Comments on: 2013 entrance exam for De Villiers

By: kaksioek

kaksioek — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 10:20:34 +0000

Jean has been a great leader, now it’s time for him to enjoy the good life in France.

By: Joe Maher

Joe Maher — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 02:05:42 +0000

Thierry Henry at his best is also pure magic but Thierry Henry, just like Jean de Villiers, is way past his best and will never recapture it. Father Time couldn’t give a fig, he creeps up on all of us, from superstar to backyard hack.

And just like Henry can still play a bit – in a weaker league, no longer for his country – so de Villiers needs to move along. I’ve been fan of his and appreciate what he has done but, as willievz said, we can’t afford another John Smit.

And no, we don’t want Wynand Olivier or Meyer Bosman as they’re the poor man’s de Villiers…and equally long in the tooth.

By: uncle oswald

uncle oswald — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:51:57 +0000

JdV has been overplayed to the max. Give him a good rest. Like him as a player, think he’s a good guy also. Kudos where it is due.

By: Finfan

Finfan — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 20:59:02 +0000

IMO there is very little to choose between Steyn and de Villiers at 12. De Villiers at his best is close to pure magic.

Who else would you prefer? Wynand Olivier? Meyer Bosman?

By: Jinx2

Jinx2 — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 19:18:19 +0000

The man has done his duty. Filling in for Schalla and taking over the reins for the Bokke. He is a brilliant captain. He does not pick the team. His playing time is coming to an end. But the Stormers will need him next year as the “Ryan Giggs/Paul Scholes” backup. The team needs his input – one way or another. And AC is no idiot.

By: grant10

grant10 — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:02:22 +0000

@wp_boytjie-6: I agree…..not saying he should not play…..just that he should not be viewed as a ‘ must start ‘ type….

Stormers best midfield combo has been JF and JDJ…..and even this year I felt Stormers best was when JDV was sidelined and Habana partnered JDJ….

Just my opinion

By: wp_boytjie

wp_boytjie — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:35:14 +0000

@grant10-5: Nah.... Super Rugby is full of injuries as you should remember with Duane Vermeulen and Schalk who both played very little of this year's tournament. Let's say Brache get's inured in pre-season and JP Du Plessis gets injured in the second game. Depth is essential ...

By: grant10

grant10 — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:21:30 +0000

2013 we really need to move on….

Stormers as well imo.

By: mabu

mabu — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:09:58 +0000

Uvala iz’thuba, maka hambe!

By: i_love_u_bakkiesbotha

i_love_u_bakkiesbotha — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:30:34 +0000

@willievz-1: @Maljan-2: agreed. the pace is slowing though and he should look at this. if he cannot compensate somehow or increase fitness in order to improve pace then he needs to consider his impact as a player.

By: Maljan

Maljan — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:26:57 +0000

@1. willlievz – agreed, great servant to SA rugby. But in my opinion, he is way over-rated as a player (and has been for years) and his decision-making in the recent Championship was poor. In many instances during that competition, when we were pressing on the opposition’s line, the Boks continued the pick and go to the try line instead of JdV making the call to swing it wide, when even the opposition backs were defending close to the forwards because they were confident enough to know that the Boks would try to force a try through brutality. A call by the Captain at critical moments to let the ball go wide, would have yielded 7 point scores (well at least 5) instead of penalties which we were often missing. Thanks JdV, but time to move on!

By: willievz

willievz — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:00:53 +0000

Great servant of SA Rugby, but he should retire sooner rather than later. He deserves it.

Bok rugby cannot afford another John Smit.