Pumas drop fullback
22 Aug 2012
Argentina head coach Santiago Phelan has made one change for to his starting line-up for the clash against the Springboks in Mendoza on Saturday.
Phelan has decided to replace fullback Lucas Amorosino with Martin Rodriguez for the Pumas’ first home Test of the Rugby Championship. Amorosino had a poor outing at Newlands, which included a knock-on that set the platform for South Africa’s first try in their 27-6 victory.
This means No 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe remains at No 8 and will captain the side, while Juan Martin Hernandez features at flyhalf.
Phelan will announce his bench at a later stage.
Argentina – 15 Lucas Amorosino, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernández, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c), 7 Álvaro Galindo, 6 Julio Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guiñazu, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Subs: TBC
87 Comments
22 Aug 2012, 11:11 am
dropped dragon
wont make any difference though
good luck all the same
22 Aug 2012, 11:15 am
I just hope the Argies keep improving, and haven’t given it all in the opening home and away games against the Boks, before imploding against the Aussies and Kiwis.
May they go from strength to strength, maybe even knocking over the Aussies in Argentina.
22 Aug 2012, 11:18 am
I’m depressed by how empty the Bok cupboard is at the moment.
There are so many positions where we simply don’t have top class international players to come in and dominate the opposition.
Hooker has been weakened. Loose forward is hanging by a thread – any injury to Alberts or Coetzee will cripple us. Wing is severely weakened in JP’s absence. Outside centre we are down to the last legs of De Villiers, and if he goes down, we in even more poo.
Fullback is average at best.
These deficiencies are not because Heyneke could have done better. It’s because we have no one else to choose.
Bok rugby is way below par compared to the golden age of 3 years ago.
22 Aug 2012, 11:19 am
And lock is so-so.
22 Aug 2012, 11:25 am
@Tacitus-3: You building a nice little buffer of protection for Heyneke. We’re not interested in BS excuses. If he doesn’t produce the results, he must take up farming. I’ve seen NO discernible difference in the level of performance between PDV’s tenure and HM’s thus far.
There is enough talent available in the franchise system to have a very competitive bok squad. 2 things will weaken that. 1. Coaching 2. Selection.
22 Aug 2012, 11:25 am
@Tacitus-3:
I have to agree with your assessment.
It just shows you how important it is to have a blend of experience and youth.
This Rugby Championship will show just how much of a blow it was to lose both Juan Smith and Schalk Burger for the season at the same time that Matfield retired and Botha and Rossouw moved overseas.
It doesn’t help to lose the services of Fourie Du Preez and Jacques Fourie either – two players at the top of the international standings in their respective positions.
That said, it does provide opportunities to blood promising youngsters.
But it isn’t ideal to have these youngsters in a team where only two backline players – JDV and Habana – bring the serious experience.
This is why both Bismark and indeed even Spies (in this regard) are significant losses to the pack.
22 Aug 2012, 11:28 am
Consider who JDV now has to help him marshall the troops.
Adrian Strauss – he may be captain of the Cheetahs and a fine player but he is a test newbie.
Keegan Daniel – see comment about Strauss above as same applies.
Andries Bekker – so injury-prone that he has struggled to build momentum and needs to concentrate on his own game first.
It is a tough ask for a captain to have such little support.
Imagine if JDV could call on the likes of Bismark, Juan Smith, Schalk and Fourie Du Preez to help rally the troops!
22 Aug 2012, 11:32 am
Rest assured that we will always be competitive under Meyer, but the dominance which we are craving against the best team in the world – the All Blacks – can only realistically be achieved once we have a top class team in our own right.
That’s why I don’t expect us to beat the All Blacks this year.
22 Aug 2012, 11:35 am
Although I suppose if all of Bismark, Juan Smith, Burger and Du Preez were available then JDV wouldn’t be captain.
And if Jacques Fourie was playing, JDV would likely not make the starting 15.
Eish!
When you consider all of this, supporters should not be surprised to see the ABs dominate this championship.
They have coaching continuity with Hansen taking over from Henry.
And they’ve only really lost the services of one player at the peak of his powers – Kaino.
The rest are pretty much all there.
Okay, Brad Thorn is a big loss.
But those are two players.
Boks are rebuilding half their team at least.
