None better than Bismarck
28 May 2012
RYAN VREDE writes Bismarck du Plessis has ended the debate around who should start at hooker for the Springboks with a series of strong showings that culminated in a masterclass against the Stormers.
Du Plessis started the Sharks’ campaign slowly, being outplayed by the Bulls’ Chiliboy Ralepelle in their contest at Loftus in round one and being consistently outshone by the other pretender to the Springbok No 2 shirt, Adriaan Strauss, thereafter.
I expressed concerns that, in John Smit’s absence, Du Plessis wasn’t able to rouse himself to deliver the standard of performance that made him the best hooker in the world in 2011. I began to wonder whether he was the type of player who only thrived in the face of perceived injustice and adversity, but struggled to attain the same level in the absence thereof. Ma’a Nonu is the most notable example of a player of this ilk.
But in recent weeks Du Plessis has allayed those fears, reminding of his class and destructive, match-winning potential. Super Rugby is not Test rugby and usually few absolute judgements can be made on a player’s form in the latter when assessing his suitability for the former. Not so with Du Plessis, whose aptitude for Test rugby has already been confirmed. His recent showings have only served to reinforce his value to the Springboks.
Willem Alberts stole the show at Kings Park with his outstanding performance against the Stormers in the most critical of victories. But Du Plessis would have been a worthy recipient of the Man of the Match award. His performance was as complete as you’ll find for a modern hooker – his lineout feed was tidy, his defence brutal, his scrummaging powerful and his ball carrying unfailingly effective (when he didn’t get over the gainline it was because multiple defenders were assigned to him, which created holes to exploit in the defensive line). He also offered the Sharks an additional and effective fetching option, which was invaluable to his team’s cause.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer should not look beyond Du Plessis when his run-on sides for the England series are announced, particularly in light of the fact that success in that series will rest more heavily on individual skill, heart and character than it will on astute coaching, given the limited time Meyer will have with his squad. Du Plessis has those attributes in bags.
The pertinent issue now is who will be his deputy. Strauss is highly rated by Meyer and will probably have edged ahead of Ralepelle on the strength of performances in recent weeks. While Strauss undoubtedly has high competency in all aspects of hooker play, his dynamism in the loose will be his biggest asset to the Springboks if introduced in the final quarter of Tests (match situation allowing of course). Ralepelle started strongly but has failed to kick on. He is likely to resume his familiar role of tackle bag holder.
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149 Comments
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28 May 2012, 13:50 pm
@stew(stew)-97:
i dont think there is an official number actually. although i dont really know to be honest. i think its four players of colour (to be verified).
28 May 2012, 13:52 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-90: And you forgot to mention your wonder boy Hekkies or Shadow (whatever), wasn’t he just amazing out on the wing?
28 May 2012, 13:53 pm
Bok Team – Closest approximation:
1 – Beast (Solid)
2 – Bismarck (Need we say more and can ‘fetch’)
3 – Jannie (Experience)
4 – Ezebeth (Deserves chance and size)
5 – Bekker (Experience and size)
6 – Marcell (Schalk when fit , Brussouw ‘small’ and not needed as Bismarck can ‘fetch’)
7 – Alberts (Juan Smith when fit)
8 – Spies (Vermuelen will defintely start when fit)
9 – Hougaard (His time has come)
10 – Morne (Consistent points machine at international level)
11 – Bryan (Experience, Mvovo is close here ‘casuse of improved kicking game)
12 – Wynand (Experience but definitely Frans Steyn if available)
13 – Jean (Captain, J.Fourie not available)
14 – JP Pietersen (Experience, Bjorn will be in the mix)
15 – Zane Kirchner (Experience, most consistent full back and never dissapointed at Bok Level – remember 50m kick with left foot at Twickenham and massive tackles, Joe P. is great but too small- HM prefers size and doesn’t need another goalkicker)
16 – Strauss (Cheetahs not same without and make a great impact / Chilliboy in mix)
17 – P.Cilliers / Greyling / Coenie – (Jannie won’t last 80 min, so probably Tighthead, Coenie play both and best option as impact player)
18 – J.Kruger (Needs another ‘jumper’ )
19 – Spies (Experience and “Versatility – 7,8 , or emergency wing”)
20 – Fourie Du Preez / Pienaar (Experience and/or Versatility)
21 – P. Lambie (Versatility and Bok Experience)
22 – J.De Jongh / Mvovo (Bok Experience)
The following players to ‘walk into’ 22 when fit / available: Schalk, J.Smith, Vermeulen, J.Goosen, F.Steyn, J.Fourie)
HM prefers size and would want England to ‘look up’ at the Boks when singing the national anthems. Also cautious on ‘blooding’ too many new Boks as a winning start is priority. Hopefully no injuries during the weekend!
