Comments on: Bismarck still sidelined

By: J.B. Cowper

J.B. Cowper — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 17:30:19 +0000

In truth mate I don’t follow it (S15) too closely – tend to have to ration my time with family demands so stick to the Tests for the most part: too many teams in S15 and I feel uncomfortable how the authorities squeeze every last drop of performance out of the players – reason Kronfeld (who was a great) retired so early and why so many are injured. I don’t watch Heineken either although Toulon have caught my attention – Carl Hayman, who is their tighthead as you know, would walk into any test side still, including AB’s. So would Bakkies – they’re a first rate side and very interesting. So there are exceptions – but there is something about the passion and patriotism of test rugby that is special – with that said who doesn’t enjoy a good game of rugby of any hue, including schoolboy – as long as it is interesting – one-sided games are not.

Regarding tests – SA v NZ is usually a big explosion and that’s the main one on the calendar – am simultaneously fascinated and appalled by France – but love the way they can (sometimes) play and tend to back underdogs like Argentina and Pacific Nations (who are always improving I think you will agree). Samoa have definitely gone to the next level.

By: NZINCHINA

NZINCHINA — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 12:49:03 +0000

@J.B. Cowper-17: Xmas New Year not such a big deal up here so haven't really had a holiday, trust you had a good one. Who are you picking for the super title this year?

By: J.B. Cowper

J.B. Cowper — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 09:53:26 +0000

@NZINCHINA-15: Thanks - you have a good holiday?

By: Hondo

Hondo — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 22:13:48 +0000

Bissie is injuries prone, so while admitting he’s the 1st choice for the Boks, I am rather comfortable with Strauss.
Matter of fact, Strauss played and managed so well at the Nov. Tests that HM denied him the captaincy to prevent Strauss from established himself as the No.1 Boks hooker and a captain combined.
What other reasons was there to keep JdV as the Captain?

By: NZINCHINA

NZINCHINA — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:42:34 +0000

Well said JB.

By: CoachPete

CoachPete — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 02:49:40 +0000

@John Galt-8:
Yes I agree He needs time to strengthen the muscles around the knee for support I dont think a slight change in his speed is going to be a big issue since he is not a wing.
@J.B. Cowper-13:
Its Super 15 and yes bottom line I dont care if he does not play for sharks much. He needs to be 110% ready for Boks

By: J.B. Cowper

J.B. Cowper — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:37:44 +0000

Big picture for Bismarck is that he gets fully 110% recoverd before he plays again – Super 14 is not the big picture; in fact it is irrelevant – the All Blacks are the big picture – that’s all that counts.

By: Jonck

Jonck — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:21:38 +0000

Brian is defnitely going to Toulon and I have heard Bekker is considering Japan. His back is giving him a lot of problems.

Do anyone know the progress of Schalk Burger. Is he running yet?

Bismarck absence was bigtime assisting Province to win the CC. The other Shark hookers throwing sucks!

By: guangzhoupoes

guangzhoupoes — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:10:05 +0000

Bekker moving to Europe huh? No loss to the Boks, he is overrated and injury prone

By: CharlesM

CharlesM — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:52:58 +0000

I believe so yes Gunther

By: i_love_u_bakkiesbotha

i_love_u_bakkiesbotha — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:52:05 +0000

he does make a huge difference to the sharks but they have choked with and without him before.
hope he gets well.

By: John Galt

John Galt — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:50:42 +0000

@Stoetbul9-1: @gunther-4: Was talking to a Bio who has been involved with his rehab. Apparently its far worse if a backline player tears ligaments, especially the ACL. Thats when you see wingers etc losing speed and suddenly unable to change direction and sidestep as easily as they once did. For Bissie, his pace and sidestep has never been a defining feature of his game so as long as they stregthen all the other ligaments and muscles around his knee, he should come back just as strong as he was.

By: gunther

gunther — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:43:10 +0000

@CharlesM-5: Ouijaboard the boss of Toulon says its a done deal.

By: CharlesM

CharlesM — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:34:15 +0000

Apparently Bekker is considering a move to Europe as well at the end of the season.
I hope that he gets over his injuries ASAP!

By: CharlesM

CharlesM — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:33:05 +0000

I don’t know if this has been reported but in this morning’s Die Burger, it was said that Habana will be off to Toulon after the Super 15 season

By: gunther

gunther — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:28:08 +0000

this is a 9 month injury.

if we’re lucky he’ll get back to his best.

strauss is a poor second to bissie.

By: Mongril

Mongril — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:27:36 +0000

If he’s not ready for the Stormers clash in the second round, that could decide the conference right there, since a Stormers team with Kolisi, Schalk, Etzebeth, etc will have too much of a hard edge for a Sharks team missing Bissie.

And you simply can’t afford to lose your home game against your primary foes for the conference title.

By: grant10

grant10 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:21:43 +0000

such a great player….will be missed by Sharks big time, hope he gets on the field soon, especially for Boks!

By: Stoetbul9

Stoetbul9 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:21:25 +0000

Geez, I hope this is not the end of Bismarck. I have seen too many
players picking up bad knee injuries and then they never reach their
previous form. Let’s hope he will be fine.