22 Aug 2012, 11:37 am
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-1: Amorisino cost them 14 points last weekend, Rodriguez is also a goal-kicker. It will make some difference, if not a winning one.
22 Aug 2012, 11:37 am
Black times ahead by the look of things
22 Aug 2012, 11:37 am
@Tacitus-8: Wayne Smith on:
The All Blacks’ rivals
“I was pretty impressed with the Springboks in the second Test against England, in the first half. They had real attention to detail in their attacking ball … they’ve still got a bit of work to do in the way that they use that ball, but they are certainly very good at the speed of ball, their ball retention. So if they can reach those levels and maybe vary their game a bit more, they’ll be dangerous.”
22 Aug 2012, 11:41 am
@Tacitus-8: What do you think we need playing wise to be world class?
22 Aug 2012, 11:43 am
@Transformation-12: Tac is trying to create the phoenix rising out of the ashes moment for Heyneke, should he beat the blacks this year.
FYI Tac, the Boks stand a good a chance as any. In fact, they might be the most likely as any. If the 8,9, 10 positions are sorted, it will be even more so.
22 Aug 2012, 11:43 am
@pompies2-5: yeah I don’t see the lack of quality in the SA squad, man for man it can hang with all the other test squads, NZ in NZ will always be tough but every other game should be up for grabs.
22 Aug 2012, 11:47 am
@Skeppie-13:
Not sure what you mean by that. If you mean what type of players, well I’m looking at:
A Bismark at 2
A Juan Smith type to add to the loose trio
A Danie Rossouw quality lock on the bench
A Fourie du Preez type at 9
A Jacque Fourie type at 13
JP Pietersen at wing
A star fullback
That will make this a very good team. I’m thinking the World Cup winning team of 2007, with Meyer taking over rather than Divvy. That’s what’s required to get a long term positive win record against the All Blacks.
22 Aug 2012, 11:49 am
@Skeppie-13:
Bismark
Burger
Kankowski
Du Preez
Fourie
Pieterson
and also potentially:
Coenie Oosthuizen
Heinrich Brussow
Johann Goosen
These players, particularly the first six, would add a significant boost to the current Bok squad IMO.
The positive is that Meyer would have included all top six plus at least two of the bottom three if they were available for this competition.
22 Aug 2012, 11:50 am
@Skeppie-13: In Taccy’s opinion? A team with 15 Bulls players running out for the Boks.
22 Aug 2012, 11:52 am
@Tacitus-16:
Juan Smith is my favourite rugby player.
But, sadly, I don’t see him returning.
Why isn’t there any news of his rehabilitation progress or lack thereof?
22 Aug 2012, 11:52 am
Of the current team, the front row and Frans Steyn would make the 2007 team. That’s it. And then only because they match themselves there, rather than exceeding their erstwhile abilty.
As for the rest:
The locks aren’t as good.
The loose trio isn’t as good
The halbacks aren’t as good.
Jean de Villiers isn’t as good as he was 4 years ago.
Bryan Habana is a poor immitation of the Bryan Habana that dominated the 2007 world cup.
JP Pietersen is not available
Zane Kirchner. Well. What can I say.
22 Aug 2012, 11:54 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-18:
In Tac’s defence, he’s called for non-Bulls players to be included save for Bulls old boys Danie Rossouw and Fourie Du Preez.
And both can indeed provide significant contribution to current Bok 22.
22 Aug 2012, 11:54 am
bok rugby has plenty to choose from.
unfortunately we have plenty of injuries at the same time.
no coach with access to one of the worlds biggest player pools should battle to put a side together that is at the very least competitive and given the fact that two sa sides reached the semis and three reached the playoffs of the s15 this year, we have the talent imo.
but the gameplan i have seen so far is pretty poor. all it will take is a team to stand up to our bashers or even push them back and morne and hougie will start looking as poor as they actually are.
22 Aug 2012, 11:55 am
@Tacitus-20: Hmmm don’t disagree entirely but don’t you rate Bekker and Etzebeth?
22 Aug 2012, 11:56 am
@puff-21: i dont get the calls for danie to be brought back at all?
the guy is well past sell by.
players like elstadt and alberts fill his role imo.
