Comments on: Meyer last hope for Spies’s rejuvenation

By: SpiesIsWorthless(SpiesIsWorthless)

SpiesIsWorthless(SpiesIsWorthless) — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:21:55 +0000

Spies wont get any better. If his health is a concern and has caused him to give less than 100 % then he should do the honorable thing and stop handicapping the Springboks.

By: J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper)

J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper) — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:55:00 +0000

Spies HAD mongrel before his pulmonary embulism … most evidenced in Man of Match in the Rustenberg test win over the All Blacks, and that general season – after those spots in the lung, which are potentially fatal, he hasn’t been the same.

It suggests to me there is a connection – much like Skinstad was never the same again after injuring his knee; same principle at play.

By: John Galt(John Galt)

John Galt(John Galt) — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:41:07 +0000

@storiejoernal(storiejoernal)-106: David Denton is a great player. Considering he plays behind a comparatively weak pack, the oke is an absolute machine. Would love to see him behind a dominant pack.

By: mshiniwami(mshiniwami)

mshiniwami(mshiniwami) — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:32:35 +0000

@storiejoernal(storiejoernal)-106: Kieran Read is the best of the lot especialy over the last 2 years.Parisse about 3 years was outstanding,still is but not to his previous level(funny thing is that he is also Argentinian)....Dave Denton had a very good Six Nations(Zim borm,South African raised & schooled).Toby Faletau had a MASSIVE world cup & Six Nations(player of the tournament in 6N i think) and he is also of Pacific Island origin...So even though out of that 6 you mentioned are playing in Europe about 5 of them are Southerners....I think you can add Heaslip to list he has been outstanding for a few yrs now for Ireland.

By: ufo(ufo)

ufo(ufo) — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:41:01 +0000

@Transformation(Transformation)-120:

hehehe…

you serious… has dracula changed his nic…

then it all makes perfect sense…! hahaha

By: Transformation(Transformation)

Transformation(Transformation) — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:33:07 +0000

@ufo(ufo)-119: alucard aka blitzbok makes up his own stats by rewinding & forwarding his vcr

By: ufo(ufo)

ufo(ufo) — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:47:06 +0000

@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-117: perhaps you could provide the statistics and facts to back up your ~~opinion~~ "fact"...

By: Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)

Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast) — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:17:05 +0000

@rangerman(rangerman)-112: Hoofs for hands...:lol: @bananaboy(bananaboy)-111: What is his 'potential' build on? Surely not what he has delivered on the field in the last 2 years! Thing is, how much more time do we need to give him to fulfill this ever elusive potential. I think time is up and we should start looking somewhere else. We all know certain playrs, no matter the potential, build, speed, power or you name it just can't take the step up. History is filled with those names and maybe Spies is just one more...flat track bully who has NEVER stepped up in a tight game, never!

By: Blitzbok(Blitzbok)

Blitzbok(Blitzbok) — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:02:34 +0000

@hensopper1(hensopper1)-115: by the way your FACTs dont hold up to stats bud. dont be so quick to blurt things out as fact when you got nothing to back it up! spies actually did better thaan schalk at the world cup something for you to keep in mind. fact!

By: Blitzbok(Blitzbok)

Blitzbok(Blitzbok) — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:01:29 +0000

@hensopper1(hensopper1)-115: he has everything but distribution and lateral defence. not that much different from olivier or jean at centre, not great distributors and flimsy on defence. spies does draw 2 to 3 defenders as a ball carrier and does good graft bu without offload skills like cronje or van niekerk it is too easy to hault play by bringing him down. you can commit those defenders on him knowing it wont be exploited. on defence he does do very good work but at times get caught out. he isnt as bad as you say but he isnt perfect either. all our 8s are kak the worst being carthorse strauss.

By: hensopper1(hensopper1)

hensopper1(hensopper1) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:38:28 +0000

Fact.

SPies goes missing when the going gets tough. His defence is hardly in the tradition of the quintissential Saffa loosie.

Ultimately he should be compared to international players as storie joernaal has intimated.
Better than Reid; Parrisse; Harinordiqy? I think not.

The ‘hooves for hands’ analogy is spot on, He seems to lack the skills the above 3 have. He has a special physique and strength, but the play reading and ball playing aspects of a world class 8 we are yet to see.
And please, I am not a Spies basher. Just concerned about the form of what all the people in the know such as Meyer regard as our best 8.
Not convinced but would love to be.

By: rangerman(rangerman)

rangerman(rangerman) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:17:02 +0000

@bananaboy(bananaboy)-113: haha, could be lol.

By: bananaboy(bananaboy)

bananaboy(bananaboy) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:15:32 +0000

@rangerman(rangerman)-112: Well he hardly gets to handle it with the amount of kicking done so when he gets it , its a surprise

By: rangerman(rangerman)

rangerman(rangerman) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:12:24 +0000

@bananaboy(bananaboy)-111: he has hoofs for hands though.

By: bananaboy(bananaboy)

bananaboy(bananaboy) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:09:45 +0000

@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-110: I really like the guy and believe he has tremendous potential as an athlete but not suited to where he is playing right now

By: TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)

TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby) — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:03:56 +0000

@bananaboy(bananaboy)-107: Maybe you've got a point there, piesang

By: TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)

TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:57:31 +0000

Spies is a glory boy. He would have fitted in well with the Stormers team of two seasons ago.

By: rangerman(rangerman)

rangerman(rangerman) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:52:15 +0000

@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-104: yeah sorry bud the comment was aimed at Robert. apologies.

By: bananaboy(bananaboy)

bananaboy(bananaboy) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:46:43 +0000

This might be controversial but i believe that Spies has got the wrong build for an 8th man and is better suited to flank. He is light in the legs and has enormous upper body strength and therefore cannot get the drive on that is needed for an 8th man off the back of a scrum.

By: storiejoernal(storiejoernal)

storiejoernal(storiejoernal) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:42:58 +0000

Here’s my view of the best #8 in world rugby

-1)Sergio Perise (Italy)
2) Toby Faletua(wales)
3) Jean Lobbe (Argintina)
4) Kieren Read ( NZ
5) Imanol harinordoquay(France)
6) David Denton( scotland)

Funny thing is that the majority of this players with the exceptiono f Read are NH players, while lobbe players club rugby in the north

All them have the basic attributes of
A #8 strong ball carries,strong runners from the back, good line out options,all round abilities & reliability

Sergio & imanol are perhaps the most complete in morden rugby but guys like Denton & Toby are excelling & are always giving MOM performances

As for Spies compared to this okes…Lol

An Eighthman that really fell of the radar is Ryan kank ( remember how good he wad 07-09)

As For Samo I don’t see him making the Aus#8 ahead of Higginbottom this(whose responsible for keeping him on the bench)