their forwards and backs when they interplay don’t get their continuity offload game going, it’s important that the ABs create that go forward high pressure environment that’ll be only established through forward dominance.

• 216.Tartan:
  20 Sep 2011, 19:38 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-215:

  Yes, I agree with that. I was just poking fun at the fact the French don’t really have a gameplan besides setting themselves a platform.

• 217.Great White Shark:
  20 Sep 2011, 19:46 pm

  @PissAnt(PissAnt)-212:

  Aplon is the Brent Russell of de Villiers’ selections. Everyone knows he can run but other than that he just doesn’t compare to the other choices.

  If he played for Wales, Ireland or Scotland he’d be the gamebreaker in those teams…..for the Boks he’s just another fast player amongst bigger stronger players.

• 218.PissAnt:
  20 Sep 2011, 19:50 pm

  @Great White Shark(Predawn)-217:

  I said this 18 months ago, Aplon will always be a very special CC and Super Rugby player – test rugby (for now) is different.

• 219.Great White Shark:
  20 Sep 2011, 19:52 pm

  I said it too and got a tongue lashing from the Western Province crowd.

• 220.PissAnt:
  20 Sep 2011, 19:58 pm

  @Great White Shark(Predawn)-219:

  Not this part of that crowd!

• 221.wooden spoon:
  20 Sep 2011, 21:38 pm

  To all the cowardly, defeatist idiots calling for the Boks to “throw” a game… you know who you are:

  You may wish to think it through a bit more.

  SA beat Wales – 4pts
  Fiji – 5pts
  Nam – 5pts likely

  Total 14pts

  Wales lost to SA – 1pt
  Samoa – 4pts
  Nam – 5pts likely

  Total 10pts

  If SA “throw” their game like chickenshits against Samoa (I will lose all respect) they end on 14pts, provided they lose by 7 or more. A loss within 7pts means SA will top the pool no matter what else happens, on 15pts.

  Wales play Fiji a whole two days later. They will have two long days to work out all the permutations…

  All Wales would need to do assuming the pool plays out as above is beat Fiji without a bonus point to finish second. Ending with 14 points in the pool (tied with SA) they will qualify in 2nd place by virtue of having lost to SA in the pool stage. Them’s the rules of the tournament.

  So even if SA threw away all their proud history (losing to Samoa FFS!) and decided to try manipulate the situation in a cowardly fashion, Wales would still have the final and likely say…

  If I were Wales I would beat Nam without the bonus, nothing lost to them as they still win, but it would mean SA would gain nothing at all by losing to Samoa – SA would still finish first on 14 points.

  So think first before confirming your idiot status.

• 222.wooden spoon:
  20 Sep 2011, 21:42 pm

  and Wales are a canny, clever lot… they would be in a position to manipulate the pool by still winning their remaining games…

  Without (despicably) losing a game on purpose.

• 223.Heavens Game:
  20 Sep 2011, 21:44 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-215: 2009 was between WCs and France toured NZ.

  No walloping there. Maybe that tour was not “traditional” enough, though

• 224.wooden spoon:
  20 Sep 2011, 21:51 pm

  of course Fiji would need to beat Samoa…

• 225.whatever:
  20 Sep 2011, 23:05 pm

  A few bits from WC in NZ papers……………

  Kiwis accused of spitting and swearing at Ozzies supporters at the Irish game

  French select their B team

  mmmmmmmmmm

  Kind of thing you would expect from wet pantie during a Bok game. Good keeewee hospitality

  The French, well I don’t even think Mr L even knows who his best side is, but maybe he would also prefer the other side of the draw…..

  Looks like everyone does

• 226.mpundulu:
  21 Sep 2011, 00:17 am

  Heavens Game: I think it was 2008, when McCaw, Carter, Ali Williams, brad thorne, kaino and others were out, loose trio if I’m not mistaken was latimer, messam, and Rodney. Locks were Isaac Ross and Anthony boric. Even Lelia masaga was on the wing, it was a real mess

• 227.Steel Shark:
  21 Sep 2011, 01:43 am

  @David(David)-134:

  David I don’t know where you (or Star) I guess got that info from but Francois is definitely bigger than Gio, Francois is 5″10 and 97kg Gio is 5″9 and 78kg. You shouldn’t even need to look at the stats to see who’s bigger, it’s pretty obvious.

  But that is not the important, Hougaard is built in the Clyde Rathbone mold, he’s quick, strong and relishes contact, Gio is more of the elusive type but as Hendrikp said he doesn’t have the strength in the contact area, and is easily tossed around. He’s still definitely one of the top backs in SA but I don’t think he can ever become a regular fixture at least againt top opposition. Especially with Hougaard on fire, JP coming back into form and Mvovo itching for a chance.

• 228.Big Hit:
  21 Sep 2011, 02:47 am

  NZ wouldn’t pick Aplon, Oz probably would though. Either way he’s probably better than Habana.

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