22 Aug 2012, 11:56 am
@puff-21: I would love to have FdP in the side but not sure about Danie, while we is/was a really good player I would prefer to blood newer forwards now whereas at 9 I reckon FdP can play untill the next world cup. FdP is still the best scrummie we have.
22 Aug 2012, 11:57 am
@Tacitus-20: How good was the 2007 RWC team. I seem to recall them having a few tough games against Tonga and Samoa. Their record vs Oz and the AB’s wasn’t as good as the side under PDV.
22 Aug 2012, 11:59 am
@pompies2-26: what?
pdv lost six out of the last 7 vs aus buddy.
in fact under him the aussies had our number.
nz not so much.
22 Aug 2012, 12:00 pm
@rangerman-24:
I think Rossouw would only benefit the Boks short-term for his experience and utility value.
The current locks are very green (excuse the pun) at test level and it would help to have someone with experience to call on there, if necessary.
That said, I do believe that the likes of Alberts (who proved effective in the second row along with the in-form Sharks loose trio during S15) and a youngster like Pieter Steph Du Toit will go on to perform the Bok utility forward role effectively.
22 Aug 2012, 12:02 pm
@puff-9: don’t forget SBW leaving, Conrad Smith, Woodcock, Kahui injured. We can cover Kahui well enough but the rest are vital. Won’t even mention Toeava
22 Aug 2012, 12:02 pm
@rangerman-27: If you were honest with yourself, you’d admit you’d prefer the good record against NZ, rather than a good record against the Wallabies. The AB’s are the yardstick remember.
22 Aug 2012, 12:03 pm
@puff-28: ja i would ratehr blood the youngsters now considering danie has been playing toss the dwarf in j a p land.
22 Aug 2012, 12:03 pm
@puff-28:
I’m not talking about Rossouw now, as I have no idea what his current form is like.
My whole point is that we DON’T have the players at the moment. Players like Vic and Bakkies in their prime, Rossouw in his prime from the bench, Du Preez, Jacque Fourie, Habana in his prime, Juan Smith in his prime etc.
The guys we have now are either not yet at that level, or in some cases never will be.
So Heyneke is making do with what we have. But what we have is unlikely to be better than what the All Blacks have at the moment.
22 Aug 2012, 12:04 pm
@pompies2-26: ja but with meyer the 2007 team apparently would be unbeatable, as meyer is a genius..
22 Aug 2012, 12:04 pm
@puff-28: The AB’s are playing with Luke Romano and Brodie Retallick, both in the 1st season of international rugby. Do you think the AB’s are running back to Brad Thorne and Ali Williams?
22 Aug 2012, 12:04 pm
@pompies2-30: that has nothing to do with your statement pompies.
22 Aug 2012, 12:05 pm
@pompies2-34: ali is injured or they might have bud.
22 Aug 2012, 12:06 pm
@Transformation-33: Trans, some of the tripe arguments are laughable. It’s like they hoping everyone forgets what actually happened.
22 Aug 2012, 12:06 pm
1. Mtawarira 2. Du Plessis 3. Du Plessis 4. Etzebeth 5. Bekker 6. Burger 7. Smith 8. Kankowski 9. Du Preez 120. Steyn 11. Habana 12. Steyn 13. Fourie 14. Pieterson 15. Lambie
16. Steenkamp 17. Strauss 18. Oosthuizen 19. Alberts 20. Kruger 21. Brussow 22. Kolisi 23. Coetzee 24. Pienaar 25. Goosen 26. Mvovo 27. De Villiers 28. Engelbrecht 29. Hougaard 30. Taute
Would be a tough squad to beat for this tournament.
And I’d have:
1. Cilliers
2. Ralepelle
3. Rossouw
4. Spies
5. Jantjies
6. Ludik
Waiting in the wings in case there are injuries.
22 Aug 2012, 12:09 pm
@pompies2-37: and yours are pretty poor too my friend.
mine may well be shite too.
thats what makes this world so wonderful, opinions.
22 Aug 2012, 12:10 pm
@gonzo-29:
Yes, pretty amazing to consider Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui returning to make the backline even stronger.
Toeava flattered to deceive and never quite found his groove at test level.
22 Aug 2012, 12:10 pm
@puff-38: puff, if we collected all of the teamsheets you have put together on keo over the years, and tried to print them, siberia would not have any trees left.
whatever your job is, you are wasted my friend, you should be a professional list writer of sorts.