Go Boks!!!!
28 May 2012, 13:53 pm
@stew(stew)-97:
its a magic number.
@stew(stew)-99:
Beast and two wings?
is this some kfc mealdeal I haven’t heard of?
28 May 2012, 13:54 pm
@TrueBok(TrueBok)-103:
Sorry! Fourie Du Preez accepts Bok captaincy.
28 May 2012, 13:56 pm
Errata –
19 – Keegan Daniel / Josh Strauss (Versatility)
28 May 2012, 13:57 pm
@105.Bill Reyts:
Sorry! Missed that one. Thanks Bill. What do you think of the squad though?
28 May 2012, 13:58 pm
@stew(stew)-99:
you can be almost certain chilli, beast, jdj, aplon, habana, jpp, mvovo and at least one ndugane will feature for the boks in the near term. and to my mind just about all these guys would be merit selections, give or take one or two.
@stew(stew)-100:
stew, it is my firm belief that not too long from now kiwi’s will come to hate us like they havn’t in a very long time. the boks will be back… and for you this will be bad… very bad…
28 May 2012, 13:59 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-104: LOL – i was just at kfc so this comment made me spill my shake !
28 May 2012, 14:01 pm
@stew(stew)-99:
add to that list basson and kirchener.
28 May 2012, 14:01 pm
@TrueBok(TrueBok)-107:
Not a Kirschner or Spies fan. I would play Alberts at 8, Coetzee at 7 and Brussouw at 6. Wynand has never excelled at Bok rugby either. Would even take Whitehead before him… Ebersohn would be a better option though…
28 May 2012, 14:02 pm
@stew(stew)-109:
I’m watching you.
@Kea-Cat(KEA)-102:
stop sulking dipshit.
you bought him.
anyway please stick to the topic.
this thread is about hookers.
28 May 2012, 14:04 pm
I think the team will look like this: Not my choice but Blue Boks coach’s choice.
Lambie
JPP
Olivier
Steyn
Basson
Steyn
FdP (c)
Spies
Alberts
Stander
Bekker
Kruger
Kruger
Bissie
Beast
28 May 2012, 14:05 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-86: That’s it right there. You’ve picked our Bok team. Please email Heyneke.
28 May 2012, 14:06 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-111: I think Zane and Wynand have been given the short-end of the stick at Bok level – always gievn the away tests in pressure situation by Divvy. Also Whitehead and Eberson fans? Would you have picked Fourie as captain or even as strating scrumhalf?
28 May 2012, 14:09 pm
@TrueBok(TrueBok)-115:
No I would pick players loyal to SA rugby. He is playing equivalent to Vodacom Cup rugby in Japan and has been terrible the past few years…
28 May 2012, 14:10 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-89: Against the stingiest defence inthe super xv we scored three tries from different situations and had it not been for poor monitoring of the off side line at ruck time by Peyper we would have scored more. Also he failed to ping Malherbe for continually boring in and the Stormers front row for popping up. Not bad in terms of game plan from the Sharks methinks.
28 May 2012, 14:10 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-113:
I prefer Bjorn than Bryan. Better on highball and has xfactor that Bryan used to have – but I think he’ll settle for Bryan based on defensive capabilities. Ezebeth will definitely start. Don’t think F.Steyn is available for 1st two tests? I undertand that HM rates M.Coetzee and J.Strauss. Will be interesting to see the match 22?
