Comments on: Test rugby’s a different beast

By: Mike H(Mike H)

Mike H(Mike H) — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:19:57 +0000

@Robzim(Robzim)-103: I'm really liking Marcel Coetzee, him and Etsebeth for me are some of the finds of the season

By: Mike H(Mike H)

Mike H(Mike H) — Sat, 19 May 2012 02:17:00 +0000

I agree with you whole heartedly Keo.

Smit was a test match rugby player not a super 15 one for example.

By: Stormtrooper(Stormtrooper)

Stormtrooper(Stormtrooper) — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:04:25 +0000

I get what Keo is saying but if Meyers team is predominently Bulls players it will be bias. Mostly because all the other sides have a similar mix of experience & youth. When we look at experience we would most likely be talking about players like Spies, Meisiekind, Ndegani all of whom have never really excelled at test level. I would have no problem with Chilliboy, Hougaardt, FDP and a few others. I would also have no problem with bringing Bakkies & Guthro back but please do not tell me there’s an argument for picking predominently Bulls players.

By: Robzim(Robzim)

Robzim(Robzim) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:33:20 +0000

@Mr Black(Mr Black)-116:

Yeah, i remember that flippin hand off. I nearly spat out my beer
I also remember Alberts breaking schalk’s ribs but also saw at newlands how Elstadt who at that stage was an “unknown” manhandled Alberts. Every dog has it’s day for sure.

By: Sharkie10(Sharkie10)

Sharkie10(Sharkie10) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:32:47 +0000

This is true, Test rugby and Super rugby does have a huge gap. But i strongly feel that some of the youngster that are featuring this year, will have no problem making the step up. Guys like Coetzee, Etzebeth among others. Guys like Lambie has already had a taste of Test rugby and stepped up with relative ease making the No.15 jersey his own in last years World Cup. I believe he is mature enough now to do the same in a No. 10 jumper. Hougie has proven himself and also stepped up with ease. I think the youngsters in this country is so unbelievably talented that they don’t have a problem making the switch from Super Rugby to Test rugby. Meyer is spoiled for choice and i think he has a few tough decisions ahead of him. And hopefully he makes the right ones.

By: Great White Shark(Predawn)

Great White Shark(Predawn) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:21:30 +0000

@Number15(Number15)-117: grant10 is not here anymore. Suspect he may have jumped off the London Bridge.

By: Number15(Number15)

Number15(Number15) — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:15:00 +0000

A good article Keo. I’m a critic of yours because I believe you do a lot of sensationalist stuff to get hits on your site, with negative impact overall (have a think about it), but this is well thought out.

Someone show this to Grant10 please. Or any number of other armchair coaches who think the best Springbok team just consists of picking the “best” 15 players and making one of them captain.

By: Mr Black(Mr Black)

Mr Black(Mr Black) — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:38:44 +0000

@Robzim(Robzim)-103:

Almost as good as that hand off Lambie gave Schalk to score his first of 2 tries in the CC final against WP.

How was that for some k@k tackling

By: Sasuke(Sasuke)

Sasuke(Sasuke) — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:58:13 +0000

@optiplay(optiplay)-114: Kolisi has more skills than Coetzee but both are really good young flankers.

By: optiplay(optiplay)

optiplay(optiplay) — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:48:31 +0000

Everybody should slow down with Kolisi. Excellent player but not a Bok yet. His time will come. I would like to see him when his forwards are not dominating. Marcel Coetzee on the other hand has excelled in a mediocre pack this season.Elstadt ,with Coetzee would be great in future. Against the Poms it will be Brussow,Elstadt and Spies.IMO

By: greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)

greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber) — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:09:12 +0000

WILLEM SCHALK ALBERTS

was one of children on 7UP, 14UP series

interesting fact

By: greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)

greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber) — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:01:00 +0000

@Robzim(Robzim)-103: Meyer Bosman - the forgotten man of SA Rugby. Came with great protential label on him and disappeared just as quick. Should have stayed at 10..and at OVS

By: greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)

greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber) — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:58:16 +0000

I can’t stop watching that clip ow

that Savea boy running at Coetzee in test I can not wait for next

By: greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)

greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber) — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:54:39 +0000

@Robzim(Robzim)-103: one of S15 clips of year yes I agree Coetzee can be one dimensional. Trying too hard to bde the SA Kaino Man of steel. should still be there in test mix. He makes the yards.

By: roobarb2(roobarb2)

roobarb2(roobarb2) — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:19:25 +0000

that clip is awesome

By: Robzim(Robzim)

Robzim(Robzim) — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:56:56 +0000

@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-105: I do rate him as a very good player.

By: wooden spoon(wooden spoon)

wooden spoon(wooden spoon) — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:54:19 +0000

@Transformation(Transformation)-106: yep, you could see he was clearly a bit dazed after landing on his head. He should never have gone into the tackle so high.

By: Transformation(Transformation)

Transformation(Transformation) — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:47:59 +0000

@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-105: he nearly broke his neck there…

By: wooden spoon(wooden spoon)

wooden spoon(wooden spoon) — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:38:58 +0000

Marcell Coetzee offers a bit of a conundrum.

He is incredibly physical and always makes metres in the tackle. In that respect, he is a “wrecking ball”.

But seriously, he risks becoming a bit one dimensional – and I say this because has anyone actually seen him pass the ball? Nope. Perhaps if he could learn how to offload in the tackle, he could add a certain more “unpredictability” about his play.

@Robzim(Robzim)-103: leaving aside that one clip (I’m sure every player including your beloved Vermeulen and Kolisi has a “horror moment”) are you seriously and objectively saying that you do not rate Coetzee as a promising and excellent prospect?

Or are you ready to write him off forever on the basis of that one hand off?

By: hensopper1(hensopper1)

hensopper1(hensopper1) — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:37:49 +0000

lIGHTIE. yOU SEEM TO KNOW MORE ABOUT RUGBY THAN them. My conclusion though is based on the criteria that this article is written on, that is the issue of using stats in this way to determine the best by counting up the MOST of whatever is being counted.

The unwashed masses love looking at stats but really do not know what they mean.