22 Aug 2012, 12:10 pm
@rangerman-36: That’s an assumption. So my assumption goes that they are comfortable with Sam Whitelock, who, while only at 24\25 is already a world cup winner, so they’d be less inclined to be anxious to get Williams back.
My initial statement was in reference to Tac who implied that had Meyer succeeded White, the Boks would’ve dominated world rubgy, based on the squad. All I asked was, how good was that squad? PDV took that same squad and managed to achieve victories in NZ, when very few other Bok coaches did. But hey perhaps that squad was so good, they coached themselves.
22 Aug 2012, 12:11 pm
it is indicative of an analytical mind imo.
maybe law or even QS?
22 Aug 2012, 12:13 pm
@pompies2-42: WS on:
Sonny Bill Williams
“Not every team has got a Sonny Bill. In fact no one has got a Sonny Bill. It’s a package there that’s probably unique. He’s as big as a big 6 and 8, and [has the] skills of a 10, apart from his kicking skills, and I don’t think he’d mind me saying that. He’s definitely got the eyes, the understanding of a 10; he makes a lot of our [Chiefs'] calls.”
22 Aug 2012, 12:14 pm
@pompies2-42: your assumption is more valid than mine?
wow!
you are awesome.
i simply called you on your statement in regard to the aussies and yet you are trying to lead me off on a tangent to avoid facing the fact that your statement was erroneous.
its cool, lets not fight ok? i dont know what coulda woulda shoulda been, i am simply looking forward and hoping the boks win games.
22 Aug 2012, 12:14 pm
@rangerman-39: I welcome you to challenge me on any of your rugby discussions or opinions you might have. No nasty swipes, just an objective rugby discussion.
22 Aug 2012, 12:16 pm
@Big Hit-10:
was he the player who held onto bryan in that weird way after he scored?
22 Aug 2012, 12:17 pm
@Transformation-44: Wayne Smith HAS to be one of the finest rugby thinkers of our time…..
If I had any sort of position at SARU, I would pull out all the stops: the money, the women, the wine, the Clifton home and whatever else it took to get him here on a 3 year consultant basis. NOT only for the Boks, but for ALL teams under SARU’s protection.
22 Aug 2012, 12:17 pm
@Transformation-44: how did he manage to say all that with sonnys….uhm lets not go there.
i find the kicking reference very interesting. i cant remember seeing him kick?
fransie has achieved more and is a far better player imo. he is equally as big, quicker and has a far better boot. In addition he can pass both ways without looking like he is lobbing a watermelon onto a truck.
a pity we wont see them match up to prove who is correct.
22 Aug 2012, 12:18 pm
@pompies2-46: cool man.
22 Aug 2012, 12:18 pm
Consider that:
Johann Muller
Albert Van Den Bergh
Bok Skinstad (past his prime and there laregely for leadership)
Wikus Van Heerden (who stood in superbly for Burger)
Butch James (who also played out of his skin)
Ricky Januarie
Wynand Olivier
Andre Pretorius
Ashwin Willemse (injury had crippled his game and he was simply a passanger)
Akona Ndungane
Formed a third of the 2007 RWC squad.
All fine players when on form, but I believe Meyer has some youngsters coming through who have more talent and potential than the above names.
He just needs to get the balance of his starting 22 right and rope in a few more players from overseas plus have some of his favourites/key players return from injury.
22 Aug 2012, 12:19 pm
@Transformation-44: Pretty much how all successful teams have operated. A 12, with the skills and decision making of a 10. That’s why a combination of Lambie and Frans Steyn will be a step up from a normal 10 and 12. Their ability to interchange will create more options for tactical kicking and the ability to spread the ball wide, without compromising the space that was created.
22 Aug 2012, 12:22 pm
@pompies2-52: cant wait to see that for the sharks.
tim whitehead also had a massive season for the sharks this year, rate him highly.
22 Aug 2012, 12:22 pm
“Argentina – 15 Lucas Amorosino, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernández, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (c), 7 Álvaro Galindo, 6 Julio Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guiñazu, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.”
“Phelan has decided to replace fullback Lucas Amorosino with Martin Rodriguez”
Mistake….ai
22 Aug 2012, 12:22 pm
One also cannot ignore the significance of Montgomery’s contribution to that squad.
