Comments on: Fourie turns back on Boks

By: ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)

ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:07:29 +0000

@Saffex(Saffex)-75: you obviously haven't watched much of De Jongh's play.. he drives players much bigger than him back in the tackle plus he breaks the advantage line WAY more often and easier than the likes of Olivier et al.

By: Saffex(Saffex)

Saffex(Saffex) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:04:44 +0000

@slumtown and @sasuke………modern test rugby is about size, skill and pace. One only needs to look at the size of the centres, wings and fullbacks playing test rugby for the top 8 nations now. None weigh less than 90kg’s, most are over 95kg’s its the modern trend.

de Jongh and Ebersohn are far too small. Test rugby is a step up from S15, defences are tighter, space is at a premium. A player needs to be able to impose himself physically at test level both on attack and defence. de Jongh might be able to bring a big guy down if he executes a low tackle perfectly, if he gets it wrong he gets blown away. de Jongh will never drive a player backwards in a tackle and when forced to use the straight route on attack, faces being driven backwards at a rate of knots.

Test rugby is not for 86kg outside centres – no way in hell, forget these 2 pretenders. Look no further than JP, JJ and Taute as our Bok 13′s

By: KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark)

KeurboomPark(KeurboomPark) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:52:49 +0000

With all the talk of HM bringing back old fossils, why wouldn’t he want to quit. If a coach has no guts, why bother.

By: hensopper1(hensopper1)

hensopper1(hensopper1) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:55:15 +0000

I am not convinced about what we available for the Boksin the midfield. Instead of comparing all our players against each other, thuink about who will face up to big bruisers like Sonny Bill W, Nonu, Tuilagi, J Roberts etc etc.

In fact we start looking a little undersized in the backs generally. Power/defence is a big part of our game, and we need to have powerfull players here. I agree with posters that say smaller players can fit into the backline unit, but we must present a physical aspect to opossition.

DeJong has everything but size, A combination of Aplon, Dejong etc looks a little lig in die broek, and I except these are still good players, but how will we face up to the monsters in the backlines of the top 5 countries?

F Steyn is important for this reason. IMO the only centre outside Jean Div who is showing the rght stuff is Adriaan Strauss at the moment. Steyn, Div and Strauss are all 12′s anyway. Which player in SA in the 13 jersey is making anybody scared?

By: Treehugger(Treehugger)

Treehugger(Treehugger) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:26:50 +0000

We might not like it and he will be a loss, but he is in the dusk of his career, looking out for his financial future and wouldn’t be playing long for the Boks anyway, think he knows this and didn’t make this decision lightly.

By: PissAnt(PissAnt)

PissAnt(PissAnt) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:03:49 +0000

A bit of a sensationalist headline don’t you think JC?

By: Getafix(phil72)

Getafix(phil72) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:12:52 +0000

Hougaard is not small.? 1.8m and 92kg… not massive but not small. more than big strong and fast enough for a 13

By: daydreamer(daydreamer)

daydreamer(daydreamer) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:05:55 +0000

Who can blame him for sticking to his plans and honouring his huge contract.

I’d pick Robert Ebersohn at 13, well deserved too.

By: Slumtown(Slumtown)

Slumtown(Slumtown) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:01:12 +0000

@Saffex(Saffex)-59: hahaha dude honestly – JP and Taute have been much better in their respective positions. The 2 best 13 centres in Sa at the moment based on form are Juan de Jongh and Robert Ebersohn. While I admit they are not the biggest players I think you could then also just axe old Aplon and Houghaard no? I think not my man – at the end of the day it helps to ahve big players and if the wings, fullback and 12 are large I think we can get away with a smaller 13 and 10. Its all in the heart and if you have to stop a forward from 3 yards its already too late.
Anyone mentioning Bosman as a posisble Bok – you need your heads read. Unfortunately for now all the better backline players in SA seem to be a lot smaller – Fourie du Preez, Houghaard, Sarel Pretorius, Lambie, Jantjes, Juan de Jongh, Ebersohn, Sadie, Aplon, Basson (tall but very skinny), Joe Pietersen.

Our bigger options are – Goosen, M Steyn (neither of which are very big), Frans Steyn, Jean de Villiers, Alwyn Hollenbach (who I would prefer to see ina Bok jersey to Bosman), Doppies La Grange, JP Pietersent on wing, Habana, Mvovo (also not huge), possibly JJ Engelbrecht, Riaan Viljoen, Kirchner (who is playing better rugby this year than last), or Taute.

Thats it more or less in a nutshell.

By: Sasuke(Sasuke)

Sasuke(Sasuke) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:59:25 +0000

@Papoose(papaown)-62: Bosman at 13?? I would think he is more suited to 12.

By: Oxy moron(cjgrove)

Oxy moron(cjgrove) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:33:42 +0000

@Papoose(papaown)-62: Adequately ... Because that's what we all strive for, adequacy...

By: willievz(willievz)

willievz(willievz) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:28:05 +0000

@Sasuke(Sasuke)-64: You need shorter / smaller players on a field.

By: Sasuke(Sasuke)

Sasuke(Sasuke) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:24:52 +0000

@Saffex(Saffex)-59: Did you see JdJ take down Fruean last week? You dont need to be big to play international rugby.

By: Papoose(papaown)

Papoose(papaown) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:17:43 +0000

@willievz(willievz)-47: yeah but the general rugby public who KNEW better wouldnt give that a chance citing defensive liability...and now some are talking about Ebherson?

By: Papoose(papaown)

Papoose(papaown) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:15:21 +0000

@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-38: good picks, JdJ is the one for me as he’s handled himself adequately on international stage.
i however like the look of Whitehead and he always manages to make linebreaks with his angled running.
Ebherson’s defense for me is too suspect, not sure if its related to his size.
my 13′s in order – JdJ, Whitehead, Ebherson, JPP,JJ, Bosman and then Sadie

By: Papoose(papaown)

Papoose(papaown) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:10:23 +0000

@bangkok-bok(bangkok-bok)-20: So easy for you to forget De Jongh...Interesting

By: deadlypea(deadlypea)

deadlypea(deadlypea) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:09:51 +0000

Don’t forget Francois Steyn is about to return to SA, a most likely line up would be JDV and Fsteyn with JDJ or Sadie as backup.

By: Saffex(Saffex)

Saffex(Saffex) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:44:40 +0000

The options at 13 are JP, Taute, JJ Engelbrecht and Sadie……..while de Jongh and Ebersohn are good players, they are physically not up to test rugby. A test 13 requires skill, size and pace. These two could play but would never be sustainable.

One only needs to look at the modern trend of Test 13′s playing for the top 8 nations. You wont find a 13 under 95kg’s today for a reason

By: the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)

the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:06:50 +0000

@greentea(greentea)-16: howzit buddy.

By: kingrichard(kingrichard)

kingrichard(kingrichard) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:51:23 +0000

Where is Dries Scholtz when you need him. CLASSIC bulls centre