28 May 2012, 14:12 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-116:
Agree. Fourie was/is a legend and he should keep it that way by ‘stepping aside’…
28 May 2012, 14:46 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-113:
In more realistic terms he will have to accomodate the likes of Aplon/DeJongh in the line up and Chiliboi, Ashley Johnson or Kolisi in the match 22
Werner Kruger is rated at 4 or 5 in the pecking order, there are BJ, Nel, Jannie Dup and Brock Harris well ahead of him, Nel and BJ are commonly agreed as the best at TH.
Kruger regressed badly since Gary Botha left in the end of 2010
28 May 2012, 14:47 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-113:
Bill with a backline like that I’m presuming you’ll be relying on Morne to score most of your points, surely Olivier won’t start?
28 May 2012, 14:52 pm
Sideshow and Meisekind nowhere near the team hopefully. Both are as average as it gets, wouldn’t even make a Scotland team let alone Wales or even England.
28 May 2012, 14:56 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-120: Commonly agreed by whom? Your bible study group? The residents of Brakpan?
28 May 2012, 15:02 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-123:
28 May 2012, 15:08 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-117:
That defense which has 3 loosies missing. most importantly Kolisi who is their main weapon at stopping big ball carriers from crossing gainline giving opposition momentum. Willem,Coetzee got over adv line all day and lay platform.Had Kolisi been there that percentage would have been FAR lower.Add Vermuelen and it would have been even lower.
Plus we won by only 5 points.Sharks 1st half was superb but still we arent efficient enough to create multi phases and score to put teams away. Score should have been 35-6 in first half.
28 May 2012, 15:14 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-125: 2 loosies – Elstadt has been playing 7 for pretty much the entire S15
Secondly the Stormers have used Fourie as a reserve open side a few times before
28 May 2012, 15:22 pm
@Bokhoring(Bokhoring)-126:
Mate however you look at it Jebb Sinclai & out of position Deon Fourie are hardly even in same stratosphere as Kolisi,Vermuelen,Burger,Carr.
Jebb Sinclair was especially terrible
28 May 2012, 15:29 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-127: I am saying 2 loosies out of starting lineup – 3 out of match 22
I do agree the Stormers really missed Vermeulen and Kolisi
28 May 2012, 15:32 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-127: And maybe the first game where Fourie had to play a full game at open side, but not a totally unfamiliar position to him at all
28 May 2012, 15:36 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-125: You another one of these “Dumbtree” and Dis-Daniel Fairweather Shark fans who ultimately have been farken absolutely humiliated by the Sharks run, continual improvement and upward trajectory?
Pissedoff that Plum and Keegan proving you as ignorant as you actually can be?
Lol
28 May 2012, 15:41 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-86: Half the players in your team are injured
28 May 2012, 15:42 pm
Zane Kirchner
Wynand Olivier
Deon Stegman
Werner Kruger
Not good enough for test rugby. They similar to Iasia Toeava,Luke McAllister,Scott Waldrom,Jamie McIntosh….Every country has em
28 May 2012, 15:43 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-120: You are not serious, BJ retired, Brok Harris as a Bok ????
The real Strompie supporters don’t even want him to start.
28 May 2012, 15:45 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-125: Not to mention the forward pass try from Aplon
28 May 2012, 15:46 pm
@SpiesIsWorthless(SpiesIsWorthless)-122: and you are ??
28 May 2012, 15:50 pm
@SpiesIsWorthless(SpiesIsWorthless)-122: I would take Meisiekind any day of the week to Donkey at this stage…
I actually reckon a F Steyn 12 + Meisiekind 13 centre combo wouldnt be half bad at all
28 May 2012, 15:50 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-130:
Whats new mate about Sharks current trend? We either start well then fall away or start badly then pull it back to make playoffs?
Sharks will make playoffs but @ either position 4/5/6.Then get beat in quarter finals like yesteryear. Was no different last year.
Been a Sharks fan all my life so really dont need any validation from you. I know my rugby and am a season ticket holder. seen all this happen before & Plumtree tenure reaks of the same even this season.
Nothing new.
28 May 2012, 15:51 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-132: Dont forget Akona Ndungane.
28 May 2012, 15:53 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-132:
What did / didn’t Zane do? Never dissappointed for the Boks and best fullback in SA in terms of highball, kicking (out of hand) and scored more tries than any SA fullback this year.
Who would you start as fullback? Please don’t say Lambie, Joe Petersen or Danniler? Aplon is close but better as impact player.
28 May 2012, 15:54 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-132: Add Adriaan Strauss, Peter Grant, Keegan Daniel and WP Nel to that list.
28 May 2012, 15:55 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-137: This year is Super 15 that ends in August… Very different actually.
And the Sharks look like they are peaking at the right time… much to the chagrin of fans like those at Sharksworld and yourself it seems, surprisingly it must be said, who seem to have almost been willing Plums Team to lose in order to feel vindicated about their Dumbtree and KeeganisnoCaptain POV…
Arent you fools going to look more idiotic than normal should the Dynamite actually make the Final…
28 May 2012, 16:01 pm
Bozo @ 61 @70
Do not think that Vermeulen has blistering pace either.
Also tends to not pass.Lets be honest about this.
Have never undestood the obsession with him.On pure physicality
WA takes it every time.If you keep 3 defenders busy,you open up defences
Sad to see Brussouw being used as a turnstile in first 2 Tahs tries.
And that from 1,st phase.
28 May 2012, 16:10 pm
@TrueBok(TrueBok)-139:
SA doesnt need a Johan Roets. Thats for Bulls country
SA needs to progress with the times and apply a 15 who is a genuine attacking threat-Dagg,Beale,Foden,Poutrenaud etc.This skop & donner 15 nonsense limits attacking potentisl.Was a huge fan of Kirchner when he was at Griquas and initially at Bulls but has lost his spark.At Bok level he has been below par actually played better out of position @ 13.
Aplon,Lambie,Frans Steyn would play ahead of Kirchner for Boks IMO.Pietersen next then Kirchner/Viljoen/Daniller fall in same category
28 May 2012, 16:13 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-141:
The format is different but the Sharks gameplan/pattern is the same. inconsistency & lack for attacking thrust to put teams away also the same. Sharks wont beat a decent team in playoffs.
Final? you wish
28 May 2012, 19:13 pm
HM’s possible team
15 lambie
14 Jp
13 JDV
12 F steyn
11 Mvovo playing better than habana Maybe Basson
10 M Steyn
9 . FDP capt (Should be Hougaard )?
8. Daniels (best # 8 right now)
7 Alberts (Experiance)
6 Brussow (Experiance)
5 Kruger ( he is a bull ) Bekker not playing that well)
4 Estebeth (just very good )
3 Jannie
2 Bismark
1 Beast
16 Chili boy (but should be Straus)
17 Connie ( he can play 1 and 3) but most likely a bull prop
18 Bekker
19 Spies (just because he is a bull) Johnson maybe
20 Hougaard (I feel for this guy ) Covers wing too
21 Jdj Specialist center
22 Aplon ( Covers 15 and wing)
lambie and F steyn covers 10
Alberts can cover lock
28 May 2012, 19:14 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-145:
Injured players not considered
28 May 2012, 20:03 pm
Coach Pete. Agree re Daniel. Meyer must find a place for him in the backrow. I would however disagree with your combo. Brussouw would have to make way. 2 big bruisers with Daniel would make more sense imo.
Bismark is non negotiable.
29 May 2012, 07:47 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-55: Brig,Flip is a liability. Very fortunate not to be cited for his headbutt..
29 May 2012, 07:56 am
@bozo(genius)-61: Agree with you on Daniel. And he is NOT small.6’1″ and 100 kg is not small.and there is no fat in that weight. On Bismarck I humbly differ. In tight hard rugby you need your no 2 doing no 2 work. Strauss is shy in this dept . Excellent player though and will keep Bismarck on his toes. But really! Throw out an inform player with experience for another inform player without experince does not in my opinion make sense. Nice post from you . Thanx.
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