Matfield may have received the MOM award for that final, but in my mind it should have gone to Monty.
22 Aug 2012, 12:23 pm
@pompies2-42:
absolute fact, end of.
with meyer at the helm of the 2007 squad there probably would have been a great many suicides in nz and at least one assasination attempt.
22 Aug 2012, 12:23 pm
@rangerman-49: I’m gonna disagree again. Frans is a bit behind SBW at this stage. SBW is a bit more calculating in his play and his involvement creates opportunities almost every time he touches the ball. Yes he doesn’t have a real kicking game, but he has developed this skill. If Frans were to develop his play and decision making he’d get mighty close, but he won’t surpass SBW. Obviously in the goal-kicking stakes, it’s no contest.
22 Aug 2012, 12:25 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-56: So prove it. Afterall, that’s what facts are. They are provable.
22 Aug 2012, 12:25 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-48: i know, i was chuffed to get a chance to pick his brain a little when he was here last year.
WS on:
Attacking rugby
“The great thing about rugby is that you always have a choice about how you want to play. And some of that [kicking away possession], I call it rugby tennis. I think that probably reflected some of the strict rulings at the start [of Super Rugby], being penalised at the breakdown as an attacking team. But as that improved I think there was much more reward for using the ball rather than giving it away. We [Chiefs] never changed from that philosophy at all.”
22 Aug 2012, 12:26 pm
@rangerman-53: Will need to improve his kicking game and decision making. I’m actually not sure what Tim’s best position is. 12 or 13?
22 Aug 2012, 12:27 pm
A brace of points from me:
1. The “golden squad” Tac refers to reached their final goal by winning the 3N 2009. After that, it was all downhill, and fast. My informed guestimate is that most of the senior players tasted all the success they wanted to taste, and simply did not have the hunger needed for further success on the test stage.
2. Any coach would have struggled with that kind out attitude explained in 1.
22 Aug 2012, 12:28 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-47: no he was the player who was initially outjumped by Bryan, shouldn’t really happen to a test full-back under a high ball. He also dropped the ball on his own line from a simple pass in the run-up to the Kirchner try giving SA a 5m scrum.
22 Aug 2012, 12:31 pm
@willievz-61:Agreed, but I do feel PDV slipped up as well. He should’ve recognised and made the necessary adjustments. He was trying to be a good guy, to his own detriment.
22 Aug 2012, 12:31 pm
@pompies2-57: we will agree to disagree bud.
dont judge frans on what he is forced to play at the boks, watch the lad play for the sharks rather. he is used at both for his bulk and to get over the advantage line but his distribution is top notch, in both directions, unlike sbw.
and sonny wishes he could kick a ball like frans. imo frans is a better player with better skills, playing a different role in a differnet gameplan.
@pompies2-60: i reckon he is a 12. not enough pace for 13.
then again he has done fine at 13 at s15 level so what a blessing for te sharks to have him as backup for frans and jordaan.
he runs some of the best lines you will see in rugby imo.
22 Aug 2012, 12:37 pm
@rangerman-64:
If Sharks can get Cilliers and Pienaar to return to KZN and also potentially draft in Jantjies then they will have shored up their depth and should have one helluva squad for next S15 season.
22 Aug 2012, 12:37 pm
I don’t believe our lock pairing is in anyway a lesser pairing than that of the ABs or Ozz. When Bakkies and Matfield started in pro rugby they were miles away from the players they would become. Looking at ‘n guy like Etsebeth who has started his first pro season as the best no4 in the 2012 super rugby comp, I am very positive about him reaching higher heights than Bakkies.
Kruger and Bekker I don’t know, but both are much better than Matfield was in the loose. Matfield was a one trick poney(a trick that gave us a huge advantage) plus great leadership and experience.
Our front row is better than it was (with Busmarck and Coenie on the bench), we have great loosies in the pipeline and we have a great bunch of youngsters (u/20) team that will start making their impact on the world stage next year. We have a possible super star in Goosen ready to burst past Steyn.
Not this year, maybe not next year, but come 2014 and beyond…not that dark at all.
22 Aug 2012, 12:38 pm
@rangerman-64:
Sharks are very thin at prop.
