Comments on: Potent Bryan scoops top prize

By: wpallday

wpallday — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 20:43:21 +0000

@suffer_guy-12: Habs was once the greatest winger in the world, possibly the best ever to play the game. I'm not sure Morne Steyn is the best in his country, province or union for that matter. Hes never had anything more than an accurate boot and the tenacious support of the biased Blue Bull brigade.

By: TheTackler

TheTackler — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 20:28:13 +0000

The top prize is Player of the Year, not Try of the Year.

By: cuntlyn

cuntlyn — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:40:22 +0000

@kwas-30: Beautiful description. Mouth watering stuff. That's why it ended up trie of the year!! Sounds he really confused and disorganised the opposition with his instinct, peripheral vision, speed, agility and ball skills. Should give him te reward for two years!

By: kwas

kwas — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:09:47 +0000

Bryan can thank Aaron Smith for this award. Only reason he got the try is because Smith fell off a straight forward tackle on Mr Superstar. Bryan then collected a miscued chip ahead and scored. Class. NOT!

By: gonzo

gonzo — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:50:19 +0000

Not sure this was the best try of the year, although judging by the other nominations, it’s more about individual brilliance than team tries. But congrats to Habana. He deserves some recognition for his performance this year. The number of times he just took things into his own hands when it was needed and scored was great. My favourite moment was when he saw Pienaar 1m from the try line, about to slow the ball down again. He grabs it almost from Ruan’s hands and dives over for a simple but effective try. Impressive that he and JPP have been in such great form when the back line strategy doesn’t involve passing to the wings at all.

By: wnbb

wnbb — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:46:08 +0000

I don’t recognise the pre-unification era of Bok rugby,so for me Habana is with out a doubt the greatest Bok that this country had produced.

By: wnbb

wnbb — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:42:38 +0000

@bokfan1-24: I have to disagree with you.Top try scorer for the Boks and world wide acknowledge as one of the greats of the game.

By: bokfan1

bokfan1 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:30:19 +0000

@bokfan1-25: Mean to add - and the same for Morne. If he starts kicking 90+ % again and getting the backline going like in 2009, I will be the first to call fir his inclusion. But if there are better options, then the Boks must explore those. Do we not ALL want players picked on form?

By: bokfan1

bokfan1 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:28:54 +0000

@catchlightuk.com-21: Since 2008 I agree with you on this. @suffer_guy-12: Many of us "tik koppe" called for Bryan to be dropped during his bad run. Personally, I was even skeptical of him going to RWC2011. I dont believe it helps a player to keep on getting picked when they are struggling. Bryan couldve chilled for a bit on the bench, played some Vodacom Cup and got his mojo back

By: bokfan1

bokfan1 — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:25:31 +0000

@wnbb-22: One of the greatest wingers - yes. But I must disagree on backline player. Danie Gerber, Naas Botha, Joost, Carel DuP even Doc Craven would compete for that

By: The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food

The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:12:33 +0000

@wnbb-22: I 2nd that. Now please stop wasting posts in these other threads…..we are marching to 5000 on the Hore’s thread.

By: wnbb

wnbb — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:08:44 +0000

The greatest Bok winger of all time.He probably is the greatest Bok backline player of all time.

By: catchlightuk.com

catchlightuk.com — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:05:27 +0000

Habana gets a lot of acclaim without really doing anything – a bit like Richard Dawkins. JPP had a much better season and scored a ridiculously good try against England in the first test.

By: NZINCHINA

NZINCHINA — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:28:27 +0000

Clearly Paddy got to somebody.

By: cane

cane — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:27:10 +0000

@Brads-13: Yes Brads, but some determined Souls want a 5000 Thread.

By: The Analyst

The Analyst — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:58:35 +0000

I found this very insightful about ‘player management’ and talent development for the ABs.

“Everything we do is about four key skills: catch, pass, run and evade,” I was told by Buck Anderson, former All Black, rugby teacher and coach, and now head of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union’s community programmes.
Between the ages of five and seven, kids’ rugby involves no set pieces, tackling or kicking. Defence skills are introduced aged eight – “We teach them to watch the hips, not the ball or the feet”; the pitch is small and the ball is no bigger than a size three.

Only from 11 do kids take part in 15-a-side games. Even then, penalties result in possession being handed over, rather than kicks at goal.

I wonder what the 4 key skills SARU teaches the SA kids? “kick, chase, run over, tackle” ….

More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20545427

By: BrumbiesBoy

BrumbiesBoy — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:23:25 +0000

@cuntlyn-16: I agree with you. Anyone who gets the "Players' Player Of The Year" has done it in my book.

By: cuntlyn

cuntlyn — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:17:55 +0000

@Bok fan-7: All subjective. Based on votes. There was a panel. Suppose one with most votes got top honours. I loved that trie, Bryan came a long way from where he was two seasons ago. IMO a good choice. And I really like JPP. Even when everyone was castagating JPP for being lazy.

By: Delki

Delki — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 07:20:18 +0000

Fair enough…………..Anyone who can score against the MIGHTY ABs deserves an award. We’ll give you that Bryan.

By: Bok fan

Bok fan — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 07:14:17 +0000

@12 beg to differ, never enjoyed more at 10, extremely limited, just a great goal kicker in the past. 10 is too crucial a position to have such a limited player in the jersey. In the past i would have left pienaar there and found a full back that could kick above 80%. Habana should have been dropped years ago, I guarantee he would have found form a lot quicker. Although I think his season was overrated, people were just happy to not see him awful