Comments on: Richardt, Heinke taste Euro success

By: Bouts(Bouts)

Bouts(Bouts) — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:14:58 +0000

@puff(puff)-1: I guess you never heard the debate the last few years about Coenie's shifting to tighthead (this being the plan from his debut), and it will happen next year with WP's departure to the wet countries up north. It was Os' idea from the start to prepare him for tighthead, but still having him as a mobile prop, by giving him a few years in the no1 jersey. The reasoning was that if you throw a kid in too early at tighthead, he becomes useless in the loose, but guys like WP Nel kinda foiled that theory.

By: lepel(lepel)

lepel(lepel) — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:16:14 +0000

@stand-off(Braders)-5: Heinke is a brilliant scrummager, but his general play doesn't quite match the rest of the props we often consider for the Boks. Beast and Oosthuyzen are both probably inferior to Heinke at scrum time, but their work rate in other facets of the game is renders them superior players. I reckon Kitshoff will grow into one helluva prop. Good scrummager and good work rate in general play. I also actually like the look of Malherbe. Both are really young and could grow into a really potent pair.

By: stand-off(Braders)

stand-off(Braders) — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:05:50 +0000

The Boks tried Heinke at tight-head on the infamous failed year end tour acouple of years back and he was a failure. Maybe now with a bit more NH experience he could convert? He is widely regarded by front row experts as technically the best loosehead oprion we have!
Bring him back!!!!

By: puff(puff)

puff(puff) — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:09:18 +0000

@hendrikp(hendrikp)-3: Agreed: 1. Mtawarira, Greyling, Kitshoff 2. Du Plessis, Strauss, Ralepelle 3. Oosthuyzen, Van Der Merwe, Malherbe The potential for dominant Bok front row is right there!

By: hendrikp(hendrikp)

hendrikp(hendrikp) — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:43:33 +0000

@puff(puff)-1:

Wouldn’t mind seeing Heinke make the change… and I presume he has played a little there for Leinster seeing as Cian Healy was unlikely to go there if Heinke was brought on for Ross. Not sure about this though…

It’s sad because I think Heinke could’ve been a stand-out, but unfortunately played for a rubbish team that gave him a terrible platform to perform from & rumor has it that he has no intention of returning to SA anytime soon… or if he did he would only go to the Lions.

Seeing as the Lions are being relegated, I presume he will finish out his career overseas. A real shame.

By: puff(puff)

puff(puff) — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:05:20 +0000

Pienaar has no real BMT.

By: puff(puff)

puff(puff) — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:03:34 +0000

Never mind loose forwards, SA must have the best array of loosehead props in the world.

Steenkamp
Mtawarira
Greyling
Oosthuyzen
Kitshoff
Heinke Van Der Merwe

Surely it would serve Bok rugby for one or two of these players to make the shift to tighthead.
Imagine Kitshoff, Oosthuyzen or Heinke Van Der Merwe at 3 for the Boks?
They are certainly young enough to make the shift and it can only benefit the Bok pack.