22 Aug 2012, 12:39 pm
@willievz-61: I’m sorry, they played their guts out in the 2011 RWC QF, but it wasn’t meant to be or wasn’t allowed to be.
22 Aug 2012, 12:40 pm
@puff-65: I think Pienaar should rather come down to the Cape, we need a proper scrummie.
22 Aug 2012, 12:40 pm
puff #38 – Yes that is one good looking Bok squad. The Bok injuries are rather significant plus players off to japan.
But OZ have lost a few players to injury, ABs as well. I think the telling demands of S15 and 3N(RC) are beginning ot tell on the players! The Big 3 are suffering a bit!!!
22 Aug 2012, 12:40 pm
@rangerman-64: frans better than sbw? pffttt
22 Aug 2012, 12:40 pm
@pompies2-58:
in this case the fact cant be proved because its all ‘after the fact’
just rest assured in the knowledge that heyneke meyer and the 2007 squad is gospel.
22 Aug 2012, 12:41 pm
@Transformation-59: That must have been helluva cool. To talk rugby with Wayne Smith, must be like talking peace with the Dalai Lama.
I wonder if our lot ever read his columns **rolling ogies**
@willievz-61: P Divvy says as much in his book. .
22 Aug 2012, 12:42 pm
@Big Hit-62:
ok
thanks
22 Aug 2012, 12:44 pm
@pompies2-63: Hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Would you have dropped those senior players in 2010, at the time?
22 Aug 2012, 12:47 pm
@goodstuff-66:
i like eztebeth and i know he is young but i wish to see more grunt from him.
just a little less of this new age fancy stuff and a little more plain old simple lock number four ‘dirty’ work.
i want to see him go into rucks and tell the opposition the facts of life.
22 Aug 2012, 12:50 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-76:
Also why we will miss the likes of Burger and Smith this season.
22 Aug 2012, 12:56 pm
@puff-77:
yip
this is not a ‘physical’ bok pack.
not by a long shot.
22 Aug 2012, 13:44 pm
@willievz-75: Difficult to say. Would definitely have had strong words. The Smit move to prop didn’t work. The lack of a decent tighthead didn’t help either. Also not sure how well Matfield would’ve marshaled the diverse set of troops.
I reckon PDV weighed up an under performing captain vs a possible rudderless ship.
22 Aug 2012, 13:46 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-72: then it’s not a fact, but your faith. Faith, being what it is, is unquantifiable.
22 Aug 2012, 13:57 pm
@pompies2-80:
and the fact is, that is just your opinion, not a fact. opinions, being what they are….
22 Aug 2012, 13:59 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-81: I didn’t make the factual statement, you did. You could be right. He could’ve achieved a flawless record, but that will never be proven.
22 Aug 2012, 14:02 pm
Burger
Kolisi
Vermeulen
Coetzee
Alberts
Kankowski
Brussow
Louw
Deysel
All the above loosies could contribute well to Boks.
Now consider how many are playing overseas, are out injured or have only just returned from injury and therefore not match-fit enough to be part of the squad.
22 Aug 2012, 14:03 pm
@pompies2-82:
exactly
i’m happy if you’re happy
22 Aug 2012, 14:22 pm
@pompies2-79: What is our winning percentage against the ABs with Smit at 3?
Smit got shown up on the EOYT 2009 at 3, but has won a BIL series and a 3N playing at prop…
I thought that was a brave move by PDV that paid off, for a while.
22 Aug 2012, 14:31 pm
@willievz-85: The move should only have been a stopgap. I suppose the argument could be made that there weren’t too many options. At best, Smit should’ve been on the bench.
22 Aug 2012, 14:42 pm
@goodstuff-68: They certainly did throw the full kitchen sink at the Aussies. And they wanted to win the tournament.
But it was very clear after the 3N 2009 that the senior players wanted to play in the 2011 WC and have a shot at defending the cup, and that any game leading up to the 2011 showpiece would not carry as much value as the tests at the WC. That sounds pretty logical to me, and as a nation, we probably felt the same.
They did not use the time between 3N 2009 and RWC 2011 to build momentum against the world’s top sides. The Aussies went into that game having won the last 4 tests against the Boks. They went in with the confidence that they can beat us, when really they should not have had that luxury.
We were our own worst enemy.
@pompies2-86: In hindsight, yes, Smit should have been on the bench at the